Justice Russell Juriansz Retirement and Creation of New Award

ANNOUNCEMENT: SABA CONGRATULATES TRAILBLAZER, JUSTICE RUSSELL JURIANSZ, WITH CREATION OF NEW AWARD

TORONTO, ONTARIO – The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (SABA Toronto) congratulates one of its most important members, the Honourable Justice Russell G. Juriansz, on his retirement from the Ontario Court of Appeal. After first being appointed to the bench in 1998, his ground-breaking and historic career included, among many other accolades, becoming the first South Asian appointed to the Ontario Superior of Justice and the first racialized person appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Justice Juriansz was sworn out of office on August 30, 2021.

Justice Juriansz was called to the bar in 1974 and spent 24 years as a constitutional and human rights lawyer, appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada on several occasions. He and his wife Kaye Joachim worked tirelessly to protect human rights in Canada.

To commemorate and honour the career and achievements of Justice Juriansz and his wife, SABA Toronto is proud to announce the creation of the Juriansz and Joachim Award for Excellence in Human Rights. The award will recognize outstanding singular or cumulative contributions to the promotion and advancement of human rights as defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other human rights legislation in Canada. The award will be presented annually at SABA’s Gala and Awards night, and will foster donations to the endowments currently existing in Justice Juriansz’ name at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Speaking at his swearing-out ceremony on August 30, 2021, current SABA President, Devin Persaud, thanked Justice Juriansz for his innumerable contributions to the bar and his passion for improving the law and the legal process.  Notable SABA members have also offered the following heartfelt messages:

As a lawyer, Justice Juriansz was a lion of the human rights bar. As a judge, he brought that same intelligence, thoughtfulness, and empathy to bear, which made him one of our finest. Justice Juriansz has been many “firsts” and, in just being so, South Asian lawyers across North America have stood on his shoulders. He has been a mentor to and champion for many lawyers of all backgrounds, providing sage advice and guidance on how to navigate our profession and our duties. His presence on the bench will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

Ranjan Agarwal, SABA President (2015 – 2017)

Humble, brilliant and supportive are the words that come to mind when describing The Honourable Juriansz.  His support of SABA since its onset and his model to our members has been inspiring.  His accessibility and engaging presence in the legal community has encouraged and influenced so many.  As the first South Asian Justice on the Court of Appeal, he has paved a road for many to follow and for that, we are forever grateful.

Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi, SABA President (2010 – 2011)

Beyond the obviously tremendous intellect, Justice Juriansz carried himself with a charm and dignity that made me feel privileged to be in his company.  As I got to know him, my admiration grew as I understood what he went through being a trailblazer for the South Asians in Canadian society and our legal system.  His leadership and tenacity in pushing for greater meaningful South Asian representation in law firms and the judiciary was unwavering.  Justice Juriansz inspired many of us, including myself.  He is a reminder that we are never too old to find role models.

Bobby Sachdeva, Miller Thomson LLP

SABA Toronto congratulates Justice Juriansz on his retirement and extends heartfelt wishes to Kaye and the rest of their family on the next stage of their lives.

About SABA Toronto

The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is Canada’s largest equity-seeking bar organization, dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. SABA represents South Asian legal professionals and ensures that their interests are recognized, respected and voiced with the Law Society of Ontario and various levels of provincial and federal government. SABA aims to unite its over 800 members, deliver programming for professional growth and advancement, promote access to justice and give back to South Asian communities.  Its membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes legal professionals from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies/ departments, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto.

South Asian Bar Association of Toronto

sabatoronto@gmail.com

SABA Toronto Elects new Executive and Board Members

ANNOUNCEMENT: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NEW BOARD EXECUTIVE, AND STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/resources/practice-management/south-asian-bar-association-of-toronto-names-new-executive-and-board-members/358803

TORONTO, ONTARIO – The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (SABA Toronto), which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, held their Annual General Meeting on July 28, 2021. During the meeting, new board members and a new executive were also elected. SABA also recognized its Student Recognition Award Winners during this meeting.

