Annual Report 2016/2017

  • August 16, 2017

Submitted by CBABC Sections

Summary of Meetings

Number of Meetings Held: 9

October 26, 2016
Guest Speakers: Jennifer Cooper, Q.C., Karina Sacca and more! 
Meeting Title/Topic: Hot Tips from Hot Mentors
Synopsis: The Women Lawyers Forum - Vancouver Island Section hosted another round of the always popular Hot Tips from Hot Mentors. This time the focus was on building a professional network and tips on how to establish a positive mentor relationship. Experienced women lawyers provided their best tips and advice in an informal setting.

November 22, 2016
Guest Speaker: Patrice B. Newman, Horne Coupar 
Meeting Title/Topic: The ABC's of Committeeship and More 
Synopsis: A committee (pronounced “caw-mi-tee”) is a person appointed by the court to make decisions for someone who is mentally incapable and cannot make those decisions. The Wills & Trust - Victoria Section and Patrice Newman hosted this event which had something for everyone with both introductory level information about private commiteeships and a more advanced discussion for the experienced practitioner.

December 15, 2016
Guest Speaker: N/A 
Meeting Title/Topic: Holiday Potluck Dinner
Synopsis: The Women Lawyers Forum - Vancouver Island invited members to attend their annual holiday potluck dinner. This was a great opportunity to meet friends and colleagues from the local bar to mix and mingle in a casual environment at the home of one of our members.

January 13, 2017
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Karen Sharlow
Meeting Title/Topic: Discussion With The Honourable Karen Sharlow 
Synopsis: This meeting was a discussion with the Honourable Karen Sharlow about her path to the Federal Court of Appeal, and her experiences both in practice and as a member of the judiciary.

February 16, 2017
Guest Speakers: Judges and Masters of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia 
Meeting Title/Topic: Annual Women Judges Dinner 
Synopsis: This evening was an opportunity to dine with several local women Judges and Masters in an informal setting and hear their thoughts on a variety of topics.

March 8, 2017
Guest Speaker: N/A 
Meeting Title/Topic: International Women's Day Not Just a Bystander Podcast 
Synopsis: The CBA National WLF presented a podcast titled Not Just a Bystander, which was released to coincide with International Women’s Day. Brown Henderson Melbye hosted a “hearing” of the podcast in their boardroom as the WLF-Vancouver Island’s annual International Women’s Day Event this year. The podcast covered topics on the current law on sexual assault and sexual harassment (including what employers, volunteer organizations, employees and volunteers should know), the psychological perspective of why sexual assault and harassment occurs (and what work is done to address it by psychologists), and how to respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment (including what we can do to address this in our workplaces and in our communities).

May 25, 2017
Guest Speaker: N/A
Meeting Title/Topic: Annual General Meeting 
Synopsis: Section members were invited to discuss both our past year and the future direction of the Women Lawyers Forum - Vancouver Island - and to vote on the new executive.

June 15, 2017
Guest Speakers: Maureen Fitzgerald, PHD, and Kay Melbye, Brown Henderson Melbye 
Meeting Title/Topic: Gender and Mediation
Synopsis: Maureen Fitzgerald, PhD, gender diversity advisor, former lawyer, and author, and KAy Melbye, a partner with Brown Henderson Melbye and a family law arbitrator, and child interviewer, lead the discussion on gender and mediation. We heard from these engaging speakers on an important topic in ADR. Half an hour of the discussion was devoted to elements of professional responsibility and ethics.

June 22, 2017
Guest Speaker: N/A 
Meeting Title/Topic: Annual General Meeting
Synopsis: Section members were invited to discuss both our past year and the future direction of the Women Lawyers Forum - Vancouver Island - and to vote on the new executive.

Comments and Observations of the Chair

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