The UMCLC is part of a long-standing partnership between Legal Aid Manitoba (LAM) and the University of Manitoba. In 2022, the UMCLC and LAM reaffirmed their commitment to increasing access to justice in Manitoba by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining plans for expanding UMCLC services, including the establishment of a Prison Law Clinic.

The newly established UMCLC Prison Law Clinic offers a wide range of legal services to incarcerated individuals at Stony Mountain Institution, and other federal correctional settings within Manitoba. These services include representation in both institutional grievances and disciplinary proceedings, matters arising under the Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations and Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and other legal services addressing incarcerated persons’ conditions of confinement.

The clinic also aims to respond to the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples within Canada’s prison system, an issue that is particularly acute in Manitoba. Through engagement with Indigenous Peoples, representative organizations and governments, Allison Fenske, UMCLC Director and Supervising Attorney of the Prison Law Clinic, worked to ensure that the clinic’s design and delivery would be responsive to the priorities and needs of Indigenous people incarcerated at Stony Mountain Institution.

In addition to Fenske, the Prison Law Clinic team is comprised of Leif Jensen, Prison Law Staff Lawyer, Chanelle Lajoie, Prison Law Articling Student and Tréchelle Bunn (1L), Prison Law Summer Student. In September, the clinic will welcome a new cohort of law students to a clinic externship. 

Bunn, who has just completed her first year at the Faculty of Law, was eager to join the UMCLC Prison Law Clinic.

“The overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s prison system and working to combat this issue has been the driving force behind my decision to pursue a career in law,” said Bunn. “Being able to gain first-hand experience working in a diverse legal area such as prison law and assist in addressing a critical gap in access to justice is both vital and meaningful.”

The establishment of the Prison Law Clinic also aligns with the goals of the University of Manitoba’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029, particularly under the theme of “Empowering Learners,” as the clinic “provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with one of the most marginalized groups within the legal system, strengthening and empowering their sense of social responsibility in addressing systemic law reform issues within the carceral system,” said Fenske. “Prison law also incorporates a unique mix of criminal, civil, administrative, and human rights law, so students are immersed into diverse legal areas with the intention of stimulating interest and expertise in prison law.”

The UMCLC and the Prison Law Clinic are made possible with the generous support of the Manitoba Law Foundation. The project was also partially funded by UM’s the Strategic Initiatives Support Fund. The Prison Law Clinic is currently operating as a one-year pilot program, but based on anticipated success, the clinic hopes to expand to include provincial prisons in the future. 

Through ongoing efforts such as the Prison Law Clinic, UMCLC, and LAM continue to make meaningful strides in promoting access to justice and upholding the rights of all individuals across Manitoba, including those who are incarcerated.

The Clinics are operated by law students and supervised by experienced lawyers to provide free legal services to clients anywhere with an internet connection in Manitoba. Students work directly with clients to gain practical skills and to help clients address everyday legal needs in various areas of the law including corporate, commercial and intellectual property. Demand for Clinic services, innovation and expansion of services has driven the need to hire more law students this summer to meet the increased needs of Manitobans who can not afford legal assistance.

MEET THE TEAM

Lisa Haydey (3L) [MPT/2020] is thrilled to return to the Business Law and Arts Clinics, where she and Kassandra Taverner (3L) [BSc/2020] have worked since May 2023, this time as Project Coordinators. Lisa holds a Masters in Physiotherapy from the University of Manitoba and a BA in Honours Psychology from the University of Winnipeg, where she also fulfilled the requirements for a 3-year BA in Conflict Resolution.

Lisa Haydey, 3L

Lisa loves applying her diverse educational background to help clients. “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Business Law and Arts Clinics. Through my work with the Clinics, I get to help Manitoban artists and entrepreneurs every day, working with an amazing team of people. I couldn’t have imagined a better experience,” says Haydey.

She adds, “As a student, working with the Clinics has provided me with vital practical legal experience. It’s wonderful being able to share that with incoming students and to continue growing my own skills as an aspiring lawyer. After only a couple of weeks, our whole team is managing files, collaborating, and sharing useful research with each other. It’s a testament to how well our supervisors, Nick Slonosky [LLB/1979, BComm (Hons)/1976]  and Yvan Larocque, run the Clinics, and to the dedication of each of the Students-at-Law who are all inspired to help others in need of legal assistance.”

Kassandra Taverner, 3L

Kassandra Taverner (3L) [BSc/2020] shares Lisa’s enthusiasm and thoughts about returning to the Clinics. Kassandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Manitoba and is an artist, mainly working with clay. She believes this summer’s team, much like last summer, will (again) be the Best Ever.

Kassandra also shared her thoughts about interest in the Arts Clinic, “As public knowledge of the Arts Clinic has increased, it’s remarkable to see the number of online intake forms increase as well. It confirms the very real need Manitoban artists have for the Clinic’s services: providing education and protecting artists’ rights.”

Moira Kennedy, 3L

Prior to law school, Moira Kennedy (3L) commenced a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies. Her passion for helping businesses and entrepreneurs comes from working in her grandparents’ small business as a young adult. She went on to work in a provincial Crown corporation, helping her understand businesses big and small.

“Through my work as the chair of the board of directors at a local non-profit women’s centre, I know how vital legal services can be, though they are often unaffordable or inaccessible,” says Moira. “I am excited to help remove this barrier for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits at the Business Law Clinic.”

Connor Giesbrecht, 3L

Connor Giesbrecht (3L) started undergraduate studies at the University of Manitoba before entering law school. Connor is interested in pursuing corporate commercial and intellectual property law as future areas of practice, and is excited to help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and artists achieve their goals and learn more about Manitoba’s local business community.

“As most of the opportunities I have pursued in my time in law school so far have been advocacy focused, I am looking forward to developing my skills in the field of business law while helping the individuals and organizations that drive Manitoba’s economy succeed,” says Connor.

Kaeten Wadwa, 3L

Kaeten Wadwa (3L) [BA/2022] completed a Bachelor of Arts (Advanced) in Psychology and has served as a committed volunteer throughout his life. Driven by his passion for business law and desire to give back to Manitobans, Kaeten is excited to provide legal assistance to businesses and artists in need.

Kaeten shared why he was drawn to the Clinics, “When I first learned of the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic and the services it offered, I immediately wanted to get involved. It presented a unique opportunity for me to practically explore the breadth of business law while making a tangible impact on the lives of Manitobans. I am excited to strengthen the Clinic’s community-minded reputation and support local businesses in a meaningful and constructive way.”

Ken Vong, 2L

Prior to law school, Ken Vong (2L) [BComm (Hons)/2022] completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at the Asper School of Business. Ken has a passion for advocacy and strives to provide business owners and entrepreneurs with the necessary assistance to navigate their individual needs.

“Legal advice should be accessible to everyone, I hope to alleviate certain barriers that are faced by small business owners,” says Ken. “With both the Business Law Clinic and Manitoba Clinic for the Arts I am looking forward to connecting with entrepreneurs to help them succeed.”

Before attending law school, Serena Bevilacqua (2L) [BA/2019] pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Psychology and Sociology. This interdisciplinary background has equipped her with a deep understanding of human behavior and social dynamics, which she integrates into her approach to legal advocacy.

Serena Bevilacqua, 2L

Serena’s academic journey has instilled in her a passion for social justice and a commitment to providing access to legal assistance for the local community who do not already have a lawyer and cannot afford legal services. Serena emphasizes the unparalleled learning experience that the Business Law Clinic will provide to law students to practise, support and advocate, by providing free legal assistance.

The Clinics will continue to operate at full-speed throughout the summer, providing free assistance to entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups, innovators and family businesses, non-profits, charities, artists, art, culture and community groups that do not have a lawyer and cannot afford legal assistance. Students at the Clinics provide advice, and information, conduct legal research and draft legal documents while upholding the standards of social responsibility of practicing law in Manitoba.

Addressing the persistent challenge of access to justice remains a central focus of the law students and the Clinics’ work. As part of their summer experiential learning, the law students will be actively involved in community outreach with those involved in Manitoba’s vibrant entrepreneurial and artistic ecosystem to learn more about their needs and what students and the Clinics can do to improve service to those with unmet legal needs.

