The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada shared the news in an announcement on Tuesday, May 16, 2022. In addition to Dr. Jochelson, the Advisory Board consists of eight members including: The Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, C.M., O.P.E.I. as Chairperson, a former lawyer, renowned legal scholar, and the 32^nd Premier of Prince Edward Island; Paulet Senior, President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation; Konrad Sioui, former Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation; Charlene Theodore, Chief Inclusion Officer at the law firm of McCarthy Tétrault, Jacqueline Horvat, founding partner of the law firm Spark Law; The Honourable Louise Charron, former Supreme Court of Canada Justice; and David Nahwegahbow, founding partner of the law firm Nahwegahbow Corbiere.

Dr. Jochelson has been the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba since July 1, 2021. Since joining the Faculty in 2016, he has taught courses in Criminal Law and Procedure, Charter Issues in Criminal Law, and Sexual Expression, Conduct and Work in Canada. He previously taught criminal law for 10 years at the University of Winnipeg and worked at a large Canadian law firm. He has authored over 70 publications and has led several significant research projects regarding criminal justice reform. Dr. Jochelson was nominated by the Council of Canadian Law Deans.

Advisory Board members are appointed under the Public Service Employment Act as special advisers to the Prime Minister. The process of using this independent advisory board to select Supreme Court of Canada justices was first used in 2016. According to the Terms of Reference, of the Advisory Board, three members (two of which must not be lawyers) must be nominated by the Minister of Justice, one must be a practicing lawyer nominated by the Canadian Bar Association, one must be a practicing lawyer nominated by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, one must be a practicing lawyer nominated by the Indigenous Bar Association, one a retired superior court judge nominated by the Canadian Judicial Council, and one a legal scholar nominated by the Council of Canadian Law Deans.

“Dr. Torrie is a perfect fit for our team,” said Dr. Jochelson. “She is a dynamic, award winning teacher with high standards, and she understands how important it is for our students to live up to professional standards in order to develop the requisite skills for the practice of law. She is also a critical thought leader and is committed to pursuing, with unflinching efforts, our need to live up to the promises we have made as a Faculty towards truth and reconciliation.”

The new Dean also looks forward to working with the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies on chairing the Faculty’s Strategic Planning Committee in addition to developing a new set of Master of Laws degree programs.

“Dr. Short has done fantastic work in enhancing the quality of our graduate program,” said Dr. Jochelson. “He is also an award-winning researcher and is exceptionally well positioned to draw on his depth of experience in developing new graduate opportunities including course-based and clinical offerings. Moreover, as a long-term Faculty Member he possesses the institutional wisdom needed to help with our strategic plan. Further, he has been at the leading edge of seeking equality for those excluded and marginalized by law and society.”

Dr. Torrie, who received both tenure and promotion to Associate Professor earlier this year, brings to the office of Associate Dean (J.D.), a dedicated interest in improving methods of teaching and learning. Having completed a Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from the University of Manitoba, she has used blended learning and interactive teaching strategies to promote classroom engagement in all her courses and is dedicated to trying new and innovative teaching methods and approaches with the twin purposes of making learning both effective and enjoyable. Her skills are well-recognized and she is the recipient of several awards, including the Faculty of Law’s Barney Sneiderman Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017 and the University of Manitoba Merit Awards for Teaching in 2018 and Service in 2019.

As Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program, she will be fostering student professionalism and developing an evolving curriculum that will involve strides towards Indigenization of the curriculum, refining our clinical offerings and strengthening the private enterprise curriculum of the Faculty.

“I’m delighted to be stepping into the role of Associate Dean (Academic – JD Program) on July 1st, 2021, and working alongside Dean Richard Jochelson and Associate Dean (Research) Donn Short in the years ahead,” said Dr. Torrie of her next role.  “At the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law we are fortunate to attract bright, talented and collegial students year after year, and I look forward to enhancing their academic and clinical experiences in the JD program, and supporting them as they prepare for their future career paths.”

