Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Alyssa Yufe, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot de la présidente en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, Members and Friends of the Society,

As we approach a busy December leading up to the holidays, it is an important moment for us to reflect on the pastyear and the values that continue to inspire our work. With this in mind, I am pleased to invite you to join us at our next event.

I am very excited for the Society’s Annual Human Rights Lecture on November 26, featuring distinguished speaker Mark Sandler. Advocacy for and the promotion of human rights have always been at the core of the Society’s mission. Founded during a darker chapter of our history, when Jewish lawyers in Quebec faced exclusion, the Society has, over the past 77 years, grown into a vital partner in Quebec’s broader legal and human rights community, and has become a respected forum for education, dialogue, and meaningful connection.

Mark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), is the founder and Chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA), a diverse coalition of more than 60 community organizations dedicated to addressing antisemitism through advocacy, education, and respectful dialogue. Mr. Sandler is widely regarded as one of Canada’s leading criminal defence lawyers. He is the former National Chair and Senior Counsel of the B’nai Brith League for Human Rights and has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and parliamentary committees on numerous occasions on matters relating to hate propaganda and hate-motivated crime. His work includes developing legal remedies to counter hate, training police and prosecutors on hate crimes, and fostering constructive Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish, and Black-Jewish dialogue.

We look forward to welcoming Mr. Sandler for his talk entitled Antisemitism Today: The Law, the Community, and the Way Forward—A Canadian Perspective on November 26

Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m., at the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue. You can register online here.

I would like to thank our very generous sponsors for the evening for their support:

• Dunton Rainville for sponsoring the attendance of 18 law students, allowing us to make our dinners accessible, prioritizing our goals of mentorship, continuity and campus support
• Shadley Knerr for being proud sponsors of the Human Rights Lecture
• Boro Frigon Gordon Jones for being proud sponsors of the Human Rights Lecture
• Stein & Stein for being proud sponsors of the Human Rights Lecture

Your Membership and Exclusive Events

I want to encourage you to register for your membership. With your membership, you will benefit from member discounts at our dinner events and have the opportunity to participate in additional exclusive events. Furthermore, when we make public interventions in the interest of human rights, we do so in the name of our members (excluding those who are members of the judiciary), meaning we need to ensure we maintain a robust membership.

Do not hesitate! You can sign up for your membership here.

 Save the Dates and Plan for these events!

January 21, 2026 – We are excited to announce will be holding a dinner lecture featuring Maître Valérie Assouline, Montreal’s 160th Bâtonnière, community leader and widely recognized expert in the area of family and youth law.

February 11, 2026 – We anticipate holding a dinner lecture featuring the Honourable Federal Court of Appeal Justice Peter Pamel and the Honourable Justice Alan Diner of the Federal Court entitled “Everything You Wanted to Know About the Federal Court”.

Stay tuned for more exciting details and announcements regarding future events!!

*****

I want to sincerely thank my Executive and Past Presidents and all of our Board members and volunteers who continue to uphold and support the Society. Your time, input and thoughtful contributions are indispensable and greatly appreciated.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

Sincerely,

Alyssa Yufe, President 2025-26
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

“In Camera, Out Loud”: Justice Marshall Rothstein Lifts the Curtain on a Life in Law

Larry Markowitz

On October 16th, the Lord Reading Law Society welcomed the Honourable Marshall Rothstein, C.C., K.C., retired justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, as the keynote speaker for the annual Alan B. Gold Memorial Advocacy Lecture. His talk, In Camera, Out Loud: Recollections from a Retired Supreme Court Judge, offered a mix of humour, candour, and insight drawn from nearly a decade on Canada’s highest court and many more years of public service.

The evening opened with warm remarks from the Honourable Morris Fish, who served on the Supreme Court from 2003 to 2013. Justice Fish introduced his former colleague with affection and understated wit, capturing the blend of modesty and sharp intellect that has long defined Justice Rothstein.

Justice Rothstein began by reflecting on his formative years in Winnipeg, where he was raised in a close-knit Jewish community and worked on the trains to support himself through school. He credited both his modest upbringing and his 58-year marriage with grounding him throughout the demands of judicial life. He shared several anecdotes with his trademark dry humour, illustrating how his personal foundations shaped his approach to law and leadership.