For more information about the Business Law Clinic, visit the Business Law Clinic’s website, or follow the Business Law Clinic on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn. For more information about the Arts Law Clinic, visit the Arts Clinic’s website, or follow the Arts Clinic on Instagram, Twitter (X) and LinkedIn.

The Summit was a collaboration between the Faculty of Law’s Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services, Marc Kruse [JD/2015] and Perrie Law principal Victoria Perrie [JD/2018], a Métis-Cree criminal defence lawyer whose practice serves Inuit communities in Nunavut and focuses on providing services to Indigenous clients in Manitoba.

The idea for the Summit came about as a result of Perrie’s time working with Inuit in the North. Since 2019 Perrie has practiced criminal defence in Nunavut and throughout that time took note of an often-overlooked issue: when Nunavummiut experience a legal issue outside of the Territory, they face unique barriers with access to justice. She assisted clients with connections to counsel as she was able, but after nearly five years of seeing the same issues pop up across practice areas, she felt it was time to take action and gather the community to discuss this phenomenon and determine the best course of action to assist folks with these issues.

As a non-Inuk, it was important for me to bring the community together and hear from Inuit and organizations who serve Inuit on this issue and whether a clinic was needed. Overwhelmingly, the community response was yes – an independent clinic is wanted and needed. – Victoria Perrie [JD/2015], Perrie Law

“It was important to me for this Summit to be organized because I was not seeing this issue tackled by any other body,” said Perrie. “I reached out to the organizations that serve Inuit in Nunavut and Manitoba and learned there were little to no legal service providers focused on serving Inuit experiencing a cross-jurisdictional legal issue or able to assist a client with legal issues in both jurisdictions. Of particular concern were folks who fall between the cracks: for example, someone who would qualify for Legal Aid in Nunavut, but would not qualify in Manitoba. As a non-Inuk, it was important for me to bring the community together and hear from Inuit and organizations who serve Inuit on this issue and whether a clinic was needed. Overwhelmingly, the community response was yes – an independent clinic is wanted and needed.”

As Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services, Marc Kruse, tries to bring the resources of the Faculty of Law to support Indigenous legal projects. “By hosting the event at Robson Hall, we were able to provide in-kind support of our space, tech, and admin staff,” said Kruse. “More importantly we were able to have several Indigenous law students participate in the Summit. Inuit legal orders and issues impacting Nunavut are lacking in our curriculum so this summit was a great introduction for the Director and students to Nunavut Indigenous Legal Orders.”

Attendees included community members from Manitoba and Nunavut who answered the organizers’ requests for consultations. Community organizations represented included the following:

MP Lori Idlout office
The Law Society of Manitoba
University of Manitoba – Faculty of Law / University of Manitoba Community Law Centre
Catriona Dooley Law Office
Kivalliq Legal Services
Manitoba Justice
RCMP Indigenous Policing Services
Kivalliq Legal Services Board- President
Manitoba NDP
Manitoba Law Foundation
Nunavut Law Foundation  
Manitoba Advocate for Youth
Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Legal Aid Manitoba
University of Manitoba
Legal Aid Manitoba
Lafleur & Associates
Wolson Roitenberg Robinson Wolson Minuk Law
Law Society of Nunavut
Manitoba Inuit Association
Tunngasugit Inc
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Piqqusilirivvik
Nunavut Legal Services
Nunavut Legal Services Board

As well, several esteemed elders attended from Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, whose input guided the conversations and Summit direction.

In keeping with Inuit community gathering traditions, a Qulliq (an Inuit Lamp) was lit at the start of the summit and kept burning throughout the meeting by a designated Fire Keeper, Elder Martha Peet, originally from Taloyoak Nunavut, but now residing in Treaty 1 Territory, National homeland of the Red River Métis.

The Qulliq represents multiple aspects important to Inuit culture and as such, is integral in the Truth-Gathering Process at events such as this Summit. Fire provides heat, light, cooks food, melts ice and boils water, and dries wet clothes.

Elder Martha Peet lights the Qulliq for the May 1 – 2 Summit while Facilitator Catriona Dooley assists.

The Summit involved several panel discussions where stakeholders set out their areas of need as they related to existing community legal needs, followed by breakout sessions to allow for discussion and brainstorming of how those needs could be addressed. A session on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (also known as Inuit Traditional Knowledge, or IQ) and Inuit Law Learning helped familiarize participants with traditional Inuit ways of being and knowing. The Summit’s second day included several panel discussions on available resources, adjacent service providers and post sentence needs of community members involved with the legal system.

The conversations, learning and discussions held at the Summit were taken note of for incorporation into a final report to be published later this summer in order to help determine what shape an Inuit Legal Clinic will take to ensure access to justice for Inuit in Manitoba.

Organizers Marc Kruse and Victoria Perrie firmly believe the clinic should be Inuit operated, and that next steps should be guided by the wisdom of the Elders who brought their knowledge to and participated in the Summit. The Faculty of Law will provide student volunteers to any resulting clinic and provide mentorship on IQ principles.

The Summit was made possible with funding from the Manitoba Law Foundation, Perrie Law, and the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba.

The organizers extend special thanks to:

• Tara Tootoo Fotheringham for her guidance and contributions to the planning of the Summit
• The Office of MP Lori Idlout for their participation
• Sarah Arngna’naaq for her contributions to the development of the Summit Agenda and her presentation on IQ use in a justice setting
• Marie Josée Lafleur for her presentation grounding the need for the clinic in the every day realities that Inuit face when attempting to access cross-jurisdictional legal assistance

Guests included Manitoba artists, musicians, writers, representatives of arts and culture organizations, arts supporters, community leaders, lawyers, law students, and faculty members from the Faculty of Law, Desautels Faculty of Music, and the School of Art from the University of Manitoba. Inside the beautiful historic residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, located on the grounds of the Legislative Building in downtown Winnipeg, guests were welcomed by live cello music performed by the talented Patricia Vanucci, before a short program to learn more about the mission and purpose behind the new legal arts clinic.

The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts provides pro bono legal services to artists, creatives, and arts and cultural organizations throughout Manitoba, including Northern Manitoba. The Clinic is operated by law students at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law. It is the only clinic in the Province that provides free legal information and services tailored to artists and arts organizations. The Clinic helps individuals and organizations with varied legal needs, including questions about contracts, intellectual property, e-commerce, governance, and business organizations.

Each guest received a formal invitation from the Lieutenant Governor, which included a card inviting guests to bring a non-perishable food item as part of The Lieutenant Governor’s SHARING HOPE INITIATIVE. This initiative aims to raise awareness of food insecurity throughout the Province and encourage others in taking an active role to support our neighbours and friends feeding their families, emphasizing that “Access to nutritious food is a fundamental human right.”

Left to right: Kassandra Taverner (2L), Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M., Lisa Haydey (2L).

In her Greetings, the Lieutenant Governor began with a Traditional Territorial Acknowledgement, welcomed all in attendance, and noted that the new Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts aligns with her deep commitment to community, improving the lives of others, dedication to education, and importance of supporting the arts in Manitoba.

A short program was guided by law student Lisa Haydey (2L) [MPT 2020], who acted as the Master of Ceremonies. Lisa is a entering her third year of law school and has worked at the Clinic since the summer of 2023. In her opening remarks, Haydey thanked the Lieutenant Governor for beginning the evening with the Traditional Territorial Acknowledgment responding to its fundamental importance to everything that is taught, learned, and done at the law school as well as at the new legal arts Clinic. Haydey also noted the power of art.

“The land in Manitoba is powerful,” said Haydey. “The reason it is powerful is because it is full of stories. We all – each of us – have our own stories. It is part of who we are.”

“We also know of the power that art has  —  Art has the power to make us think, to inspire, to challenge, and to heal.”

– Lisa Haydey (2L)

 Guests then heard from Nick Slonosky [LLB/1979, BComm (Hons)/1976], Instructor and Supervising Lawyer with the Clinic. He thanked the Lieutenant Governor for making the event at Government House possible and emphasized that this event was more than just recognizing the launch of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts. Slonosky also took the opportunity to celebrate everyone in attendance who was an artist, creative, arts organization, funder, arts supporter, educator, lawyer, or law student, and thanked all for what they do every day and their collaborative efforts to celebrate and support a thriving Arts sector in Manitoba.

