COMMUNITY ACTION
Community Action
While involved in innumerable community activities, the Toronto Lawyers Association represents our members to the Ontario bench and bar, to all levels of government, and to the public at large. We participate in charitable events, liaise with other legal associations, provide educational mock trials at local public schools, and sit on committees related to legal and courthouse issues.
TLA steps up to aid Pro Bono Ontario
An outpouring of support from the legal profession has made a difference at Pro Bono Ontario (PBO), as the organization expects the Law Help Centres, in danger of closing on Dec. 14, 2018, will remain open in the short term until more sustainable funding can be secured.
Members of the profession who have been urging the provincial government or the Law Society of Ontario to provide sustained funding, have turned out their own pockets to keep PBO’s Law Help Centres open. The court-based centres in Toronto and Ottawa assist over 18,000 Ontarians facing the justice system alone.
Dirk Derstine, a partner at Derstine Penman, and past president of the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA), said the TLA’s board realized the situation was dire and decided to make a $35,000 donation to fill PBO’s short-term fundraising goal to keep the doors of the centres open until more sustainable funding can be secured.
“I think that everybody in the justice system recognizes what a crucial role Pro Bono Ontario plays in the administration of justice,” he said, noting that it provides people a shot at getting help and also saves the judicial system a lot of time. “It’s a wonderful program and it’s a program that ought to be funded by government ,” he added. Read the full article.
TLA Week at the PBO Hotline, May 7-11, 2018
Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline is barely six months old, and it has already provided pro bono legal services to over 6,000 callers with civil problems and nowhere to turn. It is hard to think of a more concrete and effective way for the legal profession to work together to increase access to justice.
Please consider volunteering your time for one full-day shift during TLA week! May 7-11 has been designated TLA week and we want to get our members out to help low-income Ontarians with, what are to them, overwhelming legal problems. Volunteers arrive at 9 am, and take calls from approximately 9:30 am to 4 pm, with a break for lunch. You can choose which areas of civil law you wish to service. The current choices are: civil procedure; employment; consumer; housing; corporate law for small businesses, charities and non-profits; and, creating powers of attorney. TLA members are encouraged to commit to one full-day shift.
Check the Volunteer FAQs for more details about the hotline. To volunteer, please contact Nicole Kellow at nicole@probonoontario.org or sign-up online.
Still not convinced? Read TLA Secretary Brett Harrison's letter about his experience with PBO. Help us lead by example through community action.
Lawyers Feed the Hungry
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The Law Society Foundation
The Toronto Lawyers Association is proud that 100% of our Board of Directors support the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program. Please consider making a donation to this worthy cause, sponsoring a meal or even donating your time to volunteer at a meal.
Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry is celebrating 20 years of service. Watch the Video.
2018 News & Events
5th Annual Billiards with the Bar 2018: Chalk One Up Against Hunger
Thursday, October 18, 2018
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto
Casual attire. Tickets $90 each, food included. Cash Bar.
All proceeds to the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program. Full details here.
Purchase tickets online through the Law Society Foundation.
2017 News & Events
Fall Ball - Dancing with the Bar 2017
Friday, November 24, 2017
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Location and details to be announced.
4th Annual Billiards with the Bar 2017: Chalk One Up Against Hunger
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto
Casual attire. Tickets $90 each, food included. Cash Bar.
All proceeds to the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program. Full details here.
Purchase tickets online through the Law Society Foundation.
Bowl-a-Thon - Make a strike against hunger!
Sunday, April 9, 2017
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Bathurst Bowlerama, 2788 Bathurst Street, North York, ON
For information on how to purchase tickets or be a sponsor, see the event flyer.
13th Annual Bugsy and Ken Charity Golf Tournament
Benefiting Lawyers Feed the Hungry and Camp Oochiegeas
June 14, 2017, Shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. / Reception at 5:00 p.m. / Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
DiamondBack Golf Club, 13300 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill
Each year the colleagues, friends and families of David H. "Bugsy" Newman, Q.C., and Ken Danson pay tribute to their memory by organizing and supporting this successful event, which also benefits Camp Oochiegeas, a camp for kids with cancer. To date, over $550,000 has been raised by the annual tournament.