Recognizing the work already cut out for her in this new position, Dr. Torrie continued, “One of the immediate challenges as Associate Dean (J.D.) will be continuing to monitor public health advice and University policies relating to the pandemic as these affect teaching and learning at the Faculty of Law. The situation is fluid, and we will need to be both sensible and nimble in how we respond and adapt to the changing situation.”

Dr. Torrie holds J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, and a Ph.D. from Kent Law School, University of Kent.  As an expert in Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law, her area of research focus includes the history of Canadian business restructuring from the Great Depression through to the 21^stCentury. To learn more about her research, please visit her profile page on the Faculty of Law website.

Dr. Donn Short is the author of numerous books dealing with bullying in schools, including Don’t Be So Gay!, Am I Safe Here? and the forthcoming Making the Case, all published by UBC Press. Dr. Short has received a number of university merit awards for his research, teaching and service. He was the winner of the 2016 Rh Institute Foundation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Scholarship and Research in the Social Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

“Robson Hall is a place that allows faculty to grow and develop their research alongside supportive colleagues and students,” said Dr. Short. “I have a lot of optimism for the future working as a team with Dean Richard Jochelson and Associate Dean Virginia Torrie.”

Dr. Short received his JD from UBC (Raymond Herbert Award Best All Round Graduating Student) and his PhD from Osgoode Hall. Dr. Short has been a member of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and is the founding editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Human Rights. He is the Executive Director of the Legal Research Institute at the University of Manitoba. Please learn more about Dr. Short’s work on his profile page on the Faculty of Law website.

Dr. Jochelson was announced as Dean of the Faculty of Law along with a number of other University of Manitoba faculties at the end of June. He begins his five-year term on July 1, 2021. Professor Jochelson holds a PhD in law from Osgoode Hall at York University, a Masters in Law from University of Toronto, and a Law Degree from University of Calgary (Gold Medal). He taught criminal and constitutional law at the University of Winnipeg for ten years prior to joining the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law in 2016.

Dr. Jochelson’s area of research focus includes regulation of sexuality and other expression, socio-legal governance of harm and precaution, policing and police powers, surveillance and security in legal decision-making, the criminal and constitutional jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Canada, jury law, disability and the criminal law, regulation of sexuality and other expression, socio-legal governance of harm and precaution, and empirical analyses of legal decision makers.

He is one of the co-founders of the legal blog Robsoncrim.com. The blog contributes to legal education at Robson Hall, providing reflections on current issues in criminal law through its Blawg program, through special events, and through its annual peer reviewed journal (a special edition of the Manitoba Law Journal). Dr. Jochelson has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and co-authored and co-edited an increasing number of books and volumes dealing with obscenity, indecency, judicial activism, police powers, criminal justice pedagogy and curriculum development, empiricism in criminal law, green criminology and conceptions of judicial and jury reasoning. He is a member of the Bar of Manitoba. Please read more about Dr. Jochelson at his profile page on the Faculty of Law website.

Enlisting the help of research assistant, 2L student Alexis Alevizos to dig deep and find out background information for him, Asper managed to interview a total of six law professors and 11 students before Alevizos and MLSA President Nick Noonan managed to ‘sandbag’ him for an interview himself.

Acting Dean of Law, David Asper, Q.C., created an engaging series of interviews with law professors and students.

With his personable and completely frank manner, Asper was able to engage in some remarkable conversations with his colleagues and students, drawing out thoughtful insights into the lives and personalities that make up our community of legal educators and future lawyers.

“I thought it might be a good idea to try and create some individual humanity around our faculty and students at a time when we can’t do that in the usual way,” said Asper. “It was great that people agreed to play along, and as it evolved I think I got better at it and people really opened up. I’ve started to wonder if this could be my next career. My appointment as Acting Dean ends in June and I’m available!”

Please enjoy streaming the full playlist of “In Conversation With” on the Robson Hall Youtube Channel.

As a final interview of the year, Asper was invited by the University of Manitoba’s Alumni & Friends Virtual Learning for Life Program – Alumni Scholar Series to speak with International Criminal Court Judge Kimberly Prost. The resulting conversation was inspiring and enlightening, and one not to be missed. Please view it on the University of Manitoba Youtube Channel.