Before his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2006, Justice Rothstein taught transportation law and built a successful legal career that led to appointments to the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. His recollection of receiving Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s call inviting him to the Supreme Court drew some laughter, especially as he described the early and still awkward public vetting process for nominees.

On the Court, Justice Rothstein became known for clarity of reasoning and a steadfast commitment to judicial independence. He recounted lively stories behind several major cases, including Robertson v. Globe and Mail (on copyright), constitutional questions relating to prostitution and safety, the Carter decision on medical assistance in dying, and the Senate Reference which reshaped the national conversation on constitutional amendment.

He also paid tribute to former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, under whom he served for his entire tenure. Her ability to keep the Court focused while keeping ego out of the room was, he said, a quality he greatly admired.

The evening turned more solemn when Justice Rothstein reflected on the events of October 7th and the sharp rise in antisemitism that followed. He spoke candidly about the anxieties facing Jewish communities, the growing hostility on university campuses, and the troubling normalization of extremist rhetoric. He warned that liberal democracy is far more fragile than it appears and requires active protection.

Even amid these serious reflections, the night retained a warm spirit. Justice Rothstein shared lighter moments, including his story about attempting to quote Humpty Dumpty in a judgment and his early experiences debating budgets for a student newspaper. These memories reminded the audience that even the most serious jurists carry a human and often humorous side.

“Words mean what I want them to mean.”

— Humpty Dumpty

The program closed with gracious remarks from recently retired Senator Marc Gold, a longtime supporter of the Society and son of the late Quebec Chief Justice Alan B. Gold, for whom the evening’s lecture is named. Senator Gold thanked Justice Rothstein for a talk that was both enlightening and deeply personal, a reminder of the values and character that shape the law. He described Justice Rothstein as charming, elegant, humorous, and consistently principled.

Justice Rothstein ended the evening on a pointed note, asking aloud where the next generation of Jewish judges will come from in a time marked by rising antisemitism and mounting pressures on liberal democracy. His closing words invited reflection. Coming from someone who has long embodied integrity, resilience, and principle, they resonated with particular force.

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Events of Interest

Allen Mendelsohn

The Society is pleased to share these upcoming events of interest to our members and friends.

Mazel Tov to Judge Suzanne Handman on her new book and book launch!

We are so excited that our dear friend Justice Suzanne Handman has published her brand new book, Madam Justice – An Inside Look! It is an insightful and engaging memoir that presents a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system, revealing the life and work of a judge both in and out of the courtroom. Judge Handman will launch her book this Sunday, November 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. Free tickets for the launch including book signings and a reception are available by clicking here. We’ll see you there!

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To Society Second Vice-President William Malkinson and Danielle Ben Ezra on their recent nuptials!

 

Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Erin Lesser, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot de la présidente en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, Members and Friends of the Society,

What a year it has been! The words that come to mind immediately are: Challenging. Community. Resistance. And finally… Roast Beef!

All kidding aside, this year has been a real accomplishment for me, personally and professionally. Three years ago, when I was approached by Jon Gordon (the president at the time), to submit my candidacy for Second Vice-President, I thought “I could never do this”. I told him I would think about it, and a few days later, two words on a call from Doree Levine (also a past president) changed everything. Those words were: GIRL POWER! As an empowered, young(ish), Jewish, female lawyer, I am so proud that I was able to rise up to this leadership opportunity, despite the many challenges and difficult moments I faced this past year.

This year has been difficult for both the Society and the broader Jewish community, given the numerous unsettling events occurring in both Canada and Israel. Despite these challenges, the Jewish community, including the Lord Reading Law Society, and its allies remain united in defying hatred. Throughout the year, the Society has been proactive in speaking out against unacceptable anti-Semitism, thanks to the efforts of many members, particularly our Human Rights Committee chairs, Frank Schlesinger and Jeff Boro.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated Communications Committee—Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz, and Stephanie Perlis—for their eloquence, strategic communications advice, and countless hours of behind-the-scenes work.

In my final President’s Message, I want to share some moments that have been especially meaningful to me personally this year.

