The Clinics believe Northern Manitoba communities deserve equal access to legal help, education, economic and other opportunities. These Northern outreach trips aim to connect students and residents in the North with needed services that are too frequently out of reach or concentrated in Winnipeg, while giving law students first-hand insight into the needs, culture, and resilience of Northern Manitobans.

Pop‑Up Clinic at UCN

At the University College of the North (UCN) in The Pas, students set up a pop‑up clinic to answer questions from students, entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups including family businesses, non‑profits, charities, artists, creatives, arts and cultural organizations. The Clinic routinely provides information and advice to Manitobans on intellectual property, contracts, business structures and more, free of charge.

Rebecca Harris, a UCN administrator, welcomed the initiative: “It’s nice to see the supports come to the North. Having a presence here makes an impact for students to see the opportunities available.”

Third-year law student Travis Dech reflected on the experience: “Manitoba’s enterprising spirit is not bound by geography. The North has resources, opportunities and potential with well‑grounded plans to be an economic driver. I hope entrepreneurs here get the chance to be the change they want to see.”

The Pas: Gateway to the North

Located 520 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, and 25 miles east of the Saskatchewan border, at the confluence of the Pasquia River and the Saskatchewan River, The Pas has frequently been called “The Gateway to the North”. The Pas is a multi-industry northern Manitoba town that has served its surrounding region for centuries, even before Northern Manitoba became part of the Province of Manitoba in 1912, and long been a hub for trade and industry. Its roots stretch back to the 1740s, when Fort Paskoya was built by Hudson’s Bay Company traders. Today, the town’s economy includes agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, transportation, education, and more. Together with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, The Pas forms a tri‑community with a population of about 5,700, nearly half of whom are Indigenous. While in The Pas, the Clinics stayed at the Kikiwak Inn, owned and operated by OCN, one of Manitoba’s largest and most enterprising First Nations. The Pas is one of the three largest communities in Northern Manitoba: others being Thompson and Flin Flon.

University College of the North

UCN plays a central role in northern education, research, development of Northern Manitobans, and is guided by Indigenous and northern values. Chancellor Edwin Jebb, a member of OCN, was one of the first Indigenous graduates of the University of Manitoba. President and Vice Chancellor Doug Lauvstad has championed economic and social progress across the region, and been a passionate advocate helping northern people and addressing northern issues.

For the visiting law students, UCN provided a welcoming space to connect with local students and members of the community.

Meeting Dr. Roberta Bondar

The trip coincided with a special event: Canadian astronaut and neurologist Dr. Roberta Bondar visited The Pas for a Grand Opening of Patterns & Parallels: The Great Imperative to Survive, an exhibition featuring photographic works of Dr. Bondar,  which will be  running until March 13, 2026. The exhibition, presented in partnership between UCN,  The Pas Guest List, and The Roberta Bondar Foundation, took several years to arrange, and is the first time Dr. Bondar’s work and exhibit had been translated into three first nation languages spoken in the area: Cree, Dene, and Anisinimowin.

In a packed auditorium, Dr. Bondar spoke about the environment and endangered migratory birds and how human development threatens their survival. Her career achievements — first Canadian woman and second Canadian in space, first neurologist in orbit, recipient of the Companion of the Order of Canada, NASA Space Medal, 28 honorary doctorates, and induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame — underscored her message of perseverance. She told the audience she had to be “overqualified everywhere [she] went” to break barriers and encouraged everyone to find “parallel paths” when doors are closed, such as in her case taking flying lessons independently because women were not allowed in Air Cadets when she was a youth.

For the law students, these messages were inspiring, as was sharing a flight with Dr. Bondar both to and from The Pas, made for an unforgettable experience.

For more information about this unique exhibit by Dr. Bondar in The Pas, check out CBC Radio Manitoba interview with Gabriella Swan of The Pas Guest List, here.

The Pas Guest List and Community Art

The Clinics also thank Gabriella Swan, a cofounder of The Pas Guest List, for introductions to so many in The Pas with whom the Clinics have connected.  

The Pas Guest List is an incredible social-artistic nonprofit that organizes community events and supports local arts. Its mural project along The Pas’ Walking Path has already added vibrant 40‑foot works celebrating resilience and creativity, with plans to expand to 20 murals over the next decade.

Third-year law student Jessie Canard described visiting the murals: “I was fortunate to have the opportunity and time to check the art in the Pas. Several murals made by the community and well-known Manitoba based artists and others are featured along the trail. It was such a beautiful experience because the snow fall made the colors extra vibrant.”

