Awards

Annual Appreciation Breakfast

Each March, we give special recognition to two volunteer lawyers for outstanding service to the public.  We present the APB Dugald Christie Award for service in our summary advice clinics, and the APB Roster Lawyer of the Year Award for service under our Roster Program.  Since 2009, the Appreciation Breakfast has been held jointly with the Salvation Army’s Pro Bono Program which also honours its lawyer of the year at the event.

APB Dugald Christie Award for Advice Services

This award was originally given annually by the Western Canada Society to Access Justice to recognize an individual Canadian or a Canadian organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the provision of free legal services.  The award sought to acknowledge leadership and activities to improving access to justice in local communities, as well as the nominees’ commitment to free legal service work on behalf of individual clients, communities, or charitable organizations.  The award is given in the name of the late Dugald Christie who was the founder of Access Justice.  It is now given annually as an award from APB.

Past Recipients

2011:  Alison Sawyer

2010:  Dale Darychuk

Dale Darychuk practices in Port Coquitlam and is one of our most active pro bono lawyers.  Dale helped over 60 individual clients in 2010 and he currently serves on the APB Board.

“When we do pro bono work, we seek the best for our clients, but in doing so we are also seeking justice for the public, for all of us.  It is not enough for us to have a legal system that tends to the needs and desires of those who have the financial means, the education, the physical and the mental health to navigate and persevere through the labyrinth of our laws.  We lawyers are members of a noble profession.  It is in the very best tradition of our calling that we provide our services for the public good.”

2009:  Thomas F. Braidwood

Thomas F. Braidwood practices in Squamish.  He volunteered with Access Justice at various agencies for over 100 clinic sessions from 2007 to 2009.

2008:  Catalin Mitelut

Catalin Mitelut practices in Vancouver is another very active pro bono lawyer.  He volunteered with Access Justice at various agencies for over 100 clinic sessions from 2005 to 2008.  

 “I wanted to address social inequality through society.  I wanted to go to the communities and provide services to immigrants.  Access Justice had a way for there to be interaction between a lawyer and the community.”

APB Award for Representation Services

This award was originally given annually by Pro Bono Law of BC to recognize the contribution of individual lawyers serving on the various representration rosters.  Since the merger of Access Justice and Pro Bono Law of BC, one award has been given each year.

Past Recipients

2011: Catherine Brink

2010: Troy McLelan

2009: Brent B. Olthuis

2008: Jennifer Spencer