Firstly, I was lucky and honoured to have my mother attend an event this year where she witnessed one of my personal heroes, Na’kuset, speak—a person I’ve admired and spoken about for years. It was profoundly meaningful to me to have the opportunity to bridge the gap between the Jewish and Indigenous communities by introducing the remarkable charities, Resilience Montreal and the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, to the Society. Building connections and fostering growth among minority communities is crucial, and learning about each other’s experiences and challenges is an essential part of that journey.

Another beautiful moment from this year was when I called First Vice President (soon to be President!) and one of my very best friends, Anna Bronshteyn, on speakerphone during a board meeting, and the entire Lord Reading Law Society board loudly applauded her and her husband on the birth of their first child, Elizabeth Danielle.

On January 23rd, the Supreme Court of Canada granted leave in our ongoing battle against Bill 21, marking a significant milestone in our pursuit of justice. This decision paves the way for the Lord Reading Law Society to play a pivotal role in shaping legal history. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the outstanding team at BLG and our very own Teddy Goloff. The effort that has gone into, and will continue to drive, this legal battle is truly monumental.

Unfortunately, not all the moments this year have been happy ones. Last summer, on June 20th, 2024, we lost our beloved Membership Chair, Hershie Frankel. More recently, on February 4th, 2025, we lost one of our founding members, Manny Shacter. They were both pillars of the Society, and their loss has been felt widely by all of our members. You can read more about Manny’s remarkable legacy in Larry’s wonderful tribute featured later in this newsletter.

Before I conclude my last President’s Message and present a recap of our 2024-2025 season, I must thank everyone who helped me throughout this past year. Serving in this leadership role is truly a collaborative endeavour, and without the assistance of so many, it would literally be impossible. It is also impossible to name each of you individually, but you all know who you are. Thank you!!

A Look Back at the 2024-25 Season

Alan B. Gold Lecture

We started off our season on September 11, 2024, with the Alan B. Gold dinner lecture. We were fortunate to welcome the Honourable John Baird. Mr. Baird was interviewed on stage by the Society’s Immediate Past President Robert Steinman in a talk entitled Navigating Political, Legal, and Diplomatic Storms: A fireside chat with Canada’s Former Top Diplomat.

Human Rights Lecture

On November 7, 2024, the Society welcomed Na’kuset, Indigenous activist and survivor of the Sixties Scoop, to speak about her heroic human rights activism in a talk entitled Advocacy in Action: A Journey of Indigenous Resistance. We also announced the winners of our 75th Human Rights Essay Contest.

Student Dinner

On January 16, 2025, we held our annual Student Dinner where we awarded students from McGill University, Université de Montréal, Sherbrooke University, Universite de Quebec à Montreal and Ottawa University awards for various academic achievements. Professor Adam Dodek was then interviewed by Past President Larry Markowitz about his latest book, Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm.

*****

Henry Steinberg Memorial Lecture

On May 6th, 2025, I am thrilled to welcome Justice Babak Barin, who will be speaking about his crucial work in the 1990s working at the Zurich-based special tribunal tasked with resolving claims related to Holocaust victims’ assets. His talk, entitled The Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Accounts in Switzerland: An Insider’s Account will no doubt be fascinating. You can register for the dinner here. I hope to see you all there!

Thanks to all of you for your support throughout the year. I wish my successor all the best for next season!

Sincerely,

Erin Lesser, President 2024-25
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm

Stephanie Perlis

Our annual student dinner on January 16, 2025 featured a special guest, Professor Adam Dodek of the University of Ottawa, who was introduced by our esteemed Communications Chair and McGill Law lecturer Allen Mendelsohn.

Professor Dodek, the author of  Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm and a distinguished recipient of several prestigious awards, was joined on stage by Society Past President Larry Markowitz for a fascinating fireside chat.

Larry kicked off the conversation by giving Professor Dodek’s book a rave review, highlighting its readability, while pointing out that the book offers valuable lessons not only for current law firms leaders, but for leaders in all fields.

How did a legal academic end up writing a book about the fall of Heenan Blaikie?

Professor Dodek explained that the idea actually found him. While he hadn’t worked at Heenan Blaikie, he had friends who did.