 A Lifetime of Learning

Though the law students spent only a few days in The Pas, there was a lifetime of learning and lessons learned which are lasting. They gained a deeper understanding of northern culture, needs and building trust with people in the North who now also know more about their rights and how to access free legal support from the Clinics. For the Clinics, these trips also reinforce the importance of meeting people in-person which is culturally appropriate in the North where there is a both need to remove barriers and build trust face-to-face.

Acknowledgement

The Clinics are incredibly thankful for the support of Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada through the IP Clinics Program Grant funding which enabled and made for these important in-person Northern visits possible. 

“The CCIL Annual Conference was beneficial to me for several reasons,” Turnbull reflected. “It provided an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of international law and to hear directly from leading experts on topics that I would not otherwise encounter in Manitoba or at my stage as a 2L student. It also allowed me to reconnect with colleagues and form new relationships with students and practitioners working in areas of law that closely align with my interests.”

Turnbull came to law school already with an interest in international relations and foreign policy, having taken an international law course during his undergraduate political science degree at the University of Manitoba. Since then, he has looked for opportunities in international studies and was ultimately able to participate in the Queen’s International Law Program last summer, finding it a very formative experience. “While I find all areas of international law compelling, my primary career interest lies in international criminal justice,” he said. “Criminal law is my main academic interest at Robson Hall, and this area offers a meaningful opportunity to apply those interests on a global scale. As I learned through the Queen’s program, entry into the field is highly competitive, and gaining three to five years of relevant experience along with an LLM is often essential.”

Further, he said, “More broadly, my interest in international law is deeply rooted in my love of politics. As a middle power, Canada relies heavily on a rules-based international order and on free trade, and I am drawn to the role that international law plays in sustaining those systems, particularly at a time when these global principles appear to be in decline.”

At November’s conference, Turnbull gained meaningful insight into the challenges facing Canada and the international community, as well as the realities of entering a field that he noted is expected to undergo significant cutbacks in the coming years, right when he is hoping to join it. “Although some of my peers view international law as a field of limited value due to its imperfections, being surrounded by individuals committed to strengthening and improving the discipline reaffirmed for me that it remains an area of law worth engaging with,” he said, undaunted.

Rather than choosing a practice area solely based on practicality, he is determined to follow one that he is genuinely interested in. “Despite many sessions addressing issues without clear or immediate solutions, the optimism and passion of those working to improve the international sphere and the lives affected by it were deeply motivating,” he observed. “The idea of contributing to progress, even when it is incremental or appears to move backward, feels like a meaningful and worthwhile pursuit.”

Similarly, Johnson shared that as a second-year law student, he is also starting to explore what areas of legal practice interest him. “As someone who has always had a keen interest in areas like history, politics, and geography, it is exciting to learn more about an area of law that addresses truly global themes like human rights and international law of armed conflicts,” he said.

“The highlight of the conference for me was the panel that focused on international law within the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict,” said Johnson. “It was a powerful discussion that brought together a former IDF (Israel Defence Forces) member who negotiated on behalf of Israel during the Oslo Accords, a Palestinian woman who grew up in the West Bank and now works in the non-profit humanitarian space, and other international lawyers to talk about the complex legal dynamics of the conflict. It showed the overlap of the often-intense emotions associated with humanitarian crises and the technical legal components of sorting out the legality of armed conflict.”

Both Turnbull and Johnson left Ottawa having found the conference extremely rewarding and a tremendous learning opportunity.

The first moot of the 2025 – 2026 season was the renowned Solomon Greenberg trial moot competition. This year, the competition took place on November 22, 2025, at the Winnipeg Law Courts. Winner Priya Kaur Dhillon (3L) and runner-up Jasmine Yakabowich (3L) will go on to represent Manitoba at the MacIntyre (Western Canada) Cup to be hosted at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, from February 13-15, 2026.

Eight law students enrolled in the mandatory Introduction to Advocacy course in their second year are then selected to participate in the Solomon during their third and final year of law school. These students pair up and are divided into Crown and Defence teams, with their own set of lawyers to coach them, along with two volunteer law students as witnesses per team. This year’s teams were as follows:

Trial # 1

Crown Team 1: Derek Zaporzan & Nicole Dohler
Witnesses: April Li & Brittany Windsor-Brown
Coaches: Dayna Queau-Guzzi & Adam Gingera [BA/10; JD/16]

Defence Team 1: Kaitlyn Clarke & Brett Yager
Witnesses: Emily Trottier & Gilad Stitz
Coaches: Carley Mahoney [JD/16] & Caleigh Glawson [JD/19]

Trial #2

Crown Team 1: Alexander Kraus & Esther Adegbesan
Witnesses: Riley O’Hara & Maria Pepelassis
Coaches: Amy Wood, Melissa Hazelton [LLB/10], Sara Minshull