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Richard Jochelson was then invited to shared insights about the mission behind providing free legal services to the arts and culture community throughout Manitoba. According to Jochelson, the Clinic aims to bridge the access to justice gap in the Province and fosters a vital arts ecosystem.

“Supporting the arts community in Manitoba, including Indigenous, rural, and remote artists is fundamental to fostering cultural enrichment, community engagement, and potential economic vitality for arts communities,” he said.

“The Clinic plays a pivotal role in bridging the access to creation and innovation gap by providing essential legal services tailored to the unique needs of all artists.” – Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law

He concluded his remarks by thanking the Manitoba Law Foundation for its generous support to assist in creating the new Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts.

Guests then heard from Instructor and Supervising Lawyer at the Clinic, Yvan Guy Larocque, who shared the inspiration behind the Clinic’s logo. The logo was created by local Juno award winning graphic designer, Roberta Landreth. The Clinic’s logo has different shades of blue that are derived from the University of Manitoba’s own logo as well as new shades to create a monochromatic design.

Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts logo designed by Juno award-winning Winnipeg artist, Roberta Landreth.

Larocque shared that according to Landreth, logos are outward expressions of the personality and energy of the brand that they represent and quoted her as saying, “The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Art’s mission is to grow and champion sustainable and successful careers in the arts, which is of mutual benefit to the students studying law at the U of M so that they can put their practical skills to use.”

Larocque explained that to Landreth, the logo represents the reciprocal relationship between law students and Manitoba creatives, it shows the two interacting to create a wheel, a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship that serves both groups.

Working in the Clinic, students engage with clients and develop skills to prepare for their future legal practice while providing support to a special sector of Manitoba’s community. As the Clinic serves both groups directly, Larocque noted the incredible value in the Clinic’s reach.

“I’ve known for many years that artists are drastically underserved, but the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts is an innovative solution to address these unmet legal needs.” – Yvan Larocque, Clinical Instructor, Faculty of Law

“It has also shown how much legal professionals, including law students, want to support and provide pro bono services to artists and be involved in supporting the arts,” he said.

Guests at the event then heard from Crystal Kolt, O.M. [BMus/1984], Director of Culture and Community Initiatives for the City of Flin Flon. Kolt shared that the need for legal services in Northern Manitoba is real. She emphasized vast and inspiring projects taking place in the North, such as the Uptown Emporium; a non-profit organization and online storefront that showcases retail products created by artists in Northern Manitoba as well as ImagiNorthern which works to empower artists and strengthen communities in the North. Kolt highlighted and named many talented creators throughout various Northern communities that need legal assistance. Her remarks were filled with gratitude from individuals and supporters of the arts community in all corners of the Province. Kolt concluded by emphasizing that the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts is a needed initiative that will have great impacts, especially for artists in Northern Manitoba.

Lastly, attendees heard from Kassandra Taverner (2L) [BSc/2020]. Taverner is entering her third year of law school at the U of M and has worked at the Clinic since the summer of 2023.

For Taverner, working at the Clinic has been a notable experience, as she is both an artist and a future legal professional. Prior to law school, she was a ceramist. Through this experience, she noted the intimidation behind seeking legal information and the inaccessibility of legal services, specifically for artists.

“I am proud to contribute to this initiative that will support and empower artists,” said Taverner. “At the same time, I also feel grateful as a law student that the Clinic will provide opportunities to gain practical experience.”  

Taverner reminded guests that there are also many ways to support artists, including attending a concert, visiting a museum, a gallery, buying a piece of art, or a book. According to Taverner, engaging with art is supporting art.  

Taverner presented the Lieutenant Governor with a special, one-of-a-kind, original, hand-painted card that she created especially for this event. The card read as follows:

Your Honour, 

Thank you so much for making this evening, celebrating the launch of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, possible. Your support and generosity means a lot to us and demonstrates your commitment to education and the arts in Manitoba.

The rewarding experience of serving the arts sector is a common feeling, according to Haydey. In her closing remarks, Haydey noted the purpose behind supporting the arts community in the Province and reminded attendees of its necessity and contributions to human life. 

“In this increasingly complex world, I think we need art more than ever to make sense of things,” she said.

————

On Thursday, June 6, 2024 the Faculty of Law looks forward to celebrating its 2024 Graduating Class during Spring Convocation and to the University of Manitoba also conferring on The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M. an Honorary Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) LL.D. for distinguished achievement in public service.

If you are a practicing lawyer in Manitoba and interested in volunteering with the Clinic or learning more about how you can make an impact, the Clinic invites you to check out the website for the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts and follow the Clinic on social media. See: Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts 

The Spirit of the Laskin Award seems to follow Manitoba law students home to Robson Hall fairly often, since they have won it no less than four times in the past seven years. The recipient team is chosen by all participating teams and is given to the team best embodying the principles behind the Laskin which include congeniality, camaraderie, hard work, and commitment to bilingualism. Jayden Wlasichuk (3L), Zeynep Fattah (3L), Maia Bacchus (2L), Kirsten Nynych (2L) and researcher Ashley Slagerman (3L) made up the Spirit-winning Laskin team.

Éric Gagnon (3L) and Seth Lozinski (3L), both students in the Access to Justice in French concentration at Robson Hall, won the CNNC (French stream) spirit award while Brent Tichon (2L), also in the A2J French concentration, was recognized as the fourth-best mooter for his oral arguments at the French language Bastarache moot.

Manitoba students competed in a total of 10 national moot competitions in 2024, including:

• MacIntyre (Western) Cup Moot (February 9 – 10, Edmonton, AB)
• Gale Cup (February 9 – 10, Toronto, ON)
• Jessup Moot (February 22 – 24, Ottawa, ON)
• Fox Moot (February 23 – 24, Toronto, ON)
• National Family Law Negotiation Competition (February 27 – 29, Online)
• Laskin Moot (February 29 – March 2, Calgary, AB)
• Bowman Tax Moot (March 1 – 2, Toronto, ON)
• Canadian National Negotiation Competition (March 1 – 2, Montreal, QC)
• Kawaskimhon Indigenous Moot (March 8 – 9, Kamloops, BC)
• Bastarache Moot (March 22 – 23, Ottawa, ON)

MacIntyre (Western) Cup (February 9 – 10, Edmonton, AB)

MacIntyre (Western) Cup team Tyson Priebe (3L) and Noah Scatliff (3L).

The 2024 team consisted of Noah Scatliff (3L) and Tyson Priebe (3L) and was coached by Evan Roitenberg, Adam Gingera and Laura Robinson. Scatliff and Priebe qualified as the UM Faculty of Law’s representatives for the Western Cup after finishing in First and Second place in the 2023 Solomon Greenberg competition held in-house at Robson Hall last fall.

“We didn’t win, but it was a very fun weekend,” said Scatliff, keeping a positive outlook. “I really feel like Tyson and I held our own. We fought well and had some great moments.”

All of the teams bonded over similar experiences encountered while facing a very tough moot judiciary which challenged them. Even still, Scatliff said, “the trial was still a law school highlight for me.”

Personally, I learned that there will always be issues that you can’t prepare for, but that’s part of being a trial lawyer! Prepare as much as you can, but be ready to roll with the punches.”

– Noah Scatliff (3L)

Priebe, who is a Student Supervisor with the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre, added, “The Manitoban community that got us to the McIntyre Moot was wildly supportive, and we had an entirely positive experience at every stage of preparation for this moot. Our coaches gave so much of their time to help us practice, Judge Killeen volunteered to judge a full practice run-through with us, and we had many others cheering us on from the sidelines throughout the entire process. After the moot itself ended, we felt extremely encouraged by the amount of support we had received, and I for one am very excited to start my legal practice in this community.”

Scatliff will be articling at a corporate firm, while Priebe will article with prosecutions.

Gale Cup (February 9 – 10, Toronto, ON)

Manitoba Gale Cup team 2024: Steven Csincsa (3L), Nathan Dueck (3L), Melissa Hazelton and Dayna Queau-Guzzi (coaches), Lauren Corcoran (3L), and Diana Gutierrez (3L).

Crown Attorney Dayna Queau-Guzzi and Melissa Hazelton coached the Gale Cup Moot team, consisting of Steven Csincsa and Lauren Corcoran (Appellant Team) who competed against the University of Toronto), and Nathan Dueck and Diana Gutierrez (Respondent Team) who competed against the University of Victoria. The team researcher was Caitlin Madden (3L).