In 2014, the firm’s collapse became a major news story in Canada, notable for its rarity in breaking into mainstream media. As the Canadian editor for the English Journal Legal Ethics, Professor Dodek felt compelled to address the impact of the collapse on the legal community, noting the nearly 1,000 job losses. He initially wrote a short piece for the journal, but wanted to delve deeper, seeking insights from former employees who were no longer bound by confidentiality. This marked the beginning of his in-depth exploration of the Heenan Blaikie story.

The book’s subtitle, “The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm,” highlights Heenan Blaikie’s origins as a Montreal success story. Founded in 1973 by McGill law graduates Roy Heenan, Donald Johnston, and Peter Blaikie, the firm grew nationally and internationally, with an office in Paris and over 560 lawyers at its peak.

Not to put any pressure on the students in the room, but Professor Dodek emphasized the exceptional nature of Heenan Blaikie’s founders, noting Don Johnston’s need for a special act of the National Assembly to permit him to practise law, due to his young age. After starting in Big Law, the founders aimed to create a firm based on trust rather than transactional relationships. This led to the absence of a partnership agreement and limited corporate policies (spoiler alert: this wouldn’t age well). The founders’ youthful spirit also manifested itself in other ways, such as Blaikie doing summersaults in the halls and Johnston playing practical jokes in the office.

Professor Dodek described Heenan Blaikie’s unique approach to compensation. Whether a lawyer was a finder (business developer), minder (client manager), or grinder (work-focused), their compensation was relatively uniform across the firm.

Dodek’s research included 180 lawyer interviews and 50 with other employees, who generally spoke positively of their experiences, viewing colleagues as family. Despite professional and financial losses, most former partners and employees fondly remembered their time at Heenan Blaikie.

The students in the room nervous at the prospect of the Course aux Stages can thank (or blame) Heenan Blaikie, as it was the firm that created the Course aux Stages, shifting recruitment from nepotism to a structured process.

The firm emphasized training future lawyers, notably through teaching, with many drawn to labour law by Roy Heenan’s labour law class at McGill. Larry recalled being Roy Heenan’s student. He also recalled that several Heenan lawyers taught Business Law classes at McGill, including Jason Caron who was in the audience.

The firm’s founders also pursued passions beyond law, such as Heenan’s art involvement and Johnston’s political career, which became part of the firm’s ethos of community engagement.

Larry highlighted that Montreal law firms were once divided by language and background, with distinct francophone, anglophone, and Jewish firms. Heenan Blaikie, founded by three bilingual anglophone white Christians, aimed from the start to reflect Montreal’s diversity and to work bilingually before it was mandated. Women made up about 30% of the firm’s lawyers.

The firm attracted former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in the 1980s, before it was common for political leaders to join law firms. Trudeau valued that the firm allowed him to pursue his passions without exploiting his influence.

Given this strong start, what led to Heenan Blaikie’s downfall?

The firm’s downfall stemmed from several factors, as noted by Professor Dodek:

1. Lack of a Robust Partnership Agreement: For 25 years, the firm operated without a partnership agreement, and when one was finally created, it was only 13 pages long, far shorter than the standard 70-plus pages. This reflected the founders’ romanticized view of their work and neglect of business processes.

2. Lack of business plan: The firm’s haphazard expansion, marked by the opening of new offices and the creation of a consulting company, further stretched its resources thin.
3. Scandals and Leadership Vacuum: The absence of succession planning resulted in a leadership vacuum and a series of reputation-damaging scandals, including involvement in an arms deal and controversies surrounding firm partner Marcel Aubut. The firm’s response to these crises was poorly managed, as they chose to remain silent rather than engage external communications advisors.

Heenan Blaikie didn’t fail due to bankruptcy but rather because of a partnership collapse. Professor Dodek’s analysis serves as a cautionary tale for legal professionals about the importance of governance and strategic planning.

Our guests were thanked by Society president Erin Lesser, who noted that she had ranked Professor Dodek’s book 5 stars out of 5 on her Goodreads account.

We were delighted to award our student prizes during the evening. Scroll down to see who the winners were!

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

And the Winners Are…

As mentioned above, the Lord Reading Law Society had the pleasure of once again hosting its annual Student Dinner on January 16. The evening began with the presentation of the Society’s academic awards to deserving students from the various Civil Law faculties. Congratulations to all the winners!