Defence Team 2: Jasmine Yakabowich & Priya Dhillon
Witnesses: Eric Matthews & Brannen McKenzie-Lefurgey
Coaches: Evan Roitenberg [LLB/91] & Laura Robinson [LLB/09]

Each group conducts a mock criminal trial where the accused is to be tried by judge and jury. Competitors argue to a jury that is composed of the witnesses, judges and coaches. The trials are assessed by volunteer provincial court judges. This year’s assessors include Judge Tim Killeen (presiding), Retired Judge Raymond Wyant, Judge Kusham Sharma and Judge David Ireland. Before the Faculty of Law’s Director of Clinics, Elizabeth McCandless [LLB/07; LLM/20] announced the winners on behalf of the judges, the Honourable Judge Wyant made note that, every year choosing a winner is difficult and this year was no exception. 

The Solomon’s fierce competition simply wouldn’t be the same without the volunteer coaches whose dedication shapes the students’ success. The winners of this year’s competition, attribute this accomplishment to the time and energy their coaches dedicated to helping them develop their advocacy skills.

Robson Hall’s Solomon Greenberg trial moot competition is a longstanding tradition, reaching back over 60 years at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law. Named in honour of a Winnipeg lawyer who was considered one of the best criminal defence lawyers in Western Canada, the moot honours the late Solomon Greenberg. Well-respected by both his clients and colleagues, he was known as a courtroom legend in his own time. Learn more about Greenberg’s life on page 133 of Norm Larsen’s book Notable People from Manitoba’s Legal History.

The conference provided a unique opportunity for the students, both members of Robson Hall’s IP & Technology Law Group executive team, to build strong relationships with legal professionals from across Canada. “Attending CAN-TECH’s 2025 fall conference was a fantastic experience to learn about some of the exciting developments taking place in this field, while also exploring some of the unique challenges within the legal profession. With AI advancement occurring at such a fast pace, it is important to stay ahead of the curve while also promoting innovation within Canada,” Plant said.

Throughout the conference, the panels featured riveting discussions leaving much room for thought and reflection.

During the “Caveats and Kill Switches: Professional Obligations in the Use of Legal AI” panel, Al Hounsell of Gowling WLG was one of the speakers. Hounsell serves as the National Director of AI, Innovation and Knowledge at Gowling WLG. During the panel, he spoke to the importance of proper training for lawyers, suggesting that in order to efficiently implement the technology into the legal practice, the training must be efficient and focused to ensure firms do not get left behind, while also maintaining client confidentiality and professional obligations.

Matthew Shogilev, of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, was a panelist during “Minor Details, Major Consequences: The Challenges of Contracting With Minors?”. During this session, Shogilev explored the disparity between the rapid pace of technological advancement and current regulations which exist to protect minors. This panel analyzed many of the challenges faced with respect to governing minors’ access to digital services, achieving age assurance, and some of the privacy concerns that come with contracting with minors.  

On day two, students attended “Autonomous by Design: Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Agentic AI”. Agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous decision-making, goal formation, and adaptive behavior—are fast becoming a frontier issue for legal and compliance professionals. This panel explored the questions around accountability, oversight, and legal personhood that existing Canadian legal frameworks have yet to fully address. Of unique focus was the fact that these systems are increasingly acting with independence, and addressed how tech lawyers can engage with the risks associated with these new systems. The students found this topic to be particularly interesting, as they are entering the legal profession at the same time that this technology is being introduced, so it is imperative to build the correct ethical guardrails now to ensure their future practice can stay grounded during the shifting legal landscape.

Maria and Donald also had the opportunity to engage with legal professionals in roundtable discussions on various topics, including data sovereignty and agentic AI. “The roundtables offered us a unique opportunity to see multiple legal viewpoints on the same issues,” Maria said. “This conference helped us understand pressing concerns in technology law from the perspectives of industry leaders, technologists, and lawyers helping clients navigate an uncertain legal landscape.”

The students are grateful for the opportunity to attend CAN-TECH’s 2025 Fall Conference, and express their deepest gratitude to all the panelists for engaging with them and discussing such important topics. We truly look forward to implementing the lessons learned throughout the conference and are confident that our experience here will guide our careers for years to come!

In 2022/23 students from the Robson Hall Rights clinic, under the supervision of [Elizabeth McCandless, Director of Clinics] undertook research for their “client” the Manitoba Eco-Network. This research was part of MbEN’s Healthy Environment, Healthy Neighbourhood (HEHN) project, which tabled a Final Report in 2023.

One of the final recommendations contained in the Final Report (available on the MbEN’s website site, with acknowledgment of the students included), was for MB to adopt Anti-SLAPP legislation. The Final Report was developed based on community feedback and the research of the students and the project team.