David Asper, Q.C.,

Mr. Asper received his BA and an honorary degree from UM, a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law and Master of Law from the University of Toronto. He has served as an assistant professor and sessional lecturer in our Faculty of Law, and has also taught at the Bora Laskin School of Law at Lakehead University, and at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

His passion for truth and justice propelled him as a criminal defence lawyer and litigator to tirelessly work to free the wrongfully convicted David Milgaard. Outside the courtroom, he has shown himself to be an advocate and conduit for social change and civic progress through his commitment to philanthropy and community organizations. As such, he has been recognized with numerous honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Sol Kanee Distinguished Community Service Medal in 2018.

UM is honoured to have Mr. Asper serve in this acting role in one of Canada’s oldest law schools, where he will surely inspire the next generation to pursue truth, justice and the betterment of all.

The Manitoba Law Journal had published an in-depth interview with Professor Braid in its Volume 39 Issue 1 special edition on A Great Transition in Legal Education. Please enjoy reading about Professor Braid’s memories as a law student, professor and Dean in the interview conducted by Ryan Trainer (at p. 77).

Dr. Bryan Schwartz’s remarks made at the March 6th memorial service may be read here.

Among his many achievements, including serving as Attorney-General, Province of Manitoba (1981 – 1987) and being named to the Order of Canada (2000) and to the Order of Manitoba (2014), the Hon. Roland Penner, C.M., O.M., Q.C. [B.A./49, LL.B./61] was a professor at the Faculty of Law from 1972 to 2009, teaching courses in constitutional law, criminal law, labour law, evidence, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After serving as a Member of Legislative Assembly under Howard Pawley, he was Dean of Law from 1989 to 1994. Upon retiring, he continued to serve the Faculty as a Senior Scholar until his passing.

Please read Roland Penner’s obituary  for more information about his extraordinary life.

More articles about Roland Penner:

• CBC: Former Manitoba attorney general, LGBTQ champion Roland Penner dies
• CBC: Manitoba politicians, past and present, honour Roland Penner at Pride
• Winnipeg Free Press: Former attorney general Roland Penner dead at 93

Colleagues,

This is my final day as dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

When I decided to throw my hat in the ring for Dean, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the position. Despite having served five years as Associate Dean, I didn’t fully comprehend the demands of the role. I did not truly understand the number of hours of work associated with being Dean, nor did I expect the emotional, physical and mental challenges the role would present.

If I had known these things, I would have done no different.

Six years ago, I threw myself headlong into serving our community so this school would be the best it could be. Six years later, as I return to my first passions of teaching and scholarly inquiry, I remain devoted to serving Robson Hall. We have done so much together in these six years and I want to thank you all for being so willing to come along for the ride. Throughout the years, with your support and with your challenges, you have made our flourishing possible, constantly reminding me this has all been worth the effort – we are all worth the effort. Our mission is worth the effort. It is a mission we have pursued for more than one hundred years; it is a mission we will continue to pursue for hundreds more.

It is easy to get caught up in our day-to-day activities and lose sight of the progress we have made together.  As I pause to reflect on my time as leader of this wonderful community, I see how far we have come.  When I gave my recruitment speech in 2011 about my vision for Robson Hall, I said three things – that vision grows out of collective and shared leadership; that a process that makes space for all voices is a necessity; and finally, that I saw us “as a law school known for teaching lawyers and leaders who promote access to justice for all, who will help Canadians move toward right relations with aboriginal peoples and who will be firm in the knowledge that the profession must serve the public interest.”  Over the past six years we have strengthened and challenged our shared leadership through sometimes difficult – but always necessary – conversations, and together we have accomplished more than I thought possible.