McGill University: Christopher Wieczorek

Université de Montréal: Sandrine Dehais

Université de Sherbrooke: Beatrice Bolduc

Université d’Ottawa: Thierry Lefrançois

Université du Québec à Montréal: Léonie Laporte-Desmarais

Remembering Manny Shacter – A Lifelong Advocate for Justice and Equality

Larry Markowitz

The Lord Reading Law Society mourns the passing of Manuel (Manny) Shacter, K.C., a towering figure whose contributions left an indelible mark on Canadian law and society. Manny passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025, at the age of 101, leaving behind an enduring legacy defined by integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

We remember Manny as a true gentleman—principled, thoughtful, kind, soft-spoken, wise, and generous. He was admired for his integrity and humility, his sense of humour, and his approachability to all, regardless of status or background. His remarkable ability to inspire those around him made him not only a mentor, but also an advisor to generations within both the legal profession and the Jewish community in Quebec—and beyond. His profound impact will be felt for decades to come.

Manny’s journey began amid the turbulence of World War II. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science at McGill University before earning his law degree there, as well. Called to the Quebec Bar in 1947, he quickly distinguished himself through both intellect and principle. After serving with the Canadian Department of Justice in Ottawa for two years, he co-founded what would become Mendelsohn Rosentzveig Shacter—now McMillan LLP.

Manny’s legal career spanned more than 75 years, and he remained active until the end. He continued to attend Lord Reading events until he was 100 years old and went into the office nearly every day until his final months. In 2024, he was honoured with the Bar of Montréal Medal, a crowning achievement that epitomized his life’s work and purpose.

A former Dean of the McGill Faculty of Law, the Honourable Nicholas Kasirer described Manny an “unsung hero of Canadian law.” During his exceptional career, Manny appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada several times. He is perhaps best remembered for successfully defending D.H. Lawrence’s novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover against charges of obscenity, alongside Professor F.R. Scott. This landmark case advanced the cause of freedom of expression in Canada.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Manny volunteered in numerous capacities over the years, serving as president of Lord Reading in 1968 – 1969, and later as Batonnier of Montreal in 1987 – 1988.

Manny was a tireless advocate for fair representation within the legal profession. As one of the founders of the Lord Reading Law Society, he dedicated himself to ensuring that Jewish lawyers received equal opportunities within Quebec’s legal community. Under his guidance, the Society evolved into an influential voice on human rights issues within both legal circles and broader society.

During his presidency at Lord Reading—and throughout his decades-long involvement—Manny led efforts to engage government officials, including then Justice Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, to promote merit-based judicial appointments irrespective of religion or origin. Manny always enjoyed recounting the story of how Mr. Trudeau showed up to their Sunday meeting at the Montefiore Club wearing an open collared shirt and sandals, while Manny and his Lord Reading colleagues arrived in suits and ties.

A passionate sportsman since his days playing basketball at McGill, where he also briefly joined the university’s football team, Manny continued to enjoy annual ski trips to Austria for more than 55 years (until he was well into his 90s!) and rounds of golf with friends. He lived life fully and with enthusiasm.

Universally respected for his wisdom, generosity, and kindness, Manny leaves behind not only an impressive professional legacy, but also countless friends, colleagues and family members inspired by the example he set over more than a century lived with purpose, compassion and grace.

Manny was a true mensch and will be missed. May his memory be a blessing.

Mazel Tov to Ian Solloway!

Allen Mendelsohn

The Society is immensely proud of Past President (and still very active member!) Ian Solloway, who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the English-Speaking Section of the Bar of Montreal at a ceremony Thursday, May 15th. The Award has only been bestowed twice to date – to Me J. Vincent O’Donnell, Q.C., Ad.E., in 2013 and to Me. Casper Bloom, Q.C. Ad.E.  in 2016.

According to the Bar of Montréal, the Award “is to be presented from time to time to a worthy recipient who, throughout his/her career, has demonstrated excellence in the profession, outstanding leadership in and service to the legal profession, and has contributed to the enhancement of the image of the profession.” We certainly agree Ian has done that in spades.

Congratulations Ian!

