Episode 066: Legal Literacy for Sexual Abuse Survivors with Vanshika Dhawan
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Release Date: 09/15/2023
Episode 091: Robotics, Real-Life Wins, and Rethinking What’s Possible with Marc Robert of Trexo Robotics
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda welcomes Marc Robert from Trexo Robotics for an insightful episode about the intersection of mobility, technology, and community for kids with disabilities. What began as a father’s search for better options turned into something much bigger, a movement helping families reclaim hope, gather data, and imagine new futures for their children. Marc shares how a viral GoFundMe campaign led to his son becoming one of the earliest users of the Trexo exoskeleton, a robotic gait trainer designed to help children with physical disabilities take assisted steps and build...
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Episode 089: Integrated Care, Celebrating Small Wins, and Supporting Caregivers with Justin Kline, Jane Savage, and Stacie Dertinger
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda welcomes three guests from Clear Water Integrated Health and Anchor Rehab Support Services: Justin Kline, CEO, Jane Savage, Registered Social Worker and Clinical Director, and Stacie Dertinger, Chief Clinical Officer. This multi-pronged conversation explores how their teams are creating wraparound care models for individuals navigating complex diagnoses, brain injuries, and developmental differences, while also prioritizing the mental health and sustainability of caregivers. From partnering with child welfare agencies and designing inter-agency care plans and securing...
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Episode 090: Nutrition, Recovery, and the Missing Link in Brain and Injury Care with Kylie
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda welcomes Kylie James, founder of Koru Nutrition, for a powerful conversation about how nutrition is a missing pillar in recovery care, and how small, manageable changes can lead to massive, measurable results. A Certified Nutritional Practitioner and Registered Occupational Therapist, Kylie shares her unique lens on helping clients recover from motor vehicle accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and chronic stress-related conditions. Drawing from personal experience, clinical research, and day-to-day work with clients across Canada, she unpacks everything from gut-brain health...
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Episode 088: Transforming Legal Practice Through Trauma-Informed Lawyering with Myrna McCallum
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew and Jordan Assaraf are joined by lawyer, speaker, and host of The Trauma-Informed Lawyer podcast, Myrna McCallum. Together, they talk about how trauma shows up in the legal world, for both clients and lawyers, and why creating a safe, empathetic space is essential to the profession. Myrna shares stories from her own life, including her work on the Indian Residential Schools adjudication process, and how her own healing journey led to her passion for trauma-informed advocacy. They dive into the importance of curiosity over judgment, the role of nervous system regulation in...
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Episode 087: Fighting for Justice, From Courtroom to Community with Kris Bonn
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
In this episode, Brenda and Jordan sit down with Kris Bonn, managing partner at Bonn Law, to talk about his unique journey from criminal defense to personal injury and medical malpractice law. Kris opens up about his early career, high-stakes trials, the evolution of his family’s practice, and how small-town roots influence big legal wins. They also explore the importance of collaboration between firms, using tech to improve case management, and how competitive drive fuels strong client advocacy. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Kris shares his background and how his practice in Belleville grew...
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Episode 086: Creating Community Through Inclusion with Charlie Johnstone
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew and Jordan Assaraf catch up with Charlie Johnstone, the new President and CEO of Variety - the Children’s Charity of Ontario. They talk about his first few months on the job, how inclusion and community are driving everything forward, and why his experience running events like the Royal Winter Fair and Honda Indy helped him hit the ground running. They also dig into the importance of creating real partnerships, building sustainable programs, and making space for everyone—on and off the field. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Charlie introduces himself and shares his...
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Episode 085: The Power of Patient Advocacy with Kristy Dickinson
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda welcomes her friend Kristy Dickinson, a rare disease patient, advocate, and founder of Kristy Dickinson Consulting. Together, they chat about the challenges of patient advocacy, the importance of lived experience in healthcare, and how systemic barriers often force patients and caregivers to become their own strongest advocates. They discuss the impact of delayed diagnoses, the need for a cultural shift in the medical field, and how healthcare professionals can work collaboratively with patients for better outcomes. Key Takeaways: [1:01] Brenda introduces guest Kristy Dickinson...