Our students have benefitted from our efforts.  We’ve consulted widely and researched deeply, developing innovative approaches to our JD program.  Through the efforts of the Academic Innovation Working Group and the Director of Experiential Learning we have created a framework for revitalizing our curriculum and providing our students with substantial clinical and experiential learning opportunities.  We have increased access to justice in both official languages through our French language program (for which we have been awarded more than $500,000 in federal grants).  We have successfully completed graduate and undergraduate program reviews, and we have maintained approval for our JD program under the Common Law Degree Approval of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.  Despite an extremely volatile environment provincially and at the University, we have initiated productive consultations and engaged with students about the plan to increase tuition to ensure we can flourish into the future. We have established a tradition of welcoming our students to our community with uplifting words from an Elder and from the Chief Justice of Manitoba, who gives them a personalized copy of the Code of Professional Conduct. We send them off in record numbers through the University Convocation Ceremony, where instead of an LL.B. they now earn a Juris Doctor degree.  Our students have heard from incredible honourary degree recipients including Supreme Court of Canada Justices Marshall Rothstein and Rosalie Abella. We have placed five students as clerks to the Supreme Court of Canada and we have maintained a career placement success rate of approximately 95 per cent in local and national markets despite national downturns in opportunity.

Our faculty members have benefitted from our efforts.  We’ve begun celebrating excellence, recognizing our faculty through a number of awards from the University including the Rh Awards, the Stanton and Saunderson Awards, countless Merit Awards, as well as numerous MBA and CBA awards, and nominations for important national awards. We’ve created our own award – the Barney Sneiderman Award – to properly acknowledge teaching excellence within our own school.  We have worked hard together to identify our strengths and create a strategic plan, laying the groundwork for our future as a leading law school with a focus on indigenous peoples, human rights, and business/private enterprise law.  We’ve supported the creation of the Centre of Human Rights Research (and provided it a home) and of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba. We’ve started an ongoing journey of responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #28 in both spiritual and tangible ways.  We have looked at ways to support our research through the work of the Scholarship working group, the efforts of the Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) and through effective grant writing. We have a made impacts with our work – locally, nationally and beyond.

Our larger community has also benefitted from our efforts.  Our students offer service to the public through the University Law Centre, the Legal Help Centre, ProBono Students Canada and other avenues of community engagement.  Our colleagues serve the community through research, work with local, national and international organizations and selflessly volunteer their service to in-need organizations. We enjoy a rich and respectful relationship with the various branches of the profession in Manitoba.  In all of this, a tremendous team of staff members comes to work each day to encourage our students and colleagues in our shared mission – it is with their support that we are able to extend our reach into the larger community.

Our alumni and friends have contributed enormously to the success of our efforts.  We’ve hosted hundreds of events and fostered relations between our students, alumni, staff, faculty and members of the legal community across Canada. We’ve raised millions of dollars toward supporting our students, improving our classroom infrastructure, reinvigourating our education, and recruiting and retaining high-calibre faculty and staff. We’ve recognized our donors, many of whom are alumni, through our beautifully inspiring donor wall. In the coming months we will receive millions more in support from alumni and friends and we will follow through on our plans to redevelop the lower level of Robson Hall.

In the midst of all of these accomplishments, we celebrated one hundred years of Robson Hall with an amazing gala (complete with a special commission from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet), an ethics symposium, a conference on legal education, an engrossing film and a beautiful book.  We have much to look forward to in our second century.

In that speech in 2011, I closed by saying that believed the most important vision I could bring to the deanship was the belief that we can come together to collectively produce our vision for the future and that we would be stronger and better for doing so.  I believe we have done this and as we welcome our new Dean, Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch, we will continue to grow and flourish.  I have described just a few of the things we have achieved together while I have served as Dean. As you can see, the graph is trending upward and will continue to do so under the leadership of Dr. Black-Branch.

It can be easy to forget what one has achieved when one is as devoted to one’s work as each of you is. Before I became dean, you were working; during my terms as dean, you were working; when Dr. Black-Branch is dean, you will continue working to build this school into something great, something of which we should all be proud.

We have many more accomplishments I could list, but that is not really my point.  Instead, on the eve of my departure, I’d like to invite you to consider the bigger picture. Think over our past six years together – count your victories, large and small – and remember what we’re all working for.

Yours in justice,

Lorna Turnbull

Dean & Professor

Robson Hall, Faculty of Law

University of Manitoba