As Ontario’s aging population and challenges in elder care continue to grow, both the legal profession and the broader community are facing increasingly complex issues in supporting the rights and well-being of older adults. The 2025 Ontario Bar Association’s Elder Law Day happening on Thursday, June 19, 2025 is a valuable opportunity for legal professionals to come together, learn, and take action on these important issues.
OBA’s Elder Law Day is held every year in June to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, reflecting our profession’s ongoing commitment to combatting elder abuse, promoting dignity, and ensuring fair access to justice for older Ontarians. This year’s theme, “Loneliness, Vulnerability, and the Law,” focuses on how social isolation can increase legal risks for seniors, and how lawyers from all practice areas can play a role in protecting their clients.
While the 2025 Elder Law Day is essential for practitioners in elder law, it’s also highly recommended for those working in estates and trusts, family law, criminal law, personal injury, and other related fields. Whether drafting Powers of Attorney, advising on capacity related matters, representing clients in long-term care disputes, or pursuing justice for victims of abuse and neglect, legal professionals across Ontario are encountering elder law issues with increasing frequency.
The 2025 Elder Law Day features a lineup of interdisciplinary expert panel speakers and sessions on key topics, including:
- Preventing elder abuse through effective estate planning
- Understanding predatory marriages and the current state of the law
- Equity considerations and access to justice
- How criminal law and community policing intersect with elder protection
- Using Collaborative Practice in navigating estate and elder law disputes
This year, the OBA will also celebrate the achievements of Jane E. Meadus, who is the recipient of the 2025 OBA Award for Excellence in Elder Law. As a Staff Lawyer and Institutional Advocate at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), Jane has dedicated over 30 years to defending seniors’ rights. From representing residents in care facilities to influencing national long-term care standards, her work has profoundly shaped elder justice in Canada.
Another standout moment at the 2025 Elder Law Day will be the keynote by Melissa Miller, a nationally recognized elder law litigator and advocate. Melissa has led major legal battles exposing systemic failures in for-profit nursing homes, and her pursuit of justice for the countless elderly victims is featured in the National Film Board documentary, Stolen Time.
With a full lineup of in-depth programs, networking opportunities, and recognition of leaders in the field, the 2025 OBA Elder Law Day is a must-attend event for anyone committed to advocating dignity, equity, and justice for Ontario’s seniors.
Register today and join the movement!
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