Between February 9-10 the students competed at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto arguing the R v Beaver, 2022 SCC 54 decision – which dealt with warrantless arrest and Charter issues (ss. 9 and 10) in the context of s. 24(2).

According to Queau-Guzzi, “While they did not advance to the finals, they did an absolutely amazing job and their preparation paid off!” 

Practicing over the course of two months, Queau-Guzzi said the students would argue in the Manitoba Court of Appeal (courtroom 330 at the downtown Winnipeg Law Courts building), before various judges and justices of the three levels of court. 

“On their last practice, on February 6, they actually appeared before a panel of current Manitoba Court of Appeal justices, including the newly appointed Chief Justice Rivolaen, and Justices Kroft and Turner,” said Queau-Guzzi. “The panel was very impressed with our students and the Chief Justice remarked that she “hoped all of the students would remain in Manitoba and become litigators.””

Jessup Moot (Feb 22^nd – 24^th, Ottawa, ON)

Manitoba Jessup Moot team 2024: Stefan Leicht (2L), Liam Brown (2L), Eric Epp (3L), Sawarn Benning (3L) (researcher) and Brandon Leverick (3L) at the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa for the Jessup Moot, February 22 – 24.

Team Manitoba for the Jessup International Law moot consisted of: Stefan Leicht (2L), Liam Brown (2L), Eric Epp (3L), Sawarn Benning (3L) (researcher) and Brandon Leverick (3L). The team was coached by Assistant Professor Gillian MacNeil.

This year’s Jessup team was the last to be selected by the previous method of choosing from applications submitted during the summer. None of this year’s participants had yet taken the Public International Law course which had not actually been offered at Robson Hall since 2020. That, however, is now changing with the Faculty stepping up to make its students more competitive and prepared for this prestigious international moot.

While future team members will be selected from those enrolled in the soon-to-be-offered Public International Law course this fall, the 2024 team had a fantastic experience, finding it “exhausting and exhilarating at the same time,” according to Brandon Leverick (3L). “One thing that really stood out to me was the sense of community,” said Leverick. “Almost everyone there, including judges and coaches, have gone through the same mooting experience. Although it is hard, they clearly want you to succeed and ask tough questions to get you to shine with your knowledge and the work you put in.”

“I would recommend anyone interested in international law to compete at Jessup because it’s one of the few opportunities you get to learn about this area of law and it’s a great networking opportunity.”

– Brandon Leverick (3L)

MacNeil, who will be teaching the Public International Law course next year, said, “I thought the team did well. They competed in three rounds, some in front of a ‘hot’ bench and some in front of a ‘cold’ bench.”

A ‘hot’ bench, she explained, means judges who ask a lot of questions, purposefully trying to pull mooters off-script. ‘Cold’ bench judges maintain poker faces and keep students wondering. The general trend at the Jessup Moot, MacNeil explained, is for a ‘hot’ bench where judges constantly try to get the mooters stuck. “A lot of judges do the Jessup year after year,” MacNeil said. “It’s designed to test advocacy skills and makes for a good learning experience. It’s all in good sport.”

“Dr MacNeil was such a supportive coach,” said Leverick. “She [judged] every round and provided constructive feedback. I hope she continues to coach the Jessup!”

Harold G. Fox Moot (February 23 – 24, Toronto, ON)

Manitoba Fox Moot team 2024: Heather Morris (3L), Kerith Tung (3L), Trusha Dash (3L), and Connor Giesbrecht (2L)

This year’s Fox Moot team was comprised of: Connor Giesbrecht, Kerith Tung, Trusha Dash (3L), and Heather Morris. Denise Sarmiento was the researcher and coaches were Julia Ryckman [JD/2016] (Fillmore Riley LLP) and Kelsey Desjardine [JD/2009] (Department of Justice Canada).

“Participating in the Harold G. Fox Moot was a journey filled with invaluable experiences and personal growth,” said Morris, reflecting on the experience. “The moot provided me with a platform to refine my research, writing, and oral advocacy skills under the mentorship of my coaches, which confirmed my interest in litigation. Advocating in front of federal court judges and esteemed Intellectual Property lawyers was a thrill. I met law students from across the country and shook hands with Supreme Court Justice Suzanne Côté. Travelling with my teammates was an adventure in itself. I will cherish the memories and inside jokes we made along the way. Overall, the Harold G Fox Moot was an enriching experience that I would recommend to students at Robson Hall.”

Morris, who is interested in civil litigation, privacy and intellectual property law, will be articling at the Alberta Court of Appeal and then Norton Rose Fulbright.

The team expressed many thanks the coaches along with former coach and mentor, John Myers [JD/1990], who is a partner at Taylor McCaffrey LLP and a long-time Intellectual Property lawyer.

National Family Law Negotiation Competition (February 27 – 29, co-hosted online by the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba and Osgoode Hall Law School of York University)

The Family Law moot team for Manitoba consisted of 2Ls Elise Alider and Eric Moon, and 3Ls Alyssa Thomas, Kali Faingold and Kennedy Merrill represented Manitoba at the NFLNC, and were coached by Mercedes Ayala [JD/2018] (Mitousis Lemieux Howard Law Corporation), Adrianna Aiello (MLH), and Stéphanie Bauch (MLH). The Competition took place online this year and was co-hosted by both the UM Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School.

“The National Family Law Negotiation Competition was an incredibly unique experience. Having the opportunity to be coached by experienced lawyers about negotiation skills in family law is something that we will carry with us as we move into our practices,” said team member Kali Faingold. “Competing against other dedicated law students and learning from their negotiation styles gave us different perspectives on how to successfully negotiate to reach an outcome that works for all parties.”

Mercedes Ayala, a 2018 alum of Robson Hall and family lawyer at MLH, said that the team participated in three rounds of negotiations on various family law issues.  “Great job students!,” she said. “Negotiation allows for resolution outside Court, assisting families in maintaining their relationships intact and to move forward. We lawyers were proud to watch the next generation of lawyers learn the skills which will be integral to their practice!”

Laskin Moot (February 29 – March 2, Calgary, AB)

Manitoba Laskin Moot team 2024: Jayden Wlasichuk (3L); Zeynep Fattah (2L); Tanys Bjornson (coach); Maia Bacchus (2L); and Kirsten Nynych (2L) [Missing from the photo are researcher, Ashley Slagerman (3L) and coach, Tamara Edkins (Justice Manitoba)

The Spirit Prize-winning Laskin team consisted of Jayden Wlasichuk (3L), Zeynep Fattah (2L), Maia Bacchus (2L), Kirsten Nynych (2L) and researcher Ashley Slagerman (3L) who were coached by Tanys Bjornson and Tamara Edkins (Manitoba Department of Justice). Maia Bacchus, a student in the Access to Justice in French Concentration program, submitted her argument in French, thus fulfilling this bilingual moot’s requirement for mooters to compete in both French and English.

“The Laskin Moot was such an incredible experience,” said Wlasichuck. “There were dozens of students from across Canada all together in Calgary to moot about constitutional and administrative issues relating to Artificial Intelligence – thank goodness we only needed to know the law, not the technology!”

UM was awarded the ‘Spirit of the Laskin’ award, the recipients for which are selected by the other mooting teams and given to the school that best showcases the spirit of the competition – making friends and building community. “UM won this award last year, so we were honoured to bring it home again, and to tie with the Moncton team,” Wlasichuk explained. “The Laskin was such a great learning experience, and one of my favourite times of law school!”

“The Spirit of the Laskin means so much to us, and we are proud that the other teams thought of us when they voted. The Laskin was a wonderful opportunity for us to make connections before we go off to practice law – and it’s a great practical experience that we can carry for the rest of our careers!”

– Jayden Wlasichuk (3L)

Bowman Tax Moot (March 1 – 2, Toronto, ON)

Manitoba Bowman Tax Moot Team, 2024: David Silver (coach), Abiel Kwok, Jenny Bi, Isha Khandelwal, Calvin Ediger (missing, Professor Darcy MacPherson (coach).