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Episode 084: The Evolution of Legal Practices: Technology and Diversification with Charles Gluckstein, Chris Clifford, and Ted Bergeron
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew is back, this time co-hosting with Charles Gluckstein as they sit down with Chris Clifford and Ted Bergeron, the founding partners of Bergeron Clifford LLP. In this episode, they chat about how legal practices are evolving, touching on how technology, diversification, and the challenges of life after COVID have shaped their approach. From growing their firms and embracing data-driven decisions to expanding into new practice areas, it’s all about staying client-focused. They also chat about the importance of mentorship, firm culture, and how tools like AI are transforming the way...
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Episode 083: Understanding Personal Injury Law: The Importance of Expertise with Linda O'Brien
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew is joined by Linda O'Brien, a lawyer with Gluckstein Lawyers, to discuss the world of personal injury law. Linda breaks down the complexities of personal injury cases, from medical malpractice to sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and more. Brenda and Linda delve into the different tiers of personal injury law firms, the importance of specialization, and why clients should do their homework when choosing a lawyer. They also address some of the challenges in the legal marketing world and emphasize the importance of putting the client’s well-being first. Key Takeaways:...
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Episode 082: Healing Trauma with Horses: Exploring Equine Experiential Learning with Suzanne Coleman
Butter Torts: A Truly Canadian Legal Podcast
Brenda Agnew, your host, is joined by Diana Harris, Gluckstein Lawyers' intake coordinator, and her sister Suzanne Coleman, the founder of Horse&Hands. Suzanne introduces us to Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning (FEEL), a transformative therapy that uses horses to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves. In this episode, they discuss how horses provide healing support to trauma survivors, including survivors of sexual abuse, by fostering trust, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Suzanne shares her journey, the incredible wisdom of horses, and the remarkable...
info_outlineBrenda Agnew, your host, welcomes Vanshika Dhawan to today’s conversation about the importance of legal literacy.
Vanshika graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, earning her JD. While at law school, Vanshika volunteered with Advocates for Injured Workers and helped to provide legal support for clients in need. Additionally, she assisted with her expertise in advocacy and education in the areas of constitutional rights at the David Asper Centre. Vanshika was called to the bar in June 2023.
Prior to joining Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein, Vanshika articled at a litigation boutique in Toronto, assisting with sexual abuse and sexual assault cases. Vanshika received her Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Honours), where she studied medical cell biology, specifically the neurobiology of trauma, and obtained her master's in professional communications from Toronto Metropolitan University. Vanshika was an advocate supporting with the research of sexual assault and survivor discourses in the Canadian criminal justice system, in addition to years of experience advocating for survivors in various non-legal contexts.
Vanshika’s practice at Jellinek Ellis Gluckstein Lawyers will be focused on representing survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. She is passionate about helping survivors better understand and navigate the legal system. When not practicing law, Vanshika enjoys writing, reading fiction novels, going to the theatre, and being by the ocean.
Key Takeaways:
[4:44] Vanshika shares how she helps clients navigate the difficult journey of being a survivor of sexual assault/abuse.
[6:11] There are different parts of the healing process, and the civil litigation process can be one of them.
[7:02] Vanshika highlights the healing power that regaining a piece of control has for the victims.
[9:50] What does legal literacy mean?
[13:21] What are the means by which we should be trying to improve legal literacy?
[15:47] What are we actually doing to improve legal literacy?
[20:34] Vanshika shares what a campaign to support legal literacy can look like.
[27:06] What are the tools and resources that people need in order to be able to make informed decisions?
[29:25] Vanshika talks about how the legal landscape has changed in the past two decades and how that impacts victims.
[34:21] The legal system can be a harsh environment for survivors.
[37:50] What are some actionable steps people can take to make sure the literacy piece is in place?
[42:42] Vanshika explains why legal literacy is important.
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Mentioned in this episode:
To learn more about the work we do at Gluckstein Lawyers, please visit Gluckstein Lawyers.
Learn more about Vanshika Dhawan
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