What the World Needs Now is More Pro Bono

Todayville

Published

11 months ago

5 minute read

July 14, 2020

What the World Needs Now is More Pro Bono

Lawyers and the legal community use their performance skills to bring awareness and raise funds to support access to justice for our vulnerable population during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA) is staging a virtual Public Awareness Campaign partnered with United Way. Major supporters include the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch and the Legal Archives Society of Alberta. The show is called Laywers Vs Talent: A2J – Virtual Edition. Here’s a link to the lineup. You can watch by simply making a donation. The United Way is helping out so it’s a very secure and safe procedure. Click here to get your exclusive link. (You will receive an email with the link prior to showtime.)

COVID-19 caused cancellation of fundraising events (e.g. Battle of the Bar Bands-Calgary) within the profession where proceeds went to Pro Bono legal advice clinics. The Alberta Bar decided to innovate and create the virtual event for this Thursday, July 16th, from 6:00 PM to 8 PM (MDT) to raise a “behind the scenes” Awareness. Due to the Pandemic, Pro Bono clinics require technology for remote meetings or remote court attendance or require supplies for their clients such as masks and shields to attend meetings or attend court if people are forced by subpoena or otherwise need to attend.

Donna Purcell, member of the ACTLA COVID-19 Emergency Response Team said “We were going to call our event ‘lawyers got talent’ but one lawyer objected saying Simon Cowell would complain. Well what about ‘lawyers got no talent’? No, he might still complain, maybe try Lawyers vs Talent” and the seed was sown to invite professional talent, with entertainers from the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia and South America under the Global A2J Alliance banner. The campaign is meant to highlight the need for everyone to protect the Rule of Law for vulnerable populations.

Forecasts for Alberta include 25% unemployment. The profession is concerned about providing Pro Bono services given the anticipated domestic situations, personal bankruptcies, foreclosures and evictions flooding antiquated justice systems.

“The legal profession and our judiciary have decided to lead the way in ensuring innovative access to justice for our growing vulnerable populations and all Albertans”, notes Purcell, “And we can’t only work for free, that is called being unemployed. And no lawyer jokes please, we might not get them. Grab a Shaq-a-roni, set up a Zoom after party, and come enjoy the entertainment, including some pros who know what they are doing and learn from our feature presenters and feature reporting.”

The show has many serious moments as well. You will hear from Rumana Monzur, Counsel at Department of Justice, Canada. In June 2011, she was brutally attacked and blinded by her husband at the time, Hasan Sayeed Sumon, while visiting in her home country of Bangladesh. As well, you will meet Maria Mitousis, Principal, Mitousis, Lemieux, Howard Law Corporation. Maria became national news when in the summer of 2015, she dropped into her office and opened a package that was on her desk. In the package was a bomb, and in the ensuing explosion, Maria lost a hand. Hers is a tragic but inspiring story.

A committee will decide where funds that are raised will have the most impact and includes consulting the United Way’s The Social Impact Lab, a platform to research, create, and test new services and business models. The goal is toensure the impact on organizations who support vulnerable populations through the legal sector is maximized. It is also hoped that public awareness of the out-of-date state of the justice system will encourage a provincial and national discussion.

A minimum $50 donation to United Way receives the Premiere Access link; donate any amount for an after the event link.

For more information and to donate, sponsor or to purchase tickets to the event, visit www.lawyersvstalent.com.

Remember, the show goes live Thursday, July 16th, at 6 PM.

Disclosure: Todayville is a proud partner in the production of this innovative program.

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Wildfire forces evacuation of an area in Yellowhead County west of Edmonton

Published on June 22, 2021

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — A wildfire has forced the evacuation of an area in Yellowhead County west of Edmonton.

An Alberta Emergency Alert message says the evacuation order affects people along Highway 16 between Evansburg and Wildwood.

It says the order also applies to people who are in the Lobstick resort area.

The order says all people in this zone must leave immediately.

The province says an evacuation centre is being set up at the Evansburg Arena in Evansburg.

The wildfire danger in the area is listed as very high and there are six airtankers, four helicopters, six pieces of heavy equipment and 30 firefighters working on containing the blaze.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2021

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Edmonton school to be named after legendary locker room attendant Joey Moss

Published on June 22, 2021

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — A school in Edmonton that will open next year has been named after Joey Moss, a legendary locker-room attendant for the city’s national hockey and football teams.

Moss, who was born with Down syndrome, became the Edmonton Oilers’ locker-room attendant in 1984, when superstar Wayne Gretzky was dating his older sister.

In 1986, Moss joined Edmonton’s football team, now called the Elks, and held roles with both organizations for more than 30 years.

He captured the hearts of sports fans along the way, particularly with his enthusiastic participation in the national anthem before the start of every hockey game.

Edmonton Public Schools says Joey Moss School in the southwestern part of the city will be for students from kindergarten to Grade 9 and will open in the fall of 2022.

In a statement, board chairwoman Trisha Estabrooks says it was an honour to name a school after “an excellent role model” for students.

“Joey has left a profound legacy in the hearts and minds of many Edmontonians and through this school naming, that legacy will continue to live on for generations,” Estabrooks said.

“Our students can learn a great deal from Joey and his spirit of acceptance, inclusion and most importantly his unwavering dedication to his community.”

At the time of Moss’s death in October, Gretzky said he “brought a ray of sunshine and a lot of fond memories to all of us.”

Gretzky said he and his teammates used to joke that Moss would be a staple with the Oilers long after their playing careers were finished.

“(The Oilers) traded me, (but) Joey was a lifer,” he said.

“It was sure always a breath of fresh air when you’d walk into the locker room and he’d be sitting there.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2021.

The Canadian Press