The group's executive committee for this term also includes Craig Ferris, Cynthia Kuehl, and Monique Jilesen
Hilary Book has been named The Advocates' Society's new president for 2025-2026, helming an executive committee comprising Vice-President Craig Ferris, Treasurer Cynthia Kuehl, and Secretary Monique Jilesen.
The committee members were unveiled at the TAS board's first meeting for 2025-2026, which followed the annual general meeting on June 3. Book said in a LinkedIn statement that they were stepping into their new roles "at a challenging time for the Society."
Four new directors needed to be elected to the executive committee after all executive members resigned. Book explained in a letter to members that the board's nominations committee generated a recommended slate for the new executive which received board approval.
"The events surrounding end of term dinner over the past few months have laid bare the fact that many members do not feel that their voices are welcome or heard by TAS, and that TAS has much work to do to live up to its core value of being a diverse and inclusive organization," Book wrote in the letter. "This summer, the board will develop an action plan, with concrete steps, for repairing relationships with members and for fostering diversity and inclusion."
She added that she would update members on these steps in the fall and said that a goal of hers as president would be to bolster communications between the board and members. She also said she intended to improve transparency and would be sending emails in English and French each month to update members on the board and TAS leaders' work.
Book also highlighted TAS' work in continuing legal education.
"The need for training, public advocacy and building a collegial bar is more important than ever in the current environment of rapid changes in practice, challenges to the independence of the judiciary and the Bar, and more," she wrote.
She urged members to reach out to the leadership team.
"The past few months have been difficult for TAS. I am optimistic that these difficulties will cause us to learn, to make meaningful changes and ultimately to improve TAS," Book wrote.