Mackenzie Cardinal [JD/23] who clerked at the Alberta Court of Appeal in Calgary and is now an associate at Osler, was one of the contributing student researchers when completing an externship at the Rights Clinic during his final year of law school.

One of the first students to work for the Rights Clinic, Cardinal described it as “an excellent opportunity to undertake research that would have an impact in the community.”

Cardinal explained that working on this project appealed to his interest in civil litigation. “The project gave me the opportunity to research a relativity new procedural mechanism that had been tried and tested in other jurisdictions, but had yet to be adopted in Manitoba. This was interesting for two reasons: 

1. It allowed me to analyze the Rules of Court and determine whether the current rules (e.g., 25.11) sufficiently addressed anti-SLAPP suits. 
2. The fact that anti-SLAPP legislation had already been enacted in Ontario and British Columbia put us in a beneficial position. Rather than anticipating where weak spots may arise with the legislation, we were able to turn to the existing case law and academic commentary to determine more clearly what was (and was not) working with the existing legislation. I think this allowed for more pointed recommendations.”

Students were tasked with reviewing the case law and academic commentary on anti-SLAPP legislation and provide a recommendation on whether Manitoba should adopt such legislation. 

MbEN continued to bring up this recommendation when meeting with elected officials over the past few years and it has been one of the NGO’s top law reform recommendations. 

Bill 23 was introduced in Spring 2025 and was held over by the Opposition until the fall sitting. Everything from the Bill’s 2nd reading to Royal Assent, including committee review, happened in the October, 2025. 

MbEN connected with the Department in August 2025, [we] met with the Minister of Justice in early Oct 2025 to discuss a proposed amendment to the Bill. The Minister supported our amendment, as did the Opposition, so [we] ended up with the exact version of Anti-SLAPP legislation the students identified as best practice in their research and we ultimately recommended in our report. 

The bill passed on November 6, 2025 on the last day of the session.

“As a client of the Rights Clinic, the Manitoba Eco Network found that the students’ research was useful and helpful, directly supported law reform research and advocacy, and played a role in getting the Bill actually passed,” said Fast, who is the Policy Advocacy Director for the MbEN. “There should be more opportunities for students like this and we’re an example of how this type of collaboration can be successful and lead to improving access to justice.”

Upon learning that the research the students did, directly contributed to a successful law reform initiative, Cardinal said, “It is quite a rewarding feeling to know that Justin [Vermette] [JD/23] and I contributed, even in a small way, to the passage of this legislation. Hopefully, this legislation will have a meaningful, positive impact on the lives of Manitobans, empowering them to more effectively enforce their rights through the court system.”

Cardinal added that having this opportunity as a law student in the formative stages of his legal career was very fulfilling. “As law students, it’s easy to perceive the law as some kind of immutable thing that we must simply accept as it is. However, this experience is a reminder that the law is not static and that we, as future legal professionals, can influence and shape it.” 

In a week-long workshop called Ignite: Your Future as an Artist, MFA students explored essential professional skills, including legal and bookkeeping basics, art pricing strategies, and effective approaches to communicating their artistic brand.

The first of its kind at UM, Ignite is an exciting partnership between IDEA START and The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (The Centre), and participating schools or faculties.

“Ignite demonstrates the power of collaboration. IDEA START initially connected the School of Art with The Centre. The School of Art provided important direction on program nuance and introductions to appropriate artists who could serve as guest speakers. And, The Centre designed and delivered the workshop,” said Janine Carmichael, Faculty Specialist for Entrepreneurship at The Centre who facilitated the workshop together with Jackie Hope, Educational Developer at The Centre.

Hope, who makes adventure films with her husband Ray, recently appeared on the IDEA START Podcast to share about their filmmaking company Midlife Mountaineer. “Ignite was an exciting project to be a part of. How lucky am I to spend a week with these talented students in a program that combines my love of art, entrepreneurship and education?”

Key features of Ignite: Your Future as an Artist included:

• Panel discussion with alumni and staff from the School of Art who have had commercial success in their career
• Career planning and networking with the Career, Community and Experiential Learning Centre
• Focus on legal and accounting best practices, including a student presentation from the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts in the Faculty of Law
• Art pricing strategies
• Meaningful reflection activities

“A highlight of the week was the day spent off campus. Shaun Mayberry, co-owner of Mayberry Fine Art, gave students an insider’s look at gallery operations and practical tips for approaching and working with galleries. The day continued with lunch at Creative Manitoba, where staff shared the programs and supports they offer to help Manitoba artists thrive. The day wrapped up with a tour of three UM faculty’s studio spaces, giving students a close look at professional practices,” Carmichael added.

