Announcements and events

John Borrows, one of Canada’s foremost law scholars and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria, is the winner of the 2019 Canada Council Molson Prize in social sciences and humanities. The prize honours contributions to Canada’s cultural and intellectual heritage.

Vistas alumni magazine it out! Read about how artificial intelligence is affecting the practice of law, which faculty member was appointed to a NAFTA Chapter 19 panel to deal with the softwood lumber dispute, and who received this year's Distinguished Alumni Award. It's all inside!

On July 1, 2019 UVic Law will welcome Robert Lapper, QC as the new David & Dorothy Lam Chair in Law and Public Policy, as well as two new faculty members: Alan Hanna and Dr. Irehobhude O. Iyioha.

Law’s Indigenous Ethics examines the revitalization of Indigenous peoples’ relationship to their own laws and, in so doing, attempts to enrich Canadian constitutional law more generally. Organized around the seven Anishinaabe grandmother and grandfather teachings of love, truth, bravery, humility, wisdom, honesty, and respect, this book explores ethics in relation to Aboriginal issues including title, treaties, legal education, and residential schools.

In this new edition of Canada's leading environmental law text, Professors Doelle and Tollefson provide a fully updated and much expanded treatise that will be welcomed by students, practitioners and environmental professionals alike. It includes a comprehensive collection of cases, articles, commentary, notes and questions and covers a broad range of topics. This third edition covers the current state of federal, provincial, commonwealth and U.S. environmental law.

A round-up of the 2019 mooting competitions for UVic Law teams

The fall issue of Vistas is now online! In this issue get to know the new Dean of Law, Susan Breau, and why she is so passionate about international humanitarian law, find out what so many of our law alumni are doing in Japan, learn how alumna Indra Heed Hornsby (’97) made a legal career in aerospace and orbital economics, see photos and a recap of the launch of our new Indigenous Law Degree Program and catch up on what faculty and fellow alumni are doing.

Lana Lowe, a UVic Law PhD student and member of the Fort Nelson First Nation has been named the 2018 Land Champion by the Real Estate Foundation of BC. The award was presented to Lana at a Gala event on October 11, 2018. In 2016, the award was given to Deborah Curran, the Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre at UVic, who in turn nominated Lana for the award this year.

The historic launch today of the world’s first law degree to combine the study of Indigenous and non-Indigenous law welcomed the first cohort of 26 students from across Canada and acknowledged the efforts to establish the far-reaching response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The new law program at the University of Victoria will help Indigenous peoples and Canada build enduring political and legal relationships. It will be applicable to rebuilding economies, environmental management, child welfare, education, human rights, healthy communities and housing. Students will learn how to understand Indigenous legal orders, reason with them, build institutions based on those orders, and design institutions and procedures that work in concert with other levels of Canadian law.

Dr. Susan Breau has been appointed the new dean of Law at the University of Victoria. Since 2014, Dr. Breau has been the Head of the School of Law at the University of Reading, UK, and has a distinguished record of achievement as a researcher, teacher and administrator. Her scholarship engages with multiple forms of law and legal orders, particularly in the law of armed conflict, international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international disaster law. She completed her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Arts degrees at Queen’s University. She practiced law in Kingston, Ontario, for almost 20 years before completing Master of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has taught and lectured at law schools throughout the United Kingdom and Australia. Dr. Breau was the Dorset Fellow in Public International Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

The UVic Faculty of Law presents: Indigenous Law: Today and Tomorrow with John Borrows and Val Napoleon 7:30 p.m. Farquhar Auditorium, University of Victoria. Join Chancellor Shelagh Rogers, Indigenous leaders, community members, and scholars to mark this historic moment as we celebrate the launch of the world’s first Indigenous law degree. Dr. Borrows will explore Salish Law and Land: Lessons Learned and Dr. Napoleon will look at the future of Indigenous Law: Fast Forward. This free public lecture has reserved seating.

Shiri Pasternak presents "What is colonialism that does not dispossess? Ecologies of Care and Supply at Barriere Lake." This presentation examines the materialities of colonialism from the perspective of a present-day Algonquin community in northern Quebec.

Join us in celebrating the Law Class of '93! This reunion will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow grads! Saturday, September 15, 2018 4:00 pm: Meet and greet with classmates and former professors in the Fraser Building 6:00 pm: Dinner & Dance at the University Club Cost: $125 per person (includes catering, gratuity and taxes) Sunday, September 16, 2018 10:00 am: Golf (optional, not included in above price) at Cordova Bay Golf Course If you have any questions, please contact Liz Eby, Law Alumni Relations Officer at lawalum@uvic.ca or 250-853-3518.