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President's Message

It has been my privilege to watch as SABA Toronto has grown from strength to strength over the years. When this organization was started over 15 years ago, few would have imagined that it would have evolved into the largest equity-seeking bar organization in Canada.  Our reach and influence has grown leaps and bounds, and our over 800 members have transcended barriers that were once thought to be unattainable for visible minority lawyers.  We are proud to count amongst our members: influential legislators, industry leaders, trendsetters in the equity, diversity, and inclusion space, and supremely talented advocates and jurists (including, most recently, the first minority Justice on our nation’s highest court).

Yet….there is still much work to be done.

SABA’s goal has always been to uplift South Asian practitioners, and we will continue to do so under the five pillars of our mandate (Advocacy, Pro Bono and Community Outreach, Legal & CPD Training, Women’s Empowerment Initiatives, and Mentorship and Student Outreach).  SABA has made immense efforts in making sure that our profession is more reflective of our communities, however, our goal cannot end at simple representation; we must contribute to access to justice initiatives to ensure that new Canadians and visible minorities have confidence in their social, political and justice systems. 

For many of us, we are the first in our families to attend law school and enter the legal profession. We are fortunate for many reasons, and we should never take for granted the sacrifices that trailblazers before us made in order for us to be productive members of this bar.  We must now do the same for those less fortunate, especially during these daunting times.  The pandemic and its by-products have afflicted our communities at an alarming rate (eg. rising domestic violence, mental health struggles, and increases in Anti-Asian hate).  

However, we will not be phased, and we will confront these challenges head-on  (much like we did earlier this year when we collaborated with Hillsdale, chapters across SABA North America, and the SABA Foundation to raise over $150,000 for COVID relief in India). We will continue to support and uplift both our members and our communities as we emerge from the effects of the pandemic. This journey will not be an easy one, and we count on the support of our members, volunteers, and our partner organizations such as: The Counsel Network, Hillsdale Investment Management, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Ontario Bar Association.  

For those of you on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity to give back, I encourage you to step forward and volunteer to be a part of the SABA family.  It is easy to be satisfied with just practising law, but I guarantee you it is much more rewarding to search for ways to improve the law, to improve the legal process, and to assist those who have been marginalized and disadvantaged. There is no greater time than the present, especially as we look forward to showcasing our city and bar when we host the national SABA North America convention in 2024 for the first time.

We will emerge from the pandemic as a stronger organization, and we can’t wait to see all of you (hopefully in-person when it is safe to do so) at one of our legendary SABA pub nights, or at our annual Gala and Awards night. The 2021-2022 SABA Board is a determined one, and I have full confidence that we will conquer any roadblock in our path – the best is yet to come!

Devin Persaud, President

Past Presidents

2019-2021
Aaron Bains
Aird & Berlis LLP
2019-2021
2018-2019
Jennifer Jobanputra
Loblaw Companies Limited
2018-2019
2017-2018
Hafeez S. Amarshi
Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice
2017-2018
2015-2017
Ranjan Agarwal
Judge of Superior Court of Justice of Ontario
2015-2017
2013-2015
Jayashree Goswami
Region of Peel
2013-2015
2011-2013
Rishi Bandhu
Bandhu Law
2011-2013
2010-2011
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi
Pallett Valo LLP
2010-2011
2005-2010
Ron Choudhury
Miller Thomson LLP
2005-2010

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