This year's honourees are: The Hon. George Strathy, Chief Justice of Ontario and Elyse Strathy
Play some golf or enjoy a dinner with good company for a worthwhile cause. Full details here.
2016 News & Events
Fall Ball 2016
Friday, November 25, 2016
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Le Dome Banquet Hall, 1173 North Service Road East, Oakville
Dinner, Dancing, Silent Auction, Cash Bar
Live Music by the John Street Band. Formal Attire required.
Tickets $185.00 pp. All proceeds to the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program.
For information on how to purchase tickets, see the event flyer.
3rd Annual Billiards with the Bar: Chalk One up Against Hunger
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto
Casual attire. Tickets $90 each, food included. Cash Bar.
All proceeds to the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program. Full details here.
Purchase tickets online through the Law Society Foundation.
12th Annual Bugsy and Ken Charity Golf Tournament
Benefiting Lawyers Feed the Hungry and Camp Oochiegeas
June 15, 2016, Shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. / Reception at 5:00 p.m. / Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
DiamondBack Golf Club, Richmond Hill
Each year the colleagues, friends and families of David H. "Bugsy" Newman, Q.C., and Ken Danson pay tribute to their memory by organizing and supporting this successful event, which also benefits Camp Oochiegeas, a camp for kids with cancer. To date, over $550,000 has been raised by the annual tournament.
This year's honouree and guest speaker is Marie Henein.
Play some golf or enjoy a dinner with good company for a worthwhile cause.
2015 News & Events
Monthly Giving
Every week Toronto lawyers connect with hundreds of people through the Feed the Hungry program. Because of the commitment of 100 volunteers and donations made through the Law Society Foundation, 4 hot meals are provided each week, all year round, to those in need. Toronto lawyers should be very proud of this important program that is put on in our names!
The Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program fills a critical need in the city and demands on the program continue to rise. Unfortunately, despite the increase in the number of guests, donations to the program have declined. As a result, the program is strained financially. Some emergency fundraising initiatives have had to be undertaken recently to ensure that the program could be sustained.
2nd Annual Billiards with the Bar: Chalk One up Against Hunger
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto
On behalf of the hosts of this event – Neuberger & Partners LLP, Hull & Hull LLP, Toronto Lawyers Association and The Law Society Foundation - we invite you to come out and support the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program.
As you may know, feeding people in need is the goal of the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program, which is funded by the Law Society Foundation (charitable registration no. 11924 1719 RR0001). The program launched in 1998 by providing meals once a week. Today, the program serves meals four times a week. Each month, the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program provides over 3,500 meals through the Osgoode Hall cafeteria. The cost to run the program, which provides approximately 45,000 meals a year, is almost $350,000 annually. Please join us to support this worthy cause!
Food included, cash bar.
Bid on interesting and fun items at the Silent Auction.
2014 News & Events
Dancing with the Bar - Act II
Friday, November 7, 2014
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Le Dome Banquet Hall, 1173 North Service Road East, Oakville
Mark your calendar for an evening of elegance and dance with a Mardi Gras theme! Continuous music from the John Street Band and a DJ, sumptuous gourmet dinner, entertainment and show, cash bar and silent auction. Get out of the hustle and bustle in the city. It’s worth the drive to Oakville!!
Please join us for a fundraiser benefiting the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program.
Program Chairs: Citibank, Law Society Foundation, and Toronto Lawyers Association.
Billiards with the Bar: Chalk One up Against Hunger
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Chalkers Pub Billiards Bistro, 247 Marlee Ave
On behalf of the hosts of this event – Neuberger & Partners LLP, Hull & Hull LLP, Toronto Lawyers Association and The Law Society Foundation - we are hoping that you will reserve Tuesday, October 21, 2014 as an evening to support the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program. 
As you may know, feeding people in need is the goal of the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program, which is funded by the Law Society Foundation (charitable registration no. 11924 1719 RR0001). The program launched in 1998 by providing meals once a week. Today, the program serves meals four times a week. Each month, the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program provides over 3,500 meals through the Osgoode Hall cafeteria. The cost to run the program, which provides approximately 45,000 meals a year, is almost $350,000 annually.
The generosity of lawyers and their firms has played a key role in this program's ability to help those in need in Toronto. We need your financial support through the Billiards evening to help this program continue its good work. With over 90 cents of every dollar raised going directly to the operation of the program, your contribution goes a long way.