SABA Board of Directors, 2021-2022

The 2021-2022 Board of Directors of SABA in alphabetical order by last name are:

  • Anisha Bhardwaj
  • Monty Dhaliwal
  • Davin Garg
  • Maneesha Gupta
  • Ravi Jain
  • Komil Joshi
  • Arun Krishnamurti
  • Sarah Malik
  • Amrita Mann
  • Ashok Menen
  • Devin Persaud
  • Janani Shanmuganathan
  • Mohena Singh
  • Amrita Tamber
  • Annie Tayyab
Aaron Bains will continue to serve on the board as Past-President

SABA Toronto would like to thank all the outgoing Board members for their leadership and hard work.

SABA Board Executive

Devin Persaud of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP has been newly elected as the President of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto. “It is my privilege to lead this storied organization and I look forward to working with our new board on continuing SABA’s essential mandates. We will continue to support and uplift both our members and our communities as we emerge from the effects of the pandemic. We also look forward to showcasing our city in preparing to host the national SABA convention in 2024 for the first time,” said Persaud.

Annie Tayyab has been elected as Vice-President, Monty Dhaliwal elected as Secretary, and

Mohena Singh appointed as Treasurer.

SABA Student Recognition Award Winners

SABA Toronto would also like to congratulate our Student Recognition Award Winners: Farrah Kudus from Queen’s University Faculty of Law, Priyanka Bahl from the University of Ottawa, Darren Gill from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, and Shruti Ramesh from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. All award winners were selected due to their outstanding contributions to their schools, SALSA Chapters, local communities, and outstanding academic achievements.

About SABA Toronto

The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is Canada’s largest equity-seeking bar organization, dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. SABA represents South Asian legal professionals and ensures that their interests are recognized, respected and voiced with the Law Society of Ontario and various levels of provincial and federal government. SABA aims to unite its over 800 members, deliver programming for professional growth and advancement, promote access to justice and give back to South Asian communities. Its membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes legal professionals from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies/ departments, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto.

Congratulations to Justice Jamal on his Appointment to the Supreme Court

SABA MEMBER APPOINTED TO SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

SABA Toronto extends a warm congratulations to Justice Mahmud Jamal for his nomination to the Supreme Court of Canada, which was announced earlier today. We are excited to see this historic nomination of a judge with South Asian heritage to the highest court in the country.

Justice Jamal has had a distinguished legal career. Immediately before his nomination to the Supreme Court, he served as a judge on the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Before his time on the bench, he practised with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in the fields of appellate litigation, constitutional and public law, class actions, and commercial litigation. He appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in 35 appeals addressing a wide range of civil, constitutional, criminal, and regulatory issues. He also appeared before various provincial courts, the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Tax Court of Canada, and federal and provincial administrative tribunals. He is bilingual.

We are proud to count Justice Jamal as a long-time supporter and member of SABA Toronto. Justice Jamal was a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, The Advocates’ Society, and the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History. He was a member of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute and a trustee of the Canadian Business Law Journal. He has taught constitutional law at McGill University, administrative law at Osgoode Hall Law School, and published widely in his areas of practice. He was also chair of Osler’s pro bono program and a member of its Partnership Board.

We wish Justice Jamal the best as he goes through the formal appointment process.

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SABA Toronto félicite chaleureusement le juge Mahmud Jamal pour sa nomination à la Cour suprême du Canada, qui a été annoncée plus tôt aujourd’hui. Nous sommes ravis de voir cette nomination historique d’un juge d’origine sud-asiatique à la plus haute cour du pays.

Le juge Jamal a une carrière juridique remarquable. Avant sa nomination à la Cour suprême, il a été juge à la Cour d’appel de l’Ontario. Avant de siéger à la Cour, il a exercé le droit au sein du cabinet Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP dans les domaines du droit constitutionnel et public, du droit des recours collectifs, du droit d’appel et du litige commercial. Il a plaidé devant la Cour suprême du Canada à 35 reprises dans des causes portant sur un large éventail de questions touchant au droit civil, constitutionnel, criminel et réglementaire. Il a également plaidé devant diverses cours provinciales, la Cour fédérale, la Cour d’appel fédérale, la Cour canadienne de l’impôt, ainsi que devant plusieurs tribunaux administratifs fédéraux et provinciaux. Le juge Jamal est bilingue.

