Dear Beth...A Women in Law Podcast

• “Sweeping Away the Cobwebs”: Madam Justice Rosalie Abella on Justice Advocacy and Social Change

  For former Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, justice advocacy isn’t limited to the confines of a courtroom. It is about channeling one’s skills, knowledge and passion toward creating system-wide change and “sweeping away the cobwebs” of injustice. As a Supreme Court Justice, she oversaw landmark decisions including an opinion that paved the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada in 2004.    We also hear perspectives from Indigenous lawyer Eleanore Sunchild Q.C. and Nicole Sarauer, a lawyer and NDP MLA for Regina Douglas Park. And in our letters segment, Beth sits down with her colleague Jamesy Patrick, an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, to discuss her own work advocating for social change and bringing equity and change to the workplace.    GUESTS/PANELISTS   Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, Samuel LLM ’55, SJD ’59 and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law 2023-2024 Justice Abella’s legal career has been marked by a series of firsts: she was the first Jewish woman appointed to Canada’s top court; the first pregnant woman appointed to the judiciary in Canada; and the first refugee appointed to the bench in Canada. She graduated from University College in 1967, earned her law degree at U of T in 1970 and received an honorary degree from U of T in 1990. Among her many accolades, Abella was presented with the Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to U of T, Canada and the world. In 2020, she was honoured with Germany’s Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit, one of the country’s top national decorations for non-civilians, in recognition of the lessons she has drawn from the Holocaust about the need to protect minority rights and democracy. Since her retirement from the Court in 2021, she has been the Samuel and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. In 2023,  she received an honourary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.   Eleanore Sunchild, K.C. is an Indigenous lawyer from the Thunderchild First Nation and received her call to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1999.  Eleanore Sunchild, Q.C. has represented clients across Canada and has appeared in all levels of court across Canada. She is most proud of her representation of Debbie Baptiste at the Supreme Court of Canada as an intervenor in the case of R. v. Chonan, where the elimination of peremptory challenges was upheld. Eleanore Sunchild, Q.C. graduated from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, obtained a B.A. in Political Science and studied French immersion at the Faculté  St. Jean, U of A.  She is sought after for her knowledge of the Indian Residential school system, 60s scoop and the resistance and continuous impact on Indigenous Peoples.   Nicole Sarauer, is a mom, pal, lawyer, lover of live music and, since 2016, MLA for Regina Douglas Park. After legal studies in Saskatoon, Nicole returned to her hometown of Regina and worked in private practice and at a provincial charity giving free legal representation to those unable to afford it. She continues to offer free legal aid through Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan and has also volunteered her time to the Regina Sexual Assault Centre, Amnesty International, the YWCA and the Regina Catholic School Board (as Trustee).    Jamesy Patrick received both her JD (2012) and LLM (2017) from the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to that, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree cum laude in Dance (2006). Before joining the College of Law as an Assistant Professor in 2022, she practiced law in Saskatoon with a focus on child protection matters and Indigenous governance in relation to child protection.    PHOTO CREDITS:  Photo of Madam Justice Rosalie Abella (Photo credit: Randy Belice for Northwestern Law) Creative Commons

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• “You Can’t Self-Help Your Way Out of Inequality, Oppression or Exhaustion”