Associate Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Oliver Botar added: “Every second year our MFA students participate in a week-long workshop on curation. We are so pleased to now offer this workshop on the alternate years. It’s important for students to wrestle with the thorny issues of artistic integrity and commercial viability while they are in our program.”

As for Carmichael and Hope, they can’t wait to do it again.

“Students in the MFA program are incredibly creative and curious and we can’t wait to refine our next offering for them in 2027. We also can’t wait to partner with other schools and faculties who want to do something similar,” Carmichael added.

Because Ignite bridges curricular and co-curricular learning, it can be fully customized with program length, learning goals, delivery format and more.    

Interested? Please reach out to Janine Carmichael, Faculty Specialist, Entrepreneurship in The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL).

The gathering brought together government officials, legislators, artists, cultural organizations, and arts supporters to celebrate the vital role the arts and culture sector plays in shaping Manitoba’s economy and identity. The evening powerfully underscored how investing in the arts enriches not only the cultural landscape but also the broader society.

The Reception was in the Golden Boy Room – graced with powerful Indigenous artwork – and provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with many of the inspiring individuals who shape Manitoba’s vibrant arts community.

Reflecting on the evening, Jessie Canard (3L), who is also a practicing visual artist, shared:

“Before getting into law, I was living as a full-time artist. Attending the event was uplifting. Witnessing the recognition the arts were receiving for their impact on our communities and economies filled my heart. The fact that, from 2023 to 2024, the arts supported 20,000 jobs and generated $477 million in tourism revenue is something worth celebrating. I loved being an artist, and knowing that others are living that dream—and that this province can support it—makes me so happy for the youth who want to live the artist life. It is possible and will take you places you’d never imagine. If it weren’t for the arts, I would have never gotten into law.”

Meaningful conversations

Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts law student Jessie Canard (3L) with Premier Wab Kinew.

Some of the meaningful connections made by Jessie Canard on behalf of the Clinic included conversations with Premier Wab Kinew, Hon. Glen Simard, Hon. Jamie Moses, Hon, Nellie Kennedy and many others, all who already either knew or were interested in the free legal work that law students at the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts do everyday to support artists, creatives, arts and culture organizations with free legal services, across all of Manitoba.

Arts and Culture: Significant Contributions to Manitoba’s Economy

Attendees were reminded by Premier Kinew and Minister Kennedy of the significant role Arts and Culture play in Manitobans’ well-being and the provincial economy. A recent report and survey by the Manitoba Arts Council confirms the sector contributes more than $1.75B annually to the Manitoba economy. A summary of the report and survey is available online at: Arts & culture adds more than $1.75B to Manitoba’s economy: new report – Manitoba Arts Council.

Arts Deserve to Be Supported by Everyone

All attendees that the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts met during the event agreed that everyone should support Arts and Culture in Manitoba. Arts are part of the cultural DNA of every Manitoban. Manitoba has always been known for and enjoys a rich history of creativity and cultural diversity.

Jessie Canard (3L) with Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation).

Those not already familiar with the Clinic learned that it is run by University of Manitoba law students. They support artists, creatives, and arts and cultural organizations that do not have a lawyer or cannot afford legal assistance anywhere in Manitoba, and they do it for free. Experienced lawyers supervise all client work done by law students.  Through its work, the Clinic and law students help remove barriers by offering assistance on a wide range of matters, including assisting artists to better understand intellectual property, their rights, contracts and more, all of which are needed by artists to protect their creative work and support their livelihoods, regardless of income or location. As Manitoba’s only dedicated legal clinic that provides services tailored specifically to the creative sector, the Clinic serves clients anywhere in Manitoba who have internet access. By using technology to overcome lack of services, affordability, accessibility, and geographic challenges, ensures support for individuals and communities is available province-wide, including, whenever in-person outreach – especially in rural, remote areas in the North — is not always possible, or accessible, or where there may be no lawyers, in the comfort of their own community.

Vital to Identity and Sovereignty

Arts and Culture are essential to strengthening cultural identity and sovereignty. Increasing equity and access to free legal services directly supports individuals, communities and contributes to a strong creative sector that benefits everyone, including the Manitoba economy.

The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts looks forward to expanding its community outreach, recognizing the value of the services it provides, and building trusted connections across diverse communities, including in Northern Manitoba.

Manitobans for the Arts

Manitobans for the Arts and the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts have a lot in common, including shared goals. Manitobans for the Arts is a non-profit advocating for arts, culture, and heritage by building relationships, engaging the public, and promoting a unified voice for all creative industries in the province.