An Invitation to Join the Canadian Jewish Law Association

Allen Mendelsohn, on behalf of David Stolow, Lord Reading Past President and CJLA Board Member

The Canadian Jewish Law Association (CJLA) is a recently incorporated and important not-for-profit dedicated to the eradication of antisemitism and all forms of hate across Canada. The CJLA’s Board is comprised of dedicated legal professionals from across Canada and includes the Honourable Russell Brown, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Membership in the CJLA is open, at no cost, to all Canadian legal professionals, including lawyers, in-house counsel, non-practising lawyers, retired judges, law students, paralegals etc. who share the Association’s mission and vision.

You can learn more about the Association at https://canadianjewishlawassociation.org/ and can apply on the site for membership by completing a very brief application form. We encourage all interested Canadian legal professionals to sign up!

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Condolences

• To Society member Ian Rudnikoff and his wife Rhonda on the tragic passing of their son Maître Brandon Rudnikoff. The Society extends its deepest condolences to the entire Rudnikoff family especially Brandon’s widow Aurélia and their children Benjamin, Victoria and Felix. Society newsletter editor Allen Mendelsohn was a friend of Brandon’s at McGill Law School and beyond, and knows the deep loss all who knew Brandon have keenly felt on his passing. May his memory be a blessing.

Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Erin Lesser, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot de la présidente en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, and Friends of the Society,

Here’s wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2025. I am delighted to be ringing in the new year with next week’s speaker, Adam Dodek. Professor Dodek is a professor at the University of Ottawa, and he will be discussing his latest book, Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm. He will be interviewed by Lord Reading Past President Larry Markowitz in what is sure to be a fascinating and insightful fireside chat.

The Annual Student Dinner is an event where we welcome and honour the law student communities by inviting and encouraging students and stagiaires to join us for a dinner event. We will also be presenting the Lord Reading student awards to deserving students from Quebec’s various law faculties (and the civil law section of Université d’Ottawa) that evening.

For many students, it will be their first opportunity to network with esteemed members of the legal community. For many lawyers, it is a refreshing and meaningful evening, where they can help provide insight and advice to future members of the legal profession. I encourage all Society members and friends to join us and help welcome the students and stagiaires who are the future of the Society.

I read Adam’s book back in September and what I loved most about it was how he captured the true spirit of Heenan Blaikie. When I initially met Adam and we discussed his book, I was immediately reminded of my course aux stages experience, and it was then that I realized Professor Dodek would be a great speaker for the annual Lord Reading student event.

When Anna Bronshteyn (first Vice-President of the Lord Reading Law Society and one of my very best friends) and I were law students at Université de Montréal, we participated in the course aux stages, like so many young law students do every year. We went to many cocktails, journées de parrainages and other professional events to get acquainted with the many law firms offering summer student positions. One of those firms was Heenan Blaikie.

I remember walking into their offices at 1250 René-Lévesque and being so impressed. The premises were beautiful, the lawyers were kind and welcoming and the food on offer was absolutely delicious! There was a certain vibe in the office that I picked up on right away, and I was smitten. At that point, I was not yet certain which field I wanted to work in, but I knew I wanted to be a part of Heenan Blaikie.

Unfortunately, before interviews could begin, Anna and I learned about the firm’s unfortunate collapse. In the end, Anna went on to practice corporate law at another national firm while I started in tax at a smaller firm. To say the news of Heenan Blaikie’s collapse was a shock would not be strong enough to describe our reactions. We were floored, and looking back at it now, I realize that I did not grasp the magnitude of this historical event at all back then, not even an iota as well as I understand it now.

While Professor Dodek does describe the events that contributed to the ultimate folding of Heenan Blaikie, what I loved most about his book is how he details what made the firm so special in the first place. Reading his book brought me right back to my (and Anna’s) journey during the course aux stages, and I look forward to hearing about it in person at our event next week, and having all of you join us for this very special evening.

You can sign up for the dinner on our website here. We would like to thank Spiegel Ryan for their sponsorship of the evening.

Your Membership for the 2024-2025 Season

I encourage you to sign up for membership for the season – it’s never too late! Without your membership, the Society cannot continue to fulfill its very important mission, which I know we all believe in. Membership provides you with incredible discounts on our traditional dinner-meetings (a great deal!) and grants you access to our members-only events, which I hope will be particularly worthwhile this year, as we will be hosting several extremely interesting CLE lunches.  You can sign up for membership on our website here.

