Ontario Bar Association to Recognize Prospering, Bilingual Law Students

  • July 09, 2018

Ontario Bar Association to Recognize Prospering, Bilingual Law Students
Nominations now open for the OBA’s Bastarache Award

ONTARIO– Law students excelling in both official languages of Canada have a unique opportunity to be recognized by Ontario’s legal community.

Students who show exceptional contributions to advancing and promoting language rights within the Ontario legal system, through academic research or writing, public advocacy or community activities, are encouraged to submit their applications for this distinguished prize. Winners will receive a $500 award plus a one-year membership to the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) and an opportunity to publish an article in OBA’s JUST. Magazine.

The OBA’s Official Languages Committee, a subcommittee of the OBA’s Board of Directors, presents the award in recognition of the accomplishments of the highly regarded Honourable Michel Bastarache.  A lawyer, law professor and judge, the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada dedicated his career to the promotion and preservation of linguistic rights and the official languages of Canada. 

“The OBA’s strength is its ability to foster a community for lawyers at every age and stage of their careers and with every background and cultural interest,” says Daniel Mayer, a crown attorney and Chair of the OBA’s Official Languages Committee. “This award is the perfect chance for our community of lawyers to celebrate and recognize a prospering Ontario law student who strives to advance the legal interests of the two official languages of Canada.”

Submissions are due by August 31, 2018. To apply, visit oba.org/bastarache.

The award winner will be announced later this year and honoured at an event hosted by the Official Languages Committee.

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About the Ontario Bar Association

Established in 1907, the OBA is the largest voluntary legal association in Ontario and represents over 16,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students.  The OBA provides continuing professional development and advocates for improvements to the law in the interests of the profession and public.

For more information, contact:
Amy Clark, OBA Media Relations and Communications Manager
416-869-1074 x364; aclark@oba.org