The celebration at the Legislature was also part of Manitobans for the Arts’ larger campaign, Art Doesn’t Just Happen — an initiative aimed at inspiring Manitobans to reflect on and share how the arts shape their lives. Through social media, storytelling, and community engagement, the campaign invites grassroots participation across the province. Manitobans are encouraged to post their own artistic experiences online by tagging @ManitobansForTheArts and using the hashtag #MakeArtHappen. As part of the campaign, participants can also enter a contest to win a trip to Churchill, Manitoba. The contest closes on January 25, 2026. For full details, visit makearthappen.ca.

If interested in supporting Arts and Culture in Manitoba, consider becoming a member of Manitobans for the Arts. 

The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts is proud to be a member of Manitobans for the Arts, and stands with and next to others that are supporting Arts and Culture in Manitoba, and advocating for a culture of support and positive change to help Artists of all genres in Manitoba every day.

Learn more about Manitobans for the Arts.

Learn more about the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts.

However, they might start to be in higher rotation after a team of four Asper BComm students earned a second-place finish at the Thammasat Undergraduate Business Competition (TUBC).

Competing against some of the world’s top business schools, the team—consisting of Kayla Odidison, Ben Penner, Nikol Sokolsky, and Olivia Velasco—demonstrated that Asper’s commitment to experiential learning opportunities is truly spreading the Asper name across the globe.

The second-place finish marks the Asper School’s highest placement at this level of the international case competition stage.

The first two rounds: an uphill (and nearly sleepless) battle

The time: October 6-12, 2025. The location: the five-star Amari hotel in Bangkok (side note: Odidison is still thinking about the top-notch complimentary breakfast).

The facts: getting to the final competition at TUBC is not a given. Twenty teams compete to get the most points in two rounds of presentations; the top five make it to the finals.

In the first round, where competitors are given five hours to prepare their presentation, the team analyzed how Lazada, a Thai e-commerce platform similar to Amazon, could upscale their brand into selling more premium items. This round was worth 30% of their points.

With 24 points out of a potential 30, Asper earned second place in their division, which was a solid result, but one that turned getting to the finals into an uphill battle; they would have to score much better in the second round if they wanted to advance.

With twenty-four hours to prepare their second presentation, the team harbored themselves in their hotel room to study how a major construction contractor in Thailand, Stetcon, could make high-margin, sustainable growth.

With papers plastered onto every wall of their hotel room (“It was a total tornado in our room,” says Odidison), the team pulled an *almost* all-nighter: they only slept for an hour-and-a-half during the 24-hour crunchtime.

The way the hotel was set up, they could see the light from their competitors’ windows. Penner says their mantra was “If they’re up, we’re up.”

Running on adrenaline, they were able to score a perfect score of 70 to win their division and advance to the finals.

Case Competition Tip #1: Go one level deeper

Kayla Odidison: When you’re studying an industry that you’re not very familiar with, it can be hard to take your real-life experience and apply it to your analysis. How low should you go in detail? How intimate should I go? Judy would always say, “always think one level deeper”

The finals: putting Asper on the map

In the finals, team Asper again delivered their second-round presentation for a board of judges and the Stetcon C-suite. Even the son of Thailand’s Prime Minister was in attendance as a Stetcon executive.

As the nerve-racking finals began, their presentation seemed to be going well, until three minutes in, when, as Velasco was speaking, they were forced to face yet another rigorous challenge: technical difficulties.

“The slide deck on the screen behind us shut off, went totally black,” says Velasco. “But the judges still have our slides, and the timer is still going. So we’re like, ‘Just keep going. No slides.’ And I think it was amazing we were able to do so.”

Eventually, they were stopped and had to restart their presentation, but the fact that the outage didn’t phase them won them numerous compliments.

After they presented, Sokolsky recounted the story of how when the judges began giving their feedback, the team’s stomachs dropped as one judge said, “your content was hard to follow” followed by a too-long pause, and then excitedly said “…because your storytelling was just so great.”

Case Competition Tip #2: Tell a good story

Nikol Sokolsky: At the beginning, we tried to throw everything in the kitchen sink in our recommendations and try to fix all the world’s problems. Our coaches helped us funnel it down, and find our main problem. When you focus on one section it makes your ideas much more nuanced and fully digestible.

 

Knowing that in their hearts, they had nailed their presentation and question period, a podium finish would’ve been just a cherry on top.

To their delight, as the awards were announced, Kayla Odidison won best speaker of the competition, and the team placed second.

“Obviously there was jumping, and a bit of screaming,” says Penner with a laugh.

While they’re proud of what they achieved, their pride stems from the people and the place they represented.

They described representing Manitoba in Thailand as an underdog story—as very few of the other teams they talked to even knew where Manitoba was.

Velasco says that seeing the Asper School of Business as the second-place team in a group of “heavy hitters” like Rotterdam School of Management (the Netherlands) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) filled her with a tremendous sense of pride.