The team of Abiel Kwok (3L), Jenny Bi (3L), Isha Khandelwal (2L), Calvin Ediger (3L), with researcher Tobey Xiang (2L) represented Manitoba at the Bowman Tax Moot in Toronto this year. Coaches David Silver, [JD/2012] (Department of Justice), and Professor Darcy MacPherson helped coach the students.

Isha Khandelwal, found her time spent training for the Bowman Tax Moot invaluable. “[P]articipating in the moot was an absolute a highlight of my time at Robson Hall—something I did not anticipate by a longshot. Not only did I have the opportunity to engage with brilliant legal professionals who served as judges throughout our practices, but I was also impressed by the hands-on experience I gained specifically when crafting our factum.”

Every aspect of the work she was exposed to in preparation for the competition helped Khandelwal develop skills that otherwise come once practicing law. “Being a part of a moot was challenging, particularly given the sophisticated subject matter and narrow deadlines, the experience was genuinely beneficial, and I eagerly look forward to applying the skills in my practice.”

Khandelwal expressed thanks to coaches David Silver, and Professor MacPherson for their mentorship and guidance as well. “Not only were they remarkably intelligent and resourceful, but they also demonstrated immense patience and support throughout the entire process leading up to and including the moot itself,” she said.

Canadian National Negotiation Competition (March 1 – 2, McGill University, Montreal, QC)

CNNC Manitoba team 2024 left to right: Rebecca Penner (3L); Ryan Hall (3L); Nicolas Nudler (3L); Éric Gagnon (3L), Jamie Robertson (3L); Andrew Torbiak, coach (Tradition Law); Andrea Doyle, coach (Instructor, U of M Law); Heather Wadsworth, coach (Amica Law); and Seth Lozinski (3L).

Three University of Manitoba Faculty of Law teams from Robson Hall recently competed in the eighth annual Canadian National Negotiation Competition (CNNC). The competition was held at McGill University, Faculty of Law in Montreal on March 1st and 2^nd, 2024, and for the second year in a row had both a French and an English stream. Against a talented field of the best law student negotiators from across Canada, the three U of M teams of Éric Gagnon and Seth Lozinski; Ryan Hall and Nicolas Nudler; and Rebecca Penner and Jamie Robertson put in extremely strong showings.  I was involved in assisting with the administration of the competition, and I heard praise from many people, including judges, coaches, and fellow competitors, about their performances.

The pair of Éric Gagnon and Seth Lozinski, who competed in the French stream, even received the “Spirit of Negotiation” award for that stream, which is peer-nominated and goes to the team that best illustrates the values of collaboration, humility, teamwork and respect.  Robson Hall teams have a long history of winning this award. Éric stated, “I was especially honoured to have been chosen by my national peers for the Spirit of the Negotiation prize, alongside my partner Seth Lozinski, for our commitment towards collegiality and collaboration throughout the negotiation process.”

This was the second year that the CNNC implemented a parallel French stream. Teams competed in French, using the same problems (which were translated) as the English stream.

“Preparation for the CNNC was a team effort. I wish to acknowledge and thank the support that was provided to our French team by our students participating in English (Jamie, Rebecca, Nico and Ryan) and their coaches, Andrew Torbiak and Heather Wadsworth, as well as articling students Chris Dick, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada and Kennedy Pinette, MLT Aikins LLP. Chris Dick and Kennedy Pinette, recent graduates of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, successfully competed in last year’s inaugural French stream of the CNNC and provided valuable feedback and insights in Éric and Seth’s preparations.”

Kawaskimhon Indigenous Moot (March 8 – 9, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC)

Manitoba Kawaskimhon 2024 moot team members Carlie Kane and Raven Richards help a virtual participant pose for the group photo, front row, 3rd and 4th from the left. Photo by Marc Kruse (coach).

The team of Carlie Kane (3L) and Raven Richards (3L) competed at TRU in Kamloops at the annual Kawaskimhon Indigenous Moot, coached by Marc Kruse, Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services, and Daniel Diamond, Assistant Professor.

The Kawaskimhon Moot started at the University of Toronto in 1994 and is hosted by a different Canadian law school each year. The Kawaskimhon is a consensus-based, non-adversarial moot that incorporates Indigenous legal traditions alongside federal, provincial and international law, and concepts of dispute resolution. Teams may represent a variety of parties (depending on the nature of the moot problem) such as First Nations, Band Councils, traditional Chiefs’ organizations, government agencies, and industry.

Kruse explains that the Kawaskimhon serves as a pivotal platform for Robson Hall students and faculty to actively engage with Indigenous academics, students, lawyers, and communities spanning across Canada. “Our team tackled the negotiation representing a National Resource Coalition, offering our students the unique challenge of advocating for a client whose legal position conflicted with their own political beliefs.” Kruse said, describing this year’s problem. “Drawing from a diverse array of Indigenous Legal Orders, including traditional narratives, our negotiation table was rich with cultural guidance. Our students had a significant presence throughout the negotiation process and strongly advocated for their client’s position.”

Learning opportunities arose when the Manitoba students encountered some difficult positions presented by other Teams, Kruse observed, and it became clear there existed a differing of opinions among the students about the relationship between Aboriginal Title and Sovereignty. “Our students navigated the negotiating process in a professional manner and were able to bring forward their client’s position strongly and consistently,” he said.

“The Kawaskimhon moot experience stands out for its departure from the traditional appellate style moot in favor of a negotiation format, which I found refreshing for its conversational and relaxed atmosphere.”

– Carlie Kane (3L)

Kane noted that “The form of negotiation and moderator followed Indigenous protocols, but the final form of our agreement still fell into a colonial common law framework which I found to be a discouraging result.”

From the student perspective, Kane learned that “[e]ngaging in negotiations with law students from various Canadian institutions, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, offered valuable insights into the diverse teachings and theories of Aboriginal law across our nation’s law schools. The experience underscored the crucial need for more Indigenous representation in legal education and spaces set aside for Indigenous perspectives and methodologies.”

The need for further education and learning about Aboriginal law in Canada was very pronounced during the team’s time at the negotiation table, which Kane said “oscillated between moments of laughter and tension, making it an emotional rollercoaster, which is probably true to practice in that Indigenous folk often express themselves through humor. However, it was emotionally taxing to converse with teams who lacked a nuanced understanding of Aboriginal law and its significance in relation to Aboriginal rights and title, reflecting the disparities in legal education across different law schools.”

An important observation Kane came away with was that some teams tended to prioritize being heard over listening to others, which became problematic for other participants.  “Towards the end, it felt like certain teams were selective about whom they were willing to engage with, highlighting the varied educational backgrounds shaping our perspectives,” said Kane. “In the spirit of negotiations, every participant deserves to have their voice recognized. Again, I found my experience probably true to life in that even while settlers are trying to learn and apply Indigenous Legal Orders, Indigenous voices are still left feeling unheard.”

Despite these challenges, the moot provided an invaluable opportunity to forge new connections and relationships. “[The] experience gave me an opportunity to put in practice my understanding of ILO [Indigenous Legal Orders] and how law ought to be practiced. I’m especially grateful for the unwavering support of my colleagues, Raven Richards, Marc Kruse, and Daniel Diamond, whose solidarity and camaraderie sustained me throughout this enriching experience.”

Bastarache Moot (March 22 – 23, Ottawa, ON)

Bastarache Moot Manitoba team 2024, left to right: Julien Bédard, coach (Justice Canada), Bradley Légaré (3L), Brent Tichon (2L), Nadine Plourde (2L), and Alexander Bastin (2L) [Missing from the photo is researcher, Samantha Pearce (2L)]

The team of Nadine Plourde (2L), Alexander Bastin (2L), Bradley Legare (3L), and Brent Tichon (2L), supported by researcher Samantha Pearce (2L), competed entirely in French for this competition dedicated to language rights and the legacy of The Honourable Michel Bastarache of the Supreme Court of Canada. The team was coached by practicing lawyers Richard Goulet (Manitoba Hydro) and Julien Bedard (Justice Canada) with Faculty of Law advisor Andrea Doyle [JD/2009].

All members of the team are enrolled in the Access to Justice in French concentration program taught in part by Doyle.

“I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to participate in the Bastarache Moot not only because it was another chance to learn and prove that I can be an effective French advocate, but also because I got the opportunity to represent the Franco-Manitoban community in a mock appeal that touched on a subject that is important to me,” said Légaré. “For me, the best part of the Bastarache Moot was the opportunity to be immersed in a totally French environment composed of people from communities similar to our own.”

