Lexpert Magazine

46 LEXPERT MAGAZINE | JUNE 2016 columns in leading Toronto newspapers and other publications. Anthony is the author of the Universal Charter on Media Representations of Black Peoples, which challenges the media to more closely exam- ine its coverage of black people and com- munities. He has also been a leader in the decades-long fight against police carding of citizens, which has been applied in a dis- proportionate and discriminatory fashion against black citizens and other minori- ties. New rules now require police to state their reasons for requesting identification; inform anyone who voluntarily complies of their right not to give identifying informa- tion; and provide everyone they stop with a document that includes the name and badge number of the officer. Lisa Munro LERNERS LLP > TORONTO Lisa Munro joined Lerners LLP in 1992, becoming a partner in 2001. Lisa became commercial litigation group leader and was then elected to one of four seats on the executive committee in 2007. In this role, she influences the strategic direction and financial health of the firm, includ- ing the recruitment, development and retention of young lawyers. She is the partner who approves Lerners' pro bono work, offering services to diverse religious and socio-economic communities. Exam- ples of Lisa's leadership include refusing to accept resignations of female partners who, aer having children, intended to resign, and helping them transition back to work; mentoring one talented woman from student to influential equity part- ner, practice group leader and co-manag- er of the firm's largest client relationship; and creating a performance coaching pro- gram to support lawyers with marketing and business development. Kim Murray MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL > TORONTO A member of the Kanehsatake Mohawk Nation, Kim Murray practised Aboriginal law for two decades before being appointed the first Assistant Deputy Attorney Gen- eral for the Aboriginal Justice Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in 2014. She has served as Execu- tive Director of the Truth and Reconcilia- tion Commission of Canada and as Execu- tive Director of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto. Her service also includes work on the Aboriginal Working Group of the Law Society of Upper Canada and on the Aboriginal Advisory Committee of Legal Aid Ontario. As Assistant Deputy Attor- ney General, she leads the development of new programs and services for Aboriginal people in Ontario's justice system and is responsible for Ontario's response to the report on First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries. Wesley Ng STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP > TORONTO Growing up in a multi-ethnic commu- nity, Wesley Ng witnessed society's differ- ent treatment of individuals based on race and cultural background. As an associ- ate at Stikeman in 2002, Wes was one of a small group of lawyers who proposed a diversity committee. e committee was one of the first among Canadian law firms and Wes maintains a leadership role, act- ing as a mentor to diverse students and lawyers, including mentoring lawyers from the Internationally Trained Lawyers Pro- gram; creating awareness of potential for unconscious bias in recruitment; fostering a collaborative relationship with diversity groups; and initiating the firm's partner- ship with Pathways to Education, encour- aging young people from at-risk commu- nities to stay in school. What began as a grassroots effort in the Toronto office has become a formal national committee. NSBS Equity & Access Office NOVA SCOTIA BARRISTERS' SOCIETY > HALIFAX Equity & Access Office activities fall un- der priority areas identified through the Society's strategic framework, equity com- mittees and input from community voices. Activities for 2015‒2016 fall under the fol- lowing priority areas: community engage- ment; cultural competence; and equity in the profession. TalkJustice (#TalkJustice) is a new online initiative that has become the centrepiece of the Society's community engagement work. Run in collaboration with the communications office, it pro- vides a platform for members of the pub- lic, particularly from equity-seeking and economically disadvantaged communities, to outline the barriers and challenges they face in trying to access the justice system. is project is designed to engage to deci- sion makers who can address these complex challenges. Input from TalkJustice deter- mines the future direction of the Society's access-to-justice projects. BLACK LAW STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION OSGOODE HALL LAW SCHOOL YORK UNIVERSITY Osgoode Black Law Students Association OSGOODE HALL LAW SCHOOL > TORONTO e Osgoode Black Law Students As- sociation (BLSA) has celebrated Black History Month with the creation of e Honourable Lincoln Alexander Award, | ZENITH AWARDS |

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