Even more than representing home on the global stage, they were just happy to make their coach, Judy Jayasuriya, proud. She is also the lead of case competition program at the Asper School.

“It was so good to see Judy so excited because she’s put such a tremendous amount of work into not only us, but every case competition team,” says Penner.

Case Competition Tip #3: Practice makes perfect

Olivia Velasco: Get those reps in. When it comes to speaking, building the confidence to speak naturally is a huge thing that only comes with practice. And when you’ve spent 24 hours with the material, it’s really ingrained in you and you know what you’re talking about.

Teammates to Friends

Case competitions are key experiences that put learning into action, as you learn to think critically while under pressure (and sometimes, sleep deprived) and gain confidence.

Jayasuriya says that it’s because of the Asper School of Business’ commitment to experiential learning that students get to (a) experience competitions like Thammasat and (b) get the support they need from the case competition office and volunteers, to allow students to grow, and eventually excel along the way.

Odidison, who won best speaker of the competition, says “the very first case I did, I’m like ‘why am I even on this team?’ and now I feel like I’ve grown into a leader. […] It allows you to grow as a person, but also as a young professional.”

Case competitions are also community-builders, as you form a potent bond with a team of collaborators, just as you would in the workplace.

Case Competition Tip #4: Never silo yourself off from the team

Ben Penner: In case competitions, you see a lot of teams who maybe have really strong people on them, but they’re sitting in opposite corners of the room when they’re working. For us, what worked so well is that we never had silos. We’re always working together.

 

Certainly part of the reason Odidison, Penner, Sokolsky and Velasco were successful is the undeniable chemistry between them.

Their skills were highly complimentary. Jayasuriya interviews students and assembles the teams so they can thrive (the team refers to her as “the mastermind”).

As the team describes it, Penner is technical and can learn the ins-and-outs of the concrete industry like nobody’s business; Odidison is the storyteller who threads all the data into a consistent narrative; Sokolsky brings creative ideas and ensures the energy is always sky-high; and Velasco has deep analytical thinking skills that turn numbers into stories.

“The team’s work ethic, dedication and commitment to both the competition and their team allowed them to represent Asper to the best of their abilities” says Jayasuriya.

Throughout their month-long prep for the competition and the trip itself, the bond between them became equal parts genuine collaboration and genuine friendship.

On their bags, each team member still sports their matching Labubu dolls from Thailand, and they talk about their pre-presentation dancing routine to Rihanna’s “Breakin’ Dishes,” like it was 10 minutes ago.

Through all the challenges they faced on the way to a historic finish, the greatest reason for their success might just be that they’re always laughing.
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The team was supported by an incredible group of mentors of Asper professors, Asper alumni, and subject matter experts from various fields who volunteered their time: Bhaumik Gandhi, Lukas Neville, Byron Wright, Arly Akerstream, Cole Hutchison, Nick Sutton, Daniel Kokan, Thea Hughes, Garrison Glatz, Nolan Ward, Tyler Roslinsky, Richard Watson, Cody Nowell, Eli Koulack, Geoffrey Hurd, Priyanji Mediwake, Shihhan Iwasaki, Chelsea Kokan, Ramy Penne, Tien Nguyen and Melani Fernando
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Case competitions give students an opportunity to showcase complex problem-solving skills in diverse teams. One of the many experiential learning opportunities available to students at the Asper School of Business, case competition connects students to top business school and industry experts around the world and right here in Manitoba. Learn more about case competition opportunities at the Asper School of Business.

Named in honour of two remarkable members of the Canadian legal community—Clayton Charles Ruby, CM (1942–2022) and The Honourable Harriet Sachs, former Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice—the Symposium brought together advocates, scholars, and community leaders dedicated to advancing global 2SLGBTQI+ rights.

Sachs giving opening remarks at the Sunday reception. The symposium was a living tribute to two amazing lawyers, Justice Harriet Sachs and her partner the late Clayton Ruby.

Clayton Ruby’s prolific career in constitutional, criminal, and civil rights law spanned more than five decades, marked by his unwavering commitment to ensuring that marginalized Canadians received fair and equal access to justice. In 1992, he successfully challenged the discriminatory policies targeting 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian military. Justice Sachs, his partner in life and in principle, served with distinction on the Ontario Superior Court and has long been admired for her integrity, discipline, and dedication to equality.

Dr. Donn Short, Editor-in-Chief; William Ho, Editor, CJHR

Dr. Donn Short, Editor-in-Chief of the CJHR, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Journal, announcing its intention to publish a special volume of collected papers arising from the Symposium. Editor William Ho representing the CJHR, attended the conference to liaise with panel participants and respond to publication inquiries. On the evening of October 5, Dean Dr. Richard Jochelson, Associate Dean Dr. Donn Short, and Alexander Kraus, Senior Editor of the CJHR, attended the opening reception.

