Summary of Meetings: SAGDA
Number of Meetings Held: 3
February 24, March 9, & March 13, 2026
Registration Count: TRU: 12 UBC: 29 UVic: 20
Guest Speakers: TRU: Brian Yuen, UBC: N/A, UVic: N/A
Meeting Title/Topic: Law School Networking
Synopsis: Join us for an evening to bring together 2SLGBTQIA+ law students, lawyers, and supportive allies from across the Vancouver bar. This event offers a welcoming environment to build connections, share experiences, and strengthen an inclusive and diverse legal community. Whether you are beginning your legal journey or expanding your professional network, you are invited to connect, share experiences, and contribute to a more equitable profession.
May 11, 2026
Registration Count: 29
Guest Speakers: Sarah Schielke and Liza Hughes
Meeting Title/Topic: Navigating Life Under Governmental Oppression
Synopsis:
Join Liza Hughes and Sarah Schielke for a grounded discussion on what it means to live and work under increasing state control. Drawing on their respective experiences in Canada and the United States, the conversation explores how government power is exercised in everyday life, how legal systems respond to that power, and where they fall short.
Focusing on practical realities rather than abstract theory, topics such as the expansion of police authority, administrative decision-making that limits rights without meaningful review, and the subtle ways in which individuals adapt their behaviour in response to surveillance, enforcement, and legal risk are covered. Both speakers offer insight into how these pressures appear in their jurisdiction, highlighting both common patterns and important differences.
The discussion also focuses on response that includes litigation strategies, public advocacy, and the role of lawyers in pushing back against overreach. The panel considers how civil liberties organizations, defence counsel, and individual litigants can still create meaningful constraints on government action, even in systems that tend toward deference.
The goal is a clear-eyed assessment of the current landscape, combined with a practical understanding of where resistance remains effective and where new approaches are required.
July 12 & August 2, 2026
Registration Count: Victoria: TBD Vancouver: TBD
Meeting Title/Topic: Celebrating Pride 2026!
Synopsis:
Be part of a visible, supportive legal community at Pride this year. The SAGDA Executive invites you to join us at the Victoria and Vancouver Pride Parades to celebrate, connect, and stand in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Whether you’re new to Pride or returning, your presence helps strengthen our collective commitment to inclusion.
These events honour the individuals and advocates who have fought to advance rights and freedoms, while reminding us that the work is ongoing. As members of the legal profession, participating in Pride is a meaningful way to demonstrate visible support for diversity in the legal profession and to fostering a safer, more equitable society.
This year, SAGDA will be participating in the:
Victoria Pride Parade on July 12, 2026 (in partnership with the Victoria Bar Association)
Vancouver Pride Parade on August 2, 2026
We hope to see you there!