  In this, our last episode of Season One, the team at Dear Beth welcomes acclaimed, award-winning author and activist Soraya Chemaly. Chemaly’s book, Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger poses a simple, yet provocative question: Why do we not appreciate women’s anger as a catalyst for social change? In their conversation with Chemaly, Brea and Leah unpack why her book is so influential - particularly for those working in male-dominated fields such as law. They also explore the reasons why women’s anger has long been suppressed and be-littled, while the anger of men is allowed more expression and given more validity. Chemaly encourages listeners to consider how the emotion of anger can be viewed in a different light: as an emotion that can be channeled for personal growth and a powerful tool to fight against injustice.  In the last half of the episode, Brea, Beth, Leah and Jen sit down to reflect on their favorite moments from the past season and the power of storytelling which they captured in their own book: Creating a Seat at the Table: Reflections From Women in Law. Sharing their perspectives on the book and what they learned about the experience of women in law is Professor of Law Dwight Newman and Law Student Brock Melnyk both of the University of Saskatchewan Law School. And we also hear once again from entertainment lawyer and Canadian musician Safwan Javed who shares his perspective on allyship and how to use one’s privilege for good.    GUEST BIO: Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning author and activist. She writes and speaks frequently on topics related to gender, inclusivity, social justice, free speech, sexualized violence, and technology. The former Executive Director of The Representation Project and Director and co-founder of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project, she has long been committed to expanding women’s civic and political participation. Soraya is also the author of Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger, which was recognized as a Best Book of 2018 by the Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and NPR and has been translated into multiple languages. She is a contributor to several anthologies, most recently Free Speech in the Digital Age and Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change The World.  Soraya is also a co-producer of a WMC #NameItChangeIt PSA highlighting the effects of online harassment on women in politics in America.  Her work is featured widely in media, documentaries, books, and academic research. As an activist, Ms. Chemaly has spearheaded several successful global campaigns challenging corporations to address online hate and harassment, restrictive content moderation and censorship, and institutional biases that undermine equity and negatively affect free speech. Prior to 2010, Ms. Chemaly spent more than fifteen years as a market development executive and consultant in the media and data technology industries. Her upcoming book, The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on Strength, Grit, and Growth After Trauma, will be released May 2024. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Dranitzke Additional Reading:  CHEMALY, S. (2024). Rage becomes her. SIMON & SCHUSTER LTD.  Chemaly, S. (May 2024). Resilience myth: New thinking on grit, strength, and growth after trauma. Atria Books.  Bilson, B., Howie, L., & Lowenberger, B. (2023). Creating a seat at The table: Reflections From Women in Law. University of Regina Press.  Co-Editor Bios:  Beth Bilson, KC, PhD has enjoyed a career of teaching, writing, deaning, arbitrating, and community engagement that began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, and she has never run out of interesting things to do. Leah Howie, BEng, BSc, LLB, LLM lives in beautiful Saskatoon with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats. She loves reading, connecting people, travelling, and spending time outside on the prairies, in the mountains, by the river, and in the boreal forest. She enjoys thinking about ways to improve the law in her work in the area of law reform, and teaching and coaching law students as a sessional lecturer for the College of Law. Brea Lowenberger, BA, JD, LLM is a lifelong learner and collaborator who hopes to leave the individuals and communities she interacts with a bit better than she found them. She is passionate about teaching and implementing design strategies that improve access to justice for Saskatchewan residents through her roles as Access to Justice coordinator, director of CREATE Justice, and sessional lecturer for the College of Law. When she isn’t working, she enjoys adventures with family and friends, travelling, being active, nature, reading, and creating music and art.  

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• “Think (Much) Bigger”