This writer was privileged to attend the final day of the Symposium and hear Elder Albert McLeod, a trailblazer in 2S HIV education, and Judge Kael McKenzie, Canada’s first openly transgender judge, who spoke about the importance of legal protections for 2SLGBTQI+ communities. The plenary speaker, Dr. Lynne Gouliquer, reflected on the ethical and methodological challenges of conducting research with vulnerable populations—issues at the heart of human rights scholarship.

Renowned diplomat, former Ontario Premier, and Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae delivered the keynote address on October 5 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) about Canada’s LGBT Purge and using the law to strengthen rights.

Standing in the Museum’s Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge exhibit, attendees could not help but feel the profound contrast between Canada’s commitment to inclusion and the troubling rhetoric emerging elsewhere. A recent U.S. executive order on “Military Excellence and Readiness” declared that adopting a gender identity inconsistent with one’s sex “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle.” The dissonance between those words and the spirit of the Symposium—grounded in honour, selflessness, and humility of a different kind—was striking.

The Ruby Sachs Symposium reaffirmed the essential role of law, research, and collective action in securing equality for all. It also celebrated the continuing legacy of those whose courage has shaped Canada’s human rights landscape.

Researchers interested in contributing to this ongoing dialogue are invited to submit papers for the special issue of the Canadian Journal of Human Rights by January 15, 2026, at research@humanrights.ca.

The skill set required of lawyers is evolving, and the ability to creatively and expeditiously resolve client concerns through effective negotiation is increasingly important. The negotiation competition is designed to teach the knowledge, skills, attitudes, judgment, and values that are vital to law students’ success in legal practice. Such competencies include knowing key negotiation concepts; managing information and process; communicating and relationship-building; advocating for client interests in a problem-solving environment; internalizing ethical decision-making in negotiation; and engaging in reflective practice. The competition gives law students the opportunity to engage in negotiations like those that lawyers experience in practice and to receive feedback from expert negotiators.

In teams of two, the students met with another team representing the other side, each team possessing confidential details about their client’s circumstances and settlement preferences.  The purpose of this year’s negotiation was for a wildlife sanctuary to hire an expert to assist with the development of bird and animal shows and additional programming to support eco-friendly tourism. The students negotiated an agreement on important points such as the expert’s duties and responsibilities, contract length, time commitment, and compensation.

All this took place under the close scrutiny of the judges, who scored each team’s negotiation skills.  At the end of each session, the judges provided detailed feedback to each team about what they did well, and potential areas for improvement.

The event was generously sponsored by Fillmore Riley, which has a very long history of supporting the competition.  In addition to covering all competition costs and supplying cash prizes, lawyers from the firm volunteered to judge the students.  These lawyers have extensive knowledge about and experience in negotiations. They were: Ari Hanson [JD/12], Kalev Anniko, Donald Baker [JD/17], Amber Harms [JD/21], Samantha Harvey [JD/23], Hannah Humphries, Nick Noonan [JD/21], Amelia Peterson [JD/19], Tamara Reimer [JD/16], Alexa Smith [JD/21], Rhiannon Swan [JD/23] and Michael Zacharias [JD/18].

These judges were tremendously impressed with the caliber of the students’ negotiations, and were faced with the unenviable task of selecting a winner.  Due to their stellar performance, the negotiating team of Emily Dueck and Kate O’Rourke were awarded first place. The runners up, who also did a tremendous job, were Dena Aminzadeh and Mitchell Klippenstein.  Both teams will now represent Robson Hall and compete in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition, which will be in Montreal at the l’Université de Sherbrooke – Campus de Longueuil on March 13th and 14th, 2026.

Robson Hall students have a long history of success in inter-school competitions: The winner of the 2014 Robson Hall competition went on to win the 2015 International Negotiation Competition in Dublin, Ireland. For the past three years, both French and English language streams have been held at the national competition, with Manitoba’s students placing strongly in both. In 2023, the English language team placed third, and the French language team placed second. In 2024, Robson Hall’s French team brought home the French Spirit of Negotiation Award (le prix d’excellence dans l’esprit de la négociation pour la section française). Last year’s English stream won the award for “Best Process Management” for best demonstrating skills in time management, preparation, adaptability and self-reflection. 

The winning team. From left to right: Emily Dueck, Ari Hanson (competition judge) and Kate O’Rourke (photo credit: Daniel Cha).

The runner-up team. From left to right: Mitchell Klippenstein, Ari Hanson (competition judge), and Dena Aminzadeh (photo credit: Daniel Cha).

A sincere thanks to Fillmore Riley for its generous sponsorship of the competition.

Congratulations Emily & Kate and Dena & Mitchell!