“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 that benefits all people - and sometimes that work happens in one’s off hours.

Having championed human rights, constitutional and international law, labor rights and more in her illustrious legal career, Madam Justice Abella knows a thing or two about justice advocacy 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. 

In this special episode of Dear Beth, host Beth Bilson sits down with Madam Justice Abella. We also hear perspectives from Indigenous lawyer Eleanore Sunchild Q.C. and Nicole Sarauer, a lawyer and NDP MLA for Regina Douglas Park. Beth’s fellow Co-Editors of Creating a Seat at the Table, Leah Howie and Brea Lowenberger interview Beth about why lawyers ought to push for positive change in the justice system. 

 

GUESTS/PANELISTS

Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, Samuel LLM ’55, SJD ’59 and Judith Pisar Visiting Professor of Law 2023-2024

Abella was born in a Displaced Persons Camp in Stuttgart, Germany in 1946. She came to Canada as a refugee in 1950.

Justice Abella 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.

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 is 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, 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 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.

Eleanore advocates and speaks about the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian criminal legal system and has successfully pursued wrongful death actions and civil actions for those who have been unjustly harmed.

 

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). She is the proud beneficiary of the CBC/Metro's Future 40, the SYPE Young Professional of the Year Award and, best of all, two children and a husband named Jared. They live in Regina.