As mentioned above, Brent Tichon was recognized as the fourth-best mooter for his oral arguments this year.

Doyle contributed a full report on the Bastarache team’s experience in the UM Today story “Moot Report 2024: Manitoba Team proudly represents at Bastarache Moot.”

Just Between Us: Intramural Competitions at Robson Hall 2023 – 2024 Season

In addition to the two intramural competitions held annually in the fall, namely, the Solomon Greenberg and Robson Hall Negotiations Competition, the Faculty of Law experienced two more during Winter Term.

Mini Moot (March 11 at Robson Hall Moot Courtroom)

Winners and runner-up teams from the Robson Hall Mini Moot 2024: left to right: runners-up Ken Vong and Sameer Harris. Winners: Sebastien Meiers and Riley O’Hara

The annual Mini Moot is organized entirely by law students on the Clinical Experience Committee and open to first year law students and even Master of Human Rights students. The goal is to give everyone at the Faculty of Law a chance to experience advocacy. Fillmore Riley LLP is a major supporter of this moot in addition to the fall Negotiations Competition.

Art Braid Business Law Case Competition (March 22 at TDS LLP)

Art Braid Cup 2024 winning team of Moira Kennedy (2L), Maria Garcia Manzano (2L), and Meredith Harley (2L).

The 2^nd Annual Art Braid Business Law Case Competition took place on March 22 at the Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP law offices in Winnipeg. The competition was organized by Robson Hall’s Business Law Group, hosted by TDS, and supported by the Faculty of Law’s Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law.

The team of Maria Garcia Manzano (2L), Meredith Harley (2L), and Moira Kennedy (2L) won the Art Braid Cup for 2024.

For the full story, please read “Second Annual Art Braid Business Law Case Competition honours late professor’s legacy” by Rebecca Penner (3L).

The Conference Program focused on Northern Manitoba and was organized in collaboration with Northern Manitoba communities, UCN, Creative Manitoba and Food & Beverage Manitoba. Over four dynamic days, students connected with all types of creatives, artists and individuals from organizations that support Northern arts, culture and food sectors and others involved in cultural and economic development in Northern Manitoba.

The event was focused on collaboration, with attendees engaging in both informal and formal spirited discussions to develop practical ideas for identifying needs, building and supporting means for greater cohesiveness, and inclusivity across the North and in both Indigenous and non-indigenous Northern Manitoban communities to be collectively more resilient and to reach new heights and opportunities as well as achieve more sustainable goals and financial stability. The conference included attendees from across Canada including Nunavut and Yukon, with many from across all of Manitoba, from Ontario and elsewhere, who all came together to have meaningful conversations about the future, to learn and to share ideas on how to work together. For a full conference agenda and more information about presenters and breakout session hosts is on the conference website.

Here are just a few of many highlights from our Clinics journey:

Attendees were treated to truly inspiring stories from keynote speakers, all with the common thread of love for the arts, their communities, and livelihoods emphasizing its great importance and the need for support. Antoinette Greenoliph from Whitehorse, Yukon, shared both hard and humorous moments from her life to underscore the power that art of all forms has to bring people together and inspire action and change for the better. Greenoliph also spoke of her prior award-winning restaurant business, the importance of resilience and working together. Teresie Tungilik, art historian, artist, arts administrator, and board member of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut who is also National President and Spokesperson of CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens) spoke about how Indigenous artists can protect their work, how non-Indigenous people can respectfully engage and collaborate with Indigenous Peoples and how we can all advocate for legislative change. She also spoke about the importance of artist resale rights and about how important intellectual property as a whole is to all artists. Christine Genier of Yukon Digital Theatre told her story as a Yukon First Nations artist, she emphasized that arts and culture must be supported within the conversation of language and culture revitalization.

Students discovered the importance of food and its relationship to Northern culture; and the intersection between arts, wellness, and the food and beverage industry. Students were privileged to engage not only with these keynote speakers but also with many Northern champions and others interested in collaborating to find solutions to challenges facing Northern Manitobans.

The students learned about many exciting initiatives and the people behind them, and at the same time, the gathering served as a great opportunity to share how the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts and the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic can help individuals and communities in Northern Manitoba eliminate barriers of not having accessible legal information and supports needed in such areas such as intellectual property rights, contracts and other areas due to a lack of lawyers in Northern Manitoba; and, how law students at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba, involved in the Business Law Clinic and new Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, are able to help all Manitobans succeed.

Left to right: Emily Roberts-Young [BA/2022], Cassandra Marcotte, Crystal Kolt, O.M. [BMus/1984], Kassandra Taverner (2L), Stephan Possin (3L), Austin Sutherland (3L) and Scott Groot (3L).

Crystal Kolt, O.M. [BMus/1984], Director of Cultural and Community Initiatives for the City of Flin Flon and Emily Roberts-Young [BMus/2022], project manager for imagiNorthern Regional Development Project presented about an incredibly innovative, empowering and inspiring initiative of the Flin Flon Arts Council, known as imagiNorthern; and a trailblazing new initiative called – Shopinabox. It includes everything a remote Northern Manitoba community would need to set up a pop-up shop or standalone business in Northern Manitoba and connect with others in other remote communities, as well as elsewhere using the power of the Internet, and also expand their markets worldwide. Shopinabox includes Starlink high-speed satellite internet, a card reader, label printer, scanner, lightbox, scale, and access to an online platform and support, all so creators can reach other local communities and far more. This initiative using technology to empower economic and cultural revitalization is an example of how mutual support of Northern Manitoba communities can work together to enhance the achievement of sustainable development in these communities.

Students immersed themselves in a diverse array of Northern excellence, spanning cultural experience, culinary delights, captivating visual displays, and performances. For example, the 48^th Annual Northern Juried Art Show exhibited 145 pieces of art from over 70 artists from across Northern Manitoba. The show demonstrated the power of communities coming together, with local businesses and other community members donating funds, gifts in kind and their time volunteering to make the showcase a success to highlight the incredible talent in Northern Manitoba. Students also met The Pas visual fine artist James M. Dean.

Workshop participants went on a walking tour from the University College of the North along a path where two incredible murals were standing proudly. The organization behind this initiative is The Pas Guest List, and the students met with co-founder Gabrielle Swan, who spoke more about this remarkable Walking Path Mural Project which over the next few years, will beautify the community with 20 murals. For more information, see: Art imitating the meaning of life in The Pas (wcmbnews.com) and A community group hopes to put up 20 murals around The Pas | Radio Noon Manitoba with Janet Stewart | Live Radio | CBC Listen

Gabrielle Swan like many in Northern Manitoba also wears many hats and is a board member and Chair of the Destination Marketing Committee of The Pas Arts Council.

The workshop wrapped up with the Arts & Culture Tour at Round The Bend Farm where great food, music and company were shared, and eccentric entrepreneur and artist, Lars Stoltz demonstrated his art form using red hot butter knives.

Northern Artist Lars Stoltz burns designs into wood with a hot butter knife.

Third-year law students shared their thoughts on the experience:

“Attending the Northern Arts Workshop was a great experience. Not only did I learn more about my colleagues, but I also had the opportunity to learn more about the diverse needs of artists, creatives and businesses in Northern Manitoba. This ranged from local artists in The Pas providing tourism experiences, to chefs and artists from other provinces. One common theme of the conference was the lack of funding, and legal support available to these individuals to protect their work. We had the opportunity to make great connections, ones that I hope will be retained by the next generation of Manitoba Legal Clinic For The Arts and L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic students. Overall, it was amazing to see some of the talent and expertise in Northern Manitoba.” – Austin Sutherland (3L)

“Our trip to the Pas to attend the Northern Arts Workshop was an amazing experience. We got to talk to many different people from Northern Manitoba and elsewhere, meet artists learn about their creations, and what inspires them to continue to create their incredible art. We were pleased to share how our Clinics would be able to provide free legal assistance to help artists in their creative discipline as well as others pursuing businesses in Northern Manitoba. Not many knew about us, but they were pleased to hear about our services. It was an excellent opportunity to learn and share information about the new Arts Clinic as well as our Business Law Clinic while experiencing Northern Manitoba first-hand which enhanced our understanding of needs of those living and working in the North” – Scott Groot (3L)

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the Northern Arts Workshop. The experience was not only enriching but also eye-opening, providing me with invaluable insights into the North’s complexities and the critical issues facing Northern Manitobans today. The knowledge and connections I gained have equipped me to better advocate for and contribute to the thriving communities in northern Manitoba. I am excited to implement the action items discussed and look forward to seeing the positive changes we can collectively bring to the arts in the coming year.” – Stephan Possin (3L)

Edwin Arthur Braid, Q.C. (1934 – 2020), or ‘Art’, the beloved former Dean and Professor at Robson Hall, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, had many passions. He was well known for his kindness, his commitment to intellectual discourse, and his precision and clarity as a teacher, among other things. In addition to the multitude of positive attributes associated with him, Art Braid was known for his affinity for business law.