Sustainability is the challenge with an ever growing demand for this program. Lawyers Feed the Hungry plays a vital role in the downtown core, helping individuals and families trapped on the edge. Plan to assist this worthy cause by participating in our Billiards evening, or by being a contributor in support of the event. All contributors will be acknowledged at the event and will receive a letter from the Law Society Foundation for business expense purposes.
Casual attire Tickets: $90 each
Food included, cash bar
Bid on interesting and fun items at the Silent Auction.
As lawyers practicing in Toronto, we can be proud of our role in helping our City’s most vulnerable. Please be a part of this event in support of our own charity – a program that is in ever increasing need of your financial support.
10th Annual Bugsy and Ken Charity Golf Tournament
Benefiting Lawyers Feed the Hungry and Camp Oochiegeas
June 18, 2014
DiamondBack Golf Club, Richmond Hill
Each year the colleagues, friends and families of David H. "Bugsy" Newman, Q.C., and Ken Danson pay tribute to their memory by organizing and supporting this successful event, which also benefits Camp Oochiegeas, a camp for kids with cancer. To date, over $400,000 has been raised by the annual tournament for the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program.
Register now for the Bugsy and Ken Charity Golf Tournament, taking place this year on June 18, 2014 at the DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill. Play some golf or enjoy a dinner with good company for a worthwhile cause
For additional information on the Lawyers Feed the Hungry program, please visit the website.
Roundtable of Diversity Associations (RODA)
Name
Roundtable of Diversity Associations – "RODA” (Portugese for "circle”)
History
In the spring of 2011, the Toronto Lawyers Association ("TLA”) and other diverse seeking lawyers associations came together to discuss the DiverseCity Report, in particular the disproportionately low number of visible minority leaders in the legal profession.
The TLA then collaborated with the diverse seeking lawyers associations in the summer of 2011 to plan the 1st Diversity Soiree in the fall.
The TLA hosted the first Diversity Soiree on November 24, 2011 in the TLA Lounge at 361 University Avenue. The wine and cheese event was a great success with about 135 people in attendance, including several distinguished Ontario judges and members from ten ethnic bar associations who jointly sponsored the event. Justice Harry LaForme, who is a member of the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation and the first Aboriginal person to be appointed to sit on any appellate court in the history of Canada, was on hand to provide opening remarks. The Diversity Soiree represented the first collaboration between the TLA and these ten ethnic bar associations and the results were very promising.
Subsequent to the success of the 1st Diversity Soiree of fall, 2011, representatives of the TLA and other diversity seeking associations/organizations within the legal community met in March, 2012 with a view to establishing an ongoing relationship between associations so that they could celebrate, promote and encourage diversity within the legal profession and beyond (including the bench and law schools).
For a full history of the formation of RODA click here .
Current Participating Associations/Organizations:
- Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
- Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario
- Association of Chinese Canadian Lawyers of Ontario
- Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
- Canadian Association of Muslim Women in Law
- Canadian Association of Somali Lawyers
- Canadian Association of South Asian Lawyers
- Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
- Canadian Italian Advocates Organization
- Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association
- Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers
- Filipino Canadian Lawyers Network
- Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association
- Indigenous Bar Association
- Iranian Canadian Legal Professionals
- Korean Canadian Lawyers Association
- Macedonian Canadian Lawyers Association
- OBA Equality Committee
- OBA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law Section
- South Asian Bar Association
- Toronto Lawyers Association
- Women’s Law Association of Ontario
Diversity Soiree
Since 2011, RODA has hosted an extremely successful annual Diversity Soiree. The focus of this event is to provide an opportunity for members of Toronto’s diverse legal community to come together to exchange ideas, contacts and to socialize in an informal and collegial atmosphere.
The 3rd annual Diversity Soiree was held on Nov 28, 2013. Opening Remarks were provided by The Hon. Mr. Justice Russell Juriansz, Court of Appeal for Ontario. A copy of Justice Juriansz' remarks can be found here.
The soiree was preceded by the historical signing ceremony of the RODA Terms of Reference by representatives from the various participating organizations.
The tradition of the Diversity Soiree had continued in years since and details of all past events are available here .