  Justice Michele Hollins says back in 2005, it was as though she had everything one could ask for in life. She had an incredible and fulfilling career as a lawyer and two wonderful twin daughters. And yet, something wasn’t right.   She would eventually fall into a deep depression that hindered her ability to practice law, let alone get out of bed. It was a stage in her life marked by both pain and frustration. And yet it was transformative in that Justice Hollins discovered how vitally important mental health is in a profession that has historically viewed self-care as being at odds with ambition.  In this episode, Justice Hollins reflects on those experiences and why she now advocates for greater awareness about mental health in the legal profession. We also hear her speak more broadly about what it means to think and dream much bigger and why this too is an integral part of wellness and well-being.  We also hear from Toronto-based commercial litigation lawyer Breanna Needham on what she believes will be the next frontier when it comes to improving equity, diversity, and belonging in the legal profession. And Ashala Naidu, a lawyer, entrepreneur and owner of Naidu Legal describes how she is creating a culture of wellness, inclusivity and support  within her own firm.  And in our Letters segment, Beth and Jen sit down with Dr. Judy Jaunzems-Fernuk, Well-being Coordinator in the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan who explains that law is actually a caregiving profession and that it is essential every lawyer pay close attention to self-care, mental health and wellness. Jody Martin, Director of Regulation for the Law Society of Saskatchewan shares what types of resources are available to lawyers in the province who are looking for support.  GUEST BIOS: Justice Michele Hollins  Originally from Saskatchewan, Justice Hollins obtained her B.Sc. from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas in 1987 and then her LL.B. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1992. After clerking to the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, she worked at McCarthy Tetrault in Calgary, Alberta until 2001, when she joined the firm of Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP. She became a partner there in 2004 and received her Queen’s Counsel designation in 2008. Prior to her appointment in 2017, Justice Hollins had a varied civil and commercial litigation practice, with a focus on employment law. She appeared before all levels of Alberta Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. Michele was involved in the Canadian Bar Association for many years, including serving as the National President in 2014-2015. She received the Louis St. Laurent Award for service to the CBA in 2010 and the Women in Law Leadership Award in 2013. In 2019, she received the CBA Wellness Award for Excellence in recognition of her work to advance mental health in the profession by sharing her own experience with others. Since her appointment to the Court of King’s Bench, she has continued to speak and write on issues of mental health in the legal profession and has taught or participated in many substantive legal education conferences, including social media, judgment writing, advocacy and civil and criminal procedure. Michele has adult twin daughters who flew the nest many years ago to make their own nests in Chicago and Los Angeles respectively. There are also a number of baby birds now so they all visit each others’ nests regularly! Dr. Judy Jaunzems-Fernuk, RTC, MTC, is the Well-being Coordinator in the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a Lecturer and Researcher in the College of Education, bringing over two decades of educational expertise and clinical practice to her endeavours. Judy has a keen interest in the intersections of mental health, leadership, and education. Therapeutic and healing-centred practices are her current focus. Judy believes self-care and personal well-being are essential for strong leadership, especially for those in caregiving professions.  Additional Resources:  Law Society of Saskatchewan Bite Sized CPD Series: https://www.lawsociety.sk.ca/continuing-professional-development/cpd-activities/recorded-versions-shop/bite-size-cpd-series/  Law Society of Saskatchewan recorded wellness sessions: https://www.lawsociety.sk.ca/continuing-professional-development/cpd-activities/recorded-versions-shop/  Co-Editor Bios:  Beth Bilson, KC, PhD has enjoyed a career of teaching, writing, deaning, arbitrating, and community engagement that began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, and she has never run out of interesting things to do. Leah Howie, BEng, BSc, LLB, LLM lives in beautiful Saskatoon with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats. She loves reading, connecting people, travelling, and spending time outside on the prairies, in the mountains, by the river, and in the boreal forest. She enjoys thinking about ways to improve the law in her work in the area of law reform, and teaching and coaching law students as a sessional lecturer for the College of Law. Brea Lowenberger, BA, JD, LLM is a lifelong learner and collaborator who hopes to leave the individuals and communities she interacts with a bit better than she found them. She is passionate about teaching and implementing design strategies that improve access to justice for Saskatchewan residents through her roles as Access to Justice coordinator, director of CREATE Justice, and sessional lecturer for the College of Law. When she isn’t working, she enjoys adventures with family and friends, travelling, being active, nature, reading, and creating music and art. Social handles: (@hollinsmichele)  Photo Credit: supplied by Justice Michele Hollins

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  1:05:58
• Creating a Seat at the Table: A Roundtable Discussion

  In this special episode of Dear Beth, A Women in Law Podcast, we share a recording of the official student book launch of Creating a Seat at the Table: Reflections from Women in Law which took place October 16th, 2023 at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.    This live recording features hosts Beth Bilson and Jen Quesnel in conversation with five dynamic women all working in diverse areas of law and or academia.  The lively and candid discussion focuses on ways to advance inclusion in the legal profession and includes questions from those in the audience.      Sharing their insights and experiences were Amelia Lowe-Muller, Adrienne Forgeron, Christine Glazer, Jaime Lavallee, and Rachel Loewen-Walker; each of whom share their personal insights and reflections about women working in law, encountering discrimination, and working to make the legal profession more inclusive of all people.    GUESTS/PANELISTS Amelia Lowe-Muller, Legal Counsel - Labour and Employee Relations at Saskatchewan Health Authority Adrienne Forgeron, Owner, The Gentle Lawyer Christine Glazer, Senior Litigation Lawyer, Mckercher LLP Jaime Lavallee, Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan College of Law Rachel Loewen-Walker, Assistant Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts & Science   Opening Remarks: Heather Heavin, Associate Dean, Academic at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law CO-EDITOR BIOS:   Beth Bilson, KC, PhD has enjoyed a career of teaching, writing, deaning, arbitrating, and community engagement that began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, and she has never run out of interesting things to do.   Leah Howie, BEng, BSc, LLB, LLM lives in beautiful Saskatoon with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats. She loves reading, connecting people, travelling, and spending time outside on the prairies, in the mountains, by the river, and in the boreal forest. She enjoys thinking about ways to improve the law in her work in the area of law reform, and teaching and coaching law students as a sessional lecturer for the College of Law.   Brea Lowenberger, BA, JD, LLM is a lifelong learner and collaborator who hopes to leave the individuals and communities she interacts with a bit better than she found them. She is passionate about teaching and implementing design strategies that improve access to justice for Saskatchewan residents through her roles as Access to Justice coordinator, director of CREATE Justice, and sessional lecturer for the College of Law. When she isn’t working, she enjoys adventures with family and friends, travelling, being active, nature, reading, and creating music and art.   PHOTO CREDITS: N/A COVER ART: This episode’s cover art is adapted from the original Creating a Seat at the Table book cover art, designed by Duncan Campbell at University of Regina Press (which features “Three women standing side by side” by Monica Jurczyk / Adobe Stock). Adaptation by Hannah Jorgenson.

