Charlene Nero is the recipient of the Wiliam J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award. The award is given to a paralegal who has shown distinction in their profession. A licensed paralegal since 2014, Nero led the legal department of the Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 3000, which represents thousands of health-care and frontline workers, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ongoing devotion to representing these clients led to consistently positive results for members.
Juliet Chang Knapton is the recipient of the Lincoln Alexander Award, which is bestowed to a lawyer or paralegal who has shown long-standing interest and commitment to the public. Knapton was called to the bar in 2005 and has worked as a legal educator, civil litigator and tribunal member. She has worked to support and empower people both within and outside the legal industry and is chair of the Roundtable of Legal Diversity Associations.
Julie Lassonde is the recipient of the Laura Legge Award, which recognizes female lawyers from Ontario who have exemplified leadership. Called to the bar in 2005, Lassonde has earned the award with her advancement of social justice issues and commitment to inclusivity and diversity using a holistic approach that aims to find the best outcomes for clients from vulnerable populations.
Trudy McCormick is the recipient of the Shirley Denison Award, which recognizes a lawyer or paralegal’s significant contributions to issues of access to justice and/or poverty. Call to the bar in 1987, McCormick has been the executive director of the Northwest Community Legal Clinic since its founding in 2009. With her tireless efforts, McCormick has helped provide top-tier services and catered to the unique needs of low-income people in rural Northwestern Ontario.
Prakash Diar is the recipient of the Human Rights Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights. A native South African, Diar began his career exposing the unjust apartheid system in South Africa and defending many political prisoners. In the course of his activism, he was arrested and had his life threatened until Canada facilitated his safe passage to Ottawa in 1989. Called to the Ontario bar in 1993, Diar joined the Canadian Human Rights Commission and litigated cases involving systemic racial discrimination. He has been focusing on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples since 2000 when he joined the Department of Justice.