Our First Ever Hockey and Skating Event!

As President, I am very excited to present new and different activities like this for our members, as well as friends and family. You can read more about this great event further down in this newsletter.

*****

Once again, I wish all of you a very Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you next week!

Sincerely,

Erin Lesser, President 2024-25
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

Our Annual Human Rights Lecture – Advocacy in Action: A Journey of Indigenous Resistance

Allen Mendelsohn

On the occasion of our Annual Human Rights Lecture on Thursday, November 7th, the Society was delighted to welcome Cree Indigenous activist Na’kuset, co-founder of Resilience Montreal and Executive Director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montréal. A survivor of the Sixties Scoop, Na’kuset was adopted and raised by a Jewish family in Montreal before reclaiming her Indigenous identity and status as a young adult. Na’kuset discussed her extensive work in human rights and advocacy for Indigenous peoples in a talk entitled Advocacy in Action: A Journey of Indigenous Resistance.

Society President Erin Lesser began by congratulating the winners of our Human Rights Essay Contest, which you can read more about here. Erin then recounted a very personal, heartfelt story about her relationship with the indigenous community in Downtown Montreal when she moved closer to Cabot Square, sharing her deep concerns for the plight of her indigenous neighbours. Erin closed by stating that the Society “needs to bridge the gap with other minorities,” a sentiment echoed by many other attendees and speakers on the night.

Na’kuset was introduced by Judge Carol Cohen, who highlighted the Sixties Scoop and how Na’kuset had a “bubbe” growing up. Upon taking the stage, Na’kuset then expanded on her story of growing up. Given the name Margaret Murray, she was adopted by a Montreal Jewish family who saw an ad in the Gazette to “adopt an Indian or Métis.” She called herself a “Jewish Indian” and described that her bubbe was who really saved her, as she began to find herself as a self-described “born-again Indian” and finding her family.

Na’kuset said she was proud to be part of the Concordia Top 50 Alumni, but joked that truthfully her only BA was a “Bad Attitude”. She then moved to emotionally describing the current realities of Canada’s indigenous peoples. Canada, its people and government have routinely failed them and failed to follow through on important recommendations. She described the history of Cabot Square and the tragic deaths of Indigenous people that have occurred there, to a stunned yet riveted crowd. She described the history of Resilience Montreal next to Cabot Square, and the new Miyoskamin housing program of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montréal.

Na’kuset finally dove into the need for accountability for those in power and the need for justice for Indigenous peoples. To that end, she discussed the forthcoming Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal which will hold hearings in Montreal in in the future. She called on all those in attendeence to volunteer their time, legal skills and resources to this important cause. As Na’kuset’s talk drew to a close, she was met with a rousing standing ovation.

Na’kuset was kind enough to share her slides that she used for her presentation with us. You can view them here. 

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Registration is open for the First Ever Lord Reading Hockey Game and Skating Day!

Jacob Falutz, Young Bar Committee 

The Lord Reading Law Society is excited to announce that we will be hosting our first ever hockey game and skating day on Sunday, February 16! The event will take place at the Chamandy Arena at Lower Canada College, located at 4025 Royal Avenue, Montréal. The ice has been rented from 1:00-2:30pm, with lounge access above the rink for snacks and drinks between 1:00-3:00pm. A formal 5on5 hockey game will be played, followed by a period of free skating for Society members, and their friends and family. Society members wishing to participate in either the hockey game or the free skate can invite their friends and family of all ages, provided the member has registered in advance.

Please register for either the hockey game or free skating on our website as soon as you can. You don’t want to miss this!

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at jacob.ray@videotron.ca. We look forward to seeing you February 16th, for a great afternoon of hockey, skating, and fun!

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To Board member Jacob Falutz on his recent wedding!
• To Society member and dear friend Judge Suzanne Handman on the publication of her book Mediation for Lawyers: A Practical Guide for Effective Representation of Your Clients, which is now available for purchase on the University of Toronto Press website
• To Ryan Rabinovitch on being named a Judge of the Tax Court of Canada