Don MacDonald [LLB/1983](Pitblado) shares remarks with participants of the 2024 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

The second annual Art Braid Business Law Case Competition took place on Friday, March 22, 2024. The competition was hosted at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP’s downtown offices in True North Square. This year’s case was about raising funds for a company’s expansion plan.

Finalist team of Nico Nudler (3L), Justin Papoff (3L), and Matthew London (3L) prepare their case for presentation. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

At the conclusion of the case competition presentations, law students, lawyers, and articling students gathered in TDS’ Northern Lights Lounge for refreshments and the announcement of the winning team.

Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, with Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

The BLG would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the family and friends of Art Braid and those who continue to support his legacy through which this competition would not otherwise be possible. Sincere thanks also are extended to presenting sponsor, Marcel A. Desautels Centre, for its generous funding, to TDS for being an excellent host, to Don MacDonald for sharing stories about Art Braid whom he knew personally, to Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre for her thoughtful remarks, to Dean Jochelson and the Faculty of Law for their support, to our judges: Steven Dressler, Alan Lempart, Leah Suderman, Nikhilesh Verma, Don MacDonald, and Caroline Christie, for the time they took to make this competition a possibility, to the entire BLG Executive team, especially Kirsten Nynych (2L), Event Coordinator, who dedicated significant effort to making this event a possibility, and to all the students who competed and made this competition another success. Without the continuing support of these individuals and organizations, the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition could not have grown into what it has become in these short two years!

The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, a pioneering initiative launched in 2023, stands as Manitoba’s sole clinic dedicated to offering free legal guidance tailored explicitly for artists and arts organizations. Kaylee Furber had her second opportunity to speak to students, following her initial presentation on copyright to the Desautels Faculty of Music earlier this Winter Term. Reflecting on these experiences she said, “It’s wonderful to share what we’ve learned about intellectual property from the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts with so many young creatives in Manitoba. We hope these presentations are insightful and inspiring, especially for the young women at Balmoral Hall considering careers in this field”.

At the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, the four students have worked for various pro bono clients on a wide array of business law matters such as drafting contracts and providing information on incorporation as well as other corporate and commercial matters for small businesses, start-up, entrepreneurs, family businesses and non-profit clients that do not have a lawyer and cannot afford legal assistance.

Jamie Robertson shared her thoughts on sharing this information with the high school students, “We were so excited to share some of the knowledge we have learned through our work at the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic with the Balmoral Hall students. The differences between sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, how to register a business name and basic tax information is all important knowledge to be shared, especially with the Venture Development and Law classes. We all feel fortunate to have had the opportunity through the Clinic to present to such bright and enthusiastic students. We hope the presentation inspired some of the students to pursue a legal career in the future!”

Reflecting on the experience, the Balmoral Hall Venture Development teacher, Kirstan Osborne stated that it was an inspiring experience to her students. Ashley Slagerman said the law students felt the same way as “after three years of law school, it’s exciting to get outside of the classroom and see young girls interested in entrepreneurship and the law, and visiting Balmoral Hall served as a delightful reminder of that enthusiasm as we go forward into articling.”

Having been mentored throughout the year by their two supervising lawyers, Nick Slonosky and Yvan Larocque, in both the Business Law Clinic and Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, these law students seized the opportunity to impart the knowledge they’ve gained to the next generation of entrepreneurs. “It was very fulfilling to be able to share some of our learning and experiences with young women” said Rebecca Penner.

The presentation delved into crucial topics spanning business structures, intellectual property, and taxation—essential pillars for budding entrepreneurs, creatives, and businesses alike.

As a token of gratitude, each Balmoral Hall student received a UM Faculty of Law keychain, symbolizing their ongoing journey towards success.

Looking ahead, the students eagerly anticipate the continued growth and impact of both the Business Law Clinic and Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts in nurturing and supporting aspiring artists and entrepreneurs alike.

For those interested in supporting the next generation of emerging entrepreneurs please check out the Balmoral Hall Makers Market. Buy local for your gift ideas and shopping needs.

This year’s moot related to an appeal of a recent decision of the Quebec Superior Court regarding section 23 of the Charter (minority language educational rights). The participating teams came from across Canada – the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Manitoba, the University of Ottawa (Common Law Section), McGill University, and l’Université de Moncton.

The University of Manitoba team consisted of Alexander Bastin (2L), Bradley Légaré (3L), Nadine Plourde (2L), Brent Tichon (2L) and researcher Samantha Pearce (2L). The team was coached by Julien Bédard of Justice Canada and Richard Goulet of Manitoba Hydro.

Brent Tichon (2L) was recognized as the 4^th best mooter for his oral arguments during the competition (4e meilleur plaideur). Tichon was very positive about his experience at the Bastarache Moot, commenting: “I had a wonderful time at Bastarache. It was challenging but very rewarding to write a factum in my second language and then orally present it before lawyers and judges. My French has improved dramatically, and I was even lucky enough to win the prize for the 4^th best mooter.”

Coach Julien Bédard who provided significant mentorship and support and travelled to Ottawa with the team observed, “The U of M team’s hard work paid off. Chief Justice Rivoalen was impressed by their factums and by their performance during the final practice, and their performance only got better at the competition in Ottawa, handling difficult legal questions with poise and confidence, all of it in their second language! I’m proud of them. The moot itself was a fantastic experience. There was a lot of camaraderie between the teams.”

The students from the University of Manitoba who participated in the Bastarache Moot are all students in the Faculty of Law’s Access to Justice in French Concentration, where students complete at least 26 credits of bilingual law courses. The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law has for the past decade offered students the opportunity to pursue part of their legal education in French. Beginning in the Fall of 2022, the Faculty of Law introduced the Access to Justice in French Concentration thanks to generous support from Justice Canada’s Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Fund.

The students emphasized the wonderful learning experience that they had in preparing and participating in the Bastarache Moot. Nadine Plourde (2L) stated:

“I don’t know that I’ve had a more effective or more rapid improvement in my abilities to communicate in French and specifically in legal French in any other instance while at law school. The Bastarache Moot and our coach, Julien Bédard’s personal feedback and coaching has had a massive impact on my confidence in my abilities and communication skills.”

The Bastarache Moot was hands down the highlight of my experience in law school so far. Having an opportunity to compete in a moot entirely in French massively improved my language skills, and arguing in my second language has boosted my own confidence in both English and French.

 – Alexander Bastin (2L)

Alexander Bastin further commented, “The lessons I have learned as a result of participating in Bastarache have made me a better student, and I am certain that they will contribute to my success as a professional. I encourage any law student — no matter how nervous you are — to try out for Bastarache next year: if you receive even a fraction of the benefits that I did, you will be forever grateful for the experience.”

Samantha Pearce (2L), who provided important contributions as the team’s researcher, stated, “Researching for the Bastarache Moot was a wonderful experience. Even though I wasn’t a mooter, I feel as though my reading comprehension and oral comprehension in French have improved greatly. I’m so proud of my classmates and all of their hard work!”

I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to participate in the Bastarache Moot not only because it was another chance to learn and prove that I can be an effective French advocate, but also because I got the opportunity to represent the Franco-Manitoban community in a mock appeal that touched on a subject that is important to me. For me, the best part of the Bastarache Moot was the opportunity to be immersed in a totally French environment composed of people from communities similar to our own.