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• "The Otherside: what does being an accomplice look like?"

  The term “ally” is often used to describe the ways in which people can support those from marginalized and underrepresented groups. But in an era of increasingly divisive politics, and heightened discrimination and prejudice, does being an ally go far enough? In this episode of the “Dear Beth” podcast, we explore what it means to be an accomplice: someone willing to take risks (personally and professionally) in order to stand up for (and stand with) people from marginalized and underrepresented groups.  Special co-host Lawren Trotchie, a Métis lawyer, joins Leah Howie and Jen Quesnel in the studio. Feature guest is Courtenay Phillips, a Cree lawyer who practices privacy law.  Courtenay and Lawren describe their experiences moving through both law school and the legal profession as Indigenous women lawyers and how having strong allies and accomplices made a difference in their lives. Courtenay offers insights on how lawyers and law societies can stand boldly alongside those who need support, even if it means taking some big risks. We hear perspectives from Rachel Loewen Walker, assistant professor and program director in women and gender studies and political studies, Brenda Yuen, lawyer and  research advisor with Cowichan Tribes, diversity equity and inclusion consultant Prasanna Ranganathan, and entertainment lawyer and Canadian musician Safwan Javed.  And in our Letters segment, Beth Bilson explores the challenges students from underrepresented groups encounter when attending law school.  She is joined by law students Jordan Calladine and Fakeha Jamil who speak candidly about their encountering prejudice and discrimination in and outside the law school, and the type of future they envision for themselves as practicing lawyers.    GUEST HOST BIO: Lawren Trotchie is a Métis/Michif woman born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Lawren was raised in a traditional Métis/Michif family by her mother, auntie, and grandparents. She completed her first degree in Sociology with a minor in Crime Law and Justice Studies in 2015 at the University of Saskatchewan. Shortly after, Lawren obtained her Law Degree in 2018 and immediately began her Master of Laws (LLM) degree, both at the University of Saskatchewan. Lawren is currently a lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law and a lawyer at Matrix Law Group.   GUEST BIO: Courtenay Phillips is a Cree woman and a member of Barren Lands First Nation. She practises information management law with the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in Saskatchewan is also a member of the appeal body for Nekaneet First Nation. LETTER SEGMENT GUEST BIOS:   Jordan Calladine is a 3rd year law student and is VP Social for the Indigenous Law Students’ Association. She is a member of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan and holds various positions throughout.   Fakeha Jamil is a 2nd year law student at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law where she is the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Women in Law group. She hopes to practice international law one day.   HOST BIOS:   Beth Bilson, KC, PhD has enjoyed a career of teaching, writing, deaning, arbitrating, and community engagement that began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, and she has never run out of interesting things to do.   Leah Howie, BEng, BSc, LLB, LLM lives in beautiful Saskatoon with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats. She loves reading, connecting people, travelling, and spending time outside on the prairies, in the mountains, by the river, and in the boreal forest. She enjoys thinking about ways to improve the law in her work in the area of law reform, and teaching and coaching law students as a sessional lecturer for the College of Law.   Brea Lowenberger, BA, JD, LLM is a lifelong learner and collaborator who hopes to leave the individuals and communities she interacts with a bit better than she found them. She is passionate about teaching and implementing design strategies that improve access to justice for Saskatchewan residents through her roles as Access to Justice coordinator, director of CREATE Justice, and sessional lecturer for the College of Law. When she isn’t working, she enjoys adventures with family and friends, travelling, being active, nature, reading, and creating music and art.   PHOTO CREDITS:  Submitted COVER ART: Hannah Jorgenson  

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