Submitted by Section Secretary, Laura Allen
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 6
October 11, 2012
Guest Speaker: Don Moody, Retired Warden of Nanaimo Correctional Centre
Synopsis: Members toured the Vancouver Island therapeutic community and learned about therapeutic communities for men both in and out of custody. Members heard from Don Moody who had been involved in the creation of the therapeutic community at the Guthrie House in Nanaimo.
November 21, 2012
Guest Speaker: Veronica Mitchell, Nanaimo Judicial Case Manager
Synopsis: Ms. Mitchell presented about the new changes to the criminal caseflow management rules.
March 18, 2013
Guest Speaker: Nancy Merrill, Family Lawyer & Jacqueline Gaudet, Crown Counsel
Synopsis: Ms. Gaudet presented on the new domestic violence court that started in Nanaimo in January of 2013. Ms. Merrill presented on the new changes to family law and the implementation of the Family Law Act, and any areas which may impact criminal practitioners.
June 12, 2013
Guest Speaker: Scott Vallance, Deputy Warden
Synopsis: Members toured the Guthrie House at Vancouver Island Correctional Centre. Members learned about the therapeutic community within the Guthrie House.
June 28, 2013
Guest Speaker: Cpl. Norm Smith & other RCMP Members
Synopsis: Members learned about drug and alcohol impaired driving. Members also were able to test the devices used to test for alcohol and were given demonstration of the standard field sobriety tests used at the roadside.
June 28, 2013
Guest Speaker: Annual General Meeting
Synopsis: New executive members were acclaimed.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
We were very pleased with the variety of meetings offered over the course of this year and the attendance at many of the events. The topics were highly relevant to the areas of law practiced by lawyers in the Nanaimo area. We were also pleased that members were able to meet with the Judicial Case Manager regarding the new caseflow rules that will be coming into effect in the new year. Members were able to record many of their required CPD hours by attending meetings. It was great to get Judges out to some of the meetings, and we had representation from both crown and defense at almost every meeting. Members also expressed how useful it was to actually attend and tour the Guthrie House and Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community to learn about the services offered to assist their clients. Overall it was a very successful year and we plan to build on that success next year.