This year’s Law Society Medal honourees are Roderic Ferguson, Alfred Mamo, David Nahwegahbow, Cynthia Petersen, Carol Shamess, and Ronald Slaght.
Ferguson of Midland, Ont., is a personal injury lawyer and civil litigation specialist who has worked in rural areas for more than 35 years.
Mamo, meanwhile, has long been involved in the issue of family law reform in Ontario. In 2007, the London, Ont., lawyer, who practises at McKenzie Lake Lawyers, led a team of experts commissioned by the Ministry of the Attorney General in an evaluation of the province’s Family Court.
Nahwegahbow has had a long career providing legal services to First Nations communities. Nahwegahbow, who was among the first Aboriginal lawyers in Canada, was also instrumental in the creation of the Indigenous Bar Association.
Petersen of Toronto is known for advancing the equality rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people through her legal work. She serves as the law society’s discrimination and harassment counsel and practices at Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP.
Shamess of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., is receiving recognition as an accomplished lawyer and dedicated community leader. She has devoted many volunteer hours in her community by working with Algoma Family Services, the Big Sisters Association, the Children’s Aid Society, Women in Crisis, and the United Way where, in 1990, she was named volunteer of the year.
The law society credits Slaght, of Lenczner Slaght, with leading the profession in the re-establishment of civility. An Advocates’ Society president between 2000 and 2001, Slaght’s efforts led to the development of principles of civility for advocates. In 2010, he received The Advocates’ Society Medal.
In addition, the law society awarded the Lincoln Alexander Award to Hamilton, Ont., personal injury lawyer Stanley Tick. The award recognizes an Ontario lawyer who has demonstrated a commitment to the public and their well being through community service.
This year, the Laura Legge Award, which recognizes woman lawyers from Ontario who have exemplified leadership within the profession, goes to Fay Brunning of the Ottawa office of SGM.
Recipients will be presented with their awards at a Law Society of Upper Canada ceremony on May 25.