 – Bradley Légaré (3L)

Andrea Doyle, who was the faculty advisor for this moot and is the Coordinator of the Access to Justice in French Concentration, emphasized the importance of teamwork to successfully participate in a moot. She noted, “All of the students, whether a mooter or a researcher, worked very well together supporting each other. The team received invaluable support from their coaches, Julien Bédard and Richard Goulet, as well as members of l’Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM), including judges and lawyers who volunteered their time to provide helpful feedback to the team during their practices.”

Bradley Légaré (3L) expressed his appreciation to the team’s coaches, commenting, “I would like to thank my coaches for their patience and hard work to help us improve. Without people from the community like them, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to participate in these events and I wouldn’t have been able to keep my connection to the Franco-Manitoban community. Julien et Richard, gros merci pour tout votre travail et votre soutien. Je me sens vraiment chanceux d’avoir été enseigné par vous et j’espère pouvoir avoir le même impact positif sur un futur participant. Vous m’avez tous deux aidé à me sentir confiant dans mon avenir en tant qu’avocat et c’est la meilleure chose que j’aurais pu apprendre.”

In concluding his remarks about the Bastarache Moot, Brent Tichon (2L) stated, “Most of all, it was a wonderful experience to get to work with our amazing Manitoba team and our very supportive mentor, and the chance to meet the students from the other schools. This has been the highlight of my law school education, and I can’t recommend it enough.”

The pair of Éric Gagnon & Seth Lozinski, who competed in the French stream, even received the “Spirit of Negotiation” award for that stream, which is peer-nominated and goes to the team that best illustrates the values of collaboration, humility, teamwork and respect.  Robson Hall teams have a long history of winning this award. Éric stated, “I was especially honoured to have been chosen by my national peers for the Spirit of the Negotiation prize, alongside my partner Seth Lozinski, for our commitment towards collegiality and collaboration throughout the negotiation process.”

The student competitors had an opportunity to reflect about their experiences after the competition concluded. Ryan Hall indicated that preparing for the CNNC was “an intimidating process”, but that the high quality of the competitors made the competition “fun, and exciting”.  He also highlighted the important social and networking aspects of the competition: “While the CNNC is largely about negotiating, it is just as much about making connections. This was one of the things I found the most valuable about the competition. It puts competitors in place to network with future legal professionals across Canada, something that is not offered anywhere else.” He ultimately described the CNNC as “one of my best experiences from law school.”

The development of collaborative skills were most important to Nicolas Nudler:

“My time at the CNNC was one to remember. The high-level negotiation and advocacy skills of my coaches, peers, and the other competitors during this competition really made this experience one that I can learn from and take with me as I navigate real-life negotiations throughout my law career. If I had to choose one thing that I took away from this competition, it’s that collaboration between the parties during a negotiation makes for the best result for the client.”

Seth Lozinski reflected, “One valuable lesson I learned from the competition was the importance of adapting my negotiation approach based on the other party, which I’m sure will serve me well throughout my career.”

Both Jamie Robertson and Rebecca Penner believed that the competition helped develop  the skills they needed to succeed in legal practice. Jamie stated, “Competing in the CNNC was a very rewarding experience. During the weeks of preparation, we developed valuable negotiation skills from our coaches that we will continue to use in our future legal careers. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete among the best negotiators in Canada.”

Rebecca explained, “Preparing for and competing in CNNC was truly a fantastic experience that vastly improved my confidence in navigating the strategic and artistic elements of negotiation. The case was nuanced, complex and highly relevant to current events and perspectives which made the whole experience very valuable as we head into our careers, and I feel very lucky to have competed alongside such an incredible calibre of students.”

For Éric Gagnon, highlights of the competition were a combination of collaborative opportunities and the location: “It was wonderful to negotiate and collaborate with colleagues from across the country in the heart of a city as vibrant as Montréal.”

The Manitoba teams were expertly coached by three Robson Hall alumni: Andrea Doyle, an Instructor at the University of Manitoba; Andrew Torbiak, who practises Estates and Trusts with Tradition Law; and Heather Wadsworth, who practises family law at Amica Law. The coaches were filled with praise for the students’ performances.  Andrew Torbiak stated,

“Our students had a great showing at this year’s competition, and represented Robson Hall admirably. This was one of the strongest groups of students Robson Hall has ever fielded in the competition. Having coached for the past 8 years of CNNC competition, I can also say that the overall skill of competitors from across Canada has never been higher. I’d like to thank the students for their diligent preparation for the CNNC weekend, and their dedication during the competition itself. We are very proud of their performances.”

According to Heather Wadsworth, “I am immensely proud of Rebecca, Jamie, Nicholas, Ryan, Seth, and Eric for both their hard work and dedication in preparing for the competition and how they conducted themselves at the competition itself. It was a delight to be one of their coaches and being a part of the CNNC is a highlight of my year.”

The admiration went both ways, as all of the students were also filled with praise and appreciation for the efforts of the coaches.   For example, Seth Lozinski stated, “Our coach, Andrea Doyle, was incredibly supportive and provided us with helpful feedback and encouragement throughout the entire experience.”

A Bit More About the CNCC

Eight years ago, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law hosted the inaugural national negotiation competition at Robson Hall, which has been run annually since then.  The size of the competition has been growing each year, both in terms of number of teams participating and number of law schools represented. 

The 2024 competition was hosted by McGill Business Law Platform, McGill Faculty of Law, in collaboration with McGill’s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI).

 This year’s competition theme was “Negotiating Sustainability”, and the competition problem involved negotiations over the location of battery plant to a fictious community. The writing of the problem was a truly collaborative effort, with input from Professors from McGill, University of Saskatchewan, University of New Brunswick, and University of Manitoba and a practising lawyer in Montreal.

This year, the competition involved three rounds of negotiation taking place over two days, with each round building on the last. Issues to be negotiated included the precise location of the plant, the proportion of foreign workers employed, affordable housing for the community, and transportation infrastructure.  During each round, each team possessed confidential details about client circumstances and settlement preferences.  The first two rounds were bi-party, with the last round involving a more complex three-party negotiation. All of the negotiating took place under the scrutiny of 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. Yvan Larocque, Clinical Instructor here at the University of Manitoba, was one of the judges for the French stream, and did an excellent job.  He was also a member of the organizing committee, along with me, and we helped to administer the competition in Montreal.

French Stream

This was the second year that the CNNC implemented a parallel French stream. Teams competed in French, using the same problems (which were translated) as the English stream.

According to coach Andrea Doyle, “Our team of Éric Gagnon and Seth Lozinski negotiated in French and won the Spirit of Negotiation Award for the French stream (le prix d’excellence dans l’esprit de la négociation pour la section française). Seth and Éric were recognized for their collaboration and collegiality as well as their engaging and personable attitudes. They were great ambassadors for Robson Hall.”

Professor Lorna Turnbull, Director of the Access to Justice in French Concentration stated, “The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law has for the past decade offered students the opportunity to pursue part of their legal education in French. Beginning in the Fall of 2022, the Faculty of Law introduced the Access to Justice in French Concentration thanks to generous support from Justice Canada’s Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Fund.”

Students in the Access to Justice in French Concentration pursue a portion of their studies in French by completing at least 26 credits of bilingual courses, including the French Negotiation course (Négociation juridique).

Andrea Doyle, who is the Coordinator of the Concentration in Access to Justice in French at U of M Faculty of Law in addition to being the coach of the French team, had the following to say:

“Preparation for the CNNC was a team effort. I wish to acknowledge and thank the support that was provided to our French team by our students participating in English (Jamie, Rebecca, Nico and Ryan) and their coaches, Andrew Torbiak and Heather Wadsworth, as well as articling students Chris Dick, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada and Kennedy Pinette, MLT Aikins LLP. Chris Dick and Kennedy Pinette, recent graduates of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, successfully competed in last year’s inaugural French stream of the CNNC and provided valuable feedback and insights in Éric and Seth’s preparations.”

We appreciated all of the work of the organizers in ensuring that a French stream was offered again this year and their commitment to continuing and expanding the French stream of the CNNC in the future.

Both Seth Lozinski and Éric Gagnon are taking the Concentration in Access to Justice in French, and expressed the importance of the French stream to them. Seth Lozinski stated,  “I was … able to enhance my advocacy skills in French, which is a step toward my goal of representing the Franco-Manitoban community in the future.” Éric stated, “As a Franco-Manitoban, I was extremely appreciative of the opportunity to do this in French.”