Nous sommes fières de compter le juge Jamal parmi les partisans et membres de longue date de SABA Toronto. Il a également été administrateur de l’Association canadienne des libertés civiles, de La Société des plaideurs et de la Société Osgoode pour l’histoire juridique canadienne. Il a été membre de l’Institut de plaidoirie devant la Cour suprême et fiduciaire de la Revue canadienne du droit de commerce. Il a enseigné le droit constitutionnel à l’Université McGill, le droit administratif à la Faculté de droit Osgoode Hall et a publié de nombreux articles dans ses domaines de pratique. Il a également été président du programme de pro bono du cabinet Osler et membre de son conseil de partenariat.

Nous souhaitons bonne chance au juge Jamal dans le cadre de la procédure de nomination officielle.

 

SABA & Hillsdale Help India fundraiser for UNICEF India

A huge thank you to those who donated through the SABA & Hillsdale Help India fundraiser for UNICEF India. We have now surpassed our goal and raised more than $36,000! Your generosity has made a difference: over the last month, a total of 16630 oxygen concentrators; 15961 oxygen cylinders; 19 oxygen generation plants; 11516 ventilators/Bi PAP; and about 6.9 L of Remdesivir vials have been delivered/dispatched.
 
SABA would also like to thank Hillsdale for matching donations up to $15,000! We and UNICEF India appreciate the support.
 
This is also your last chance to donate to the SABA North America fundraiser!
 
SABA Toronto is also proud to have partnered with SABA North America and various SABA chapters throughout Canada and the United States to raise additional funds through the end of May. All individual donations we receive at this linkhttps://www.sabalegalfdn.org/indian-covid-relief through May 31, 2021 will be used to support reputable charitable organizations fighting COVID in India.

ANNOUNCEMENT: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NEW BOARD EXECUTIVE, AND STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS

 

For Immediate Release, August 5, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENT: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NEW BOARD EXECUTIVE, AND STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS

TORONTO, ONTARIO – The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (SABA Toronto) held their Annual General Meeting on July 30, 2020. During the meeting, new board members and a new executive were also elected. SABA also recognized its Student Recognition Award Winners during this meeting.

SABA Board of Directors, 2020-2021

The 2020-2021 Board of Directors of SABA in alphabetical order by last name are:

Aarondeep Bains

Anisha Bhardwaj

Monty Dhaliwal

Amandeep Dhillon

Maneesha Gupta

Ravi Jain

Melissa Krishna

Sarah Malik

Ashok Menen

Devin Persaud

Richa Sandill

Janani Shanmuganathan

Jasmine Singh

Amrita Tamber

Annie Tayyab

SABA Toronto would like to thank all the outgoing Board members for their leadership and work.

SABA Board Executive

Aarondeep Bains of Aird & Berlis LLP has been re-elected as the President of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto. “I look forward to working with our strong board and leading SABA Toronto as we work on important advocacy and diversity issues facing racialised licensees during the next year,” said Bains.

Jasmine Singh has been elected as Vice-President, Devin Persaud appointed as Treasurer, and Annie Tayyab elected as Secretary.

SABA Student Recognition Award Winners

SABA Toronto would also like to congratulate our Student Recognition Award Winners: Rono Khan from Queen’s University Faculty of Law, Shailaja Nadarajah from Queen’s University Faculty of Law, Gurvir Sangha from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and Jayashree Sivakumar from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. All award winners were selected due to their outstanding contributions to their schools, SALSA Chapters, local communities, and outstanding academic achievements.

About SABA Toronto

The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is the GTA’s premier legal organization dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. Members of SABA Toronto include lawyers that self-identify as South Asian or are of South Asian origin, and lawyers that advocate on issues of relevance to the South Asian community. Our membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes lawyers from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto.

South Asian Bar Association of Toronto

sabatoronto@gmail.com