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On November 5, 2009 The Supreme Court of Canada missed an opportunity to redress discrimination against Aboriginal Women. Sharon McIvor, who has tirelessly pursued the redress of discrimination against Aboriginal women under the Indian Act for more than two decades sought leave of the Supreme Court of Canada to obtain broad redress for historic discrimination against Aboriginal women and their descendents, consistent with the ruling of the trial judge. Link to LEAF's press release
Sharon McIvor's case is now at the forefront of this continuing fight for Aboriginal women and children's
rights and status. The British Columbia Court of Appeal has heard her case and declared that Section 6 of
the Indian Act is of no force and effect because it infringes the equality rights guaranteed by Section 15 of the Charter, and cannot be saved by Section 1. However, it is still unclear what action the government will take on the issue. Parliament has been given a deadline of April 6, 2010 to amend the Act. Both LEAF and NWAC are carefully monitoring the situation and preparing to act if needed.
We must all work together to support Aboriginal women. To donate to LEAF click here |
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Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case |
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In 1979, on the 50th anniversary of the Privy Council's historic decision, to declare women as "Persons", the Government of Canada instituted the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case to recognize outstanding contributions to the quality of life of women in Canada. The Awards are presented annually at a ceremony in October.
Recipients of these Awards continue the tradition of courage, integrity and hard work which the Famous Five of the Persons Case inspired. Their effectiveness and courage has advanced the cause of equality for girls and women in significant and substantial ways that have enriched their communities. 2009 Recipients  Photo:
Audrey M. Johnson, Executive Director,LEAF, 2009 Persons Case recipient Daphne E. Dumont, Founding Mother of LEAF,
Senator Nancy Ruth, Founding Mother of LEAF
Photo:
Doris Buss, LEAF Chair,
Audrey M. Johnson, Executive Director, LEAF
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, 2009 Persons Case Recipient
Co-nominated by LEAF and NWAC
For detailed biographies of the 2009 Persons Case Recipients click here: |
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Persons Day Breakfasts - Across Canada |
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To mark the 80th Anniversary of Persons Day, LEAF held their annual Persons Day Breakfasts across the country. LEAF Branches: Edmonton, Manitoba, Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Sudbury, Halifax, , PEI, and Manitoba all held Persons Day events to celebrate this momentous occassion.
Recognizing Women Trailblazers
At the National Persons Day Breakfast held in Toronto, LEAF played tribute to our mothers  and grandmothers- to remind us that the advancement of equality for women is quite recent. LEAF recognized several women born before 1929, and would have been considered non-persons. Yet despite the odds and the challenges these women went on to do amazing things in their lives.
National Breakfast in Toronto
More than 800 people gathered in Toronto 
to share a morning with journalist Sally Armstrong as she interviewed keynote guest
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, activist and first Aboriginal woman to challenge women's status at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Photo: Bobbi-Jo Virtue,
Keynote Jeannette Corbiere Lavell,
Elder Pauline Shirt
LEAF Edmonton
Edmonton was privileged to have Doris Buss, Chair of the LEAF Board of Directors as keynote speaker for our 2009 Persons' Day Breakfast. In addition to her Chair duties, Doris is an Associate Professor of Law at Carleton University in Ottawa where she teaches and researches in the areas of international law, human rights, and social justice. In this role, Doris studied the outcomes of rape trials in Rwanda. Her talk explored why an international Criminal Tribunal failed to get significant numbers of convictions after tens of thousands of women and girls were raped, sexually assaulted and killed during the 100 day period of the Rwanda genocide...
LEAF Manitoba
On October 16, 2009, LEAF 
Manitoba held their 19th annual Persons Day Breakfast. The topic "The Never Ending Equality Journey: Past Successes and Future Challenges" was addressed by two individuals whose lives reflect extensive experience
and commitment to equality
for all persons...
More on LEAF Manitoab's PDB
LEAF Sudbury
Senator, feminist, and philanthropist  Nancy Ruth, was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Sudbury Persons Day Breakfast. Senator Ruth discussed the challenges facing women and how there have been some great victories. The audience of over 300 once again braved the darkness of the cold October morning and helped LEAF Sudbury celebrate its 20th anniversary... More on LEAF Sudbury's PDB
LEAF Halifax
For our 4th Annual Persons Day Breakfast,  held October 19th at the St. Mary's Boat Club, the local Halifax community welcomed a keynote address by Rene Ross, Executive Director of Stepping Stone. Stepping Stone is an organization known for trailblazing work to provide a safe haven for, and to advocate on behalf of, sex workers in the Maritimes... Photo: Keynote Speaker Rene Ross with guests at the Halifax Persons Day Breakfast
For more information on LEAF's Persons Day Breakfasts visit our website at: www.leaf.ca |
| LEAF Welcomes New Staff |
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LEAF is pleased to welcome the following members who have joined its national office staff team:
Tamar Witelson has joined LEAF as a staff lawyer to develop LEAF's Project to Monitor Equality Jurisprudence and Legal Trends. Tamar's legal experience includes both public and private practice, working in areas of social justice and equality. She has been counsel at the Constitutional Law Branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, counsel at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario on the transition team to implement changes under the Human Rights Code, and before that had a practice in union-side labour law and human rights. Tamar also clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada, and before obtaining her law degree, had a career in television journalism as a producer and researcher. Tamar can be reached at: [email protected]
Via Kurlinas has joined LEAF as Receptionist /Data Entry Clerk. Via has worked in the not-for-profit sector for a number of years specializing in Raisers Edge and data entry positions. Her background includes the Canadian Hearing Foundation, UNICEF, Breast Cancer and the Toronto International Film Festival. She will provide support to the fund development teamand can be reached at: [email protected]
Heather Kindness has joined LEAF as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director and Director of Fund Development. Heather comes with over 20 years of administrative and financial management experience. Her professional background includes work with New Starts for Women Emergency Shelter, Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation. Heather can be reached at: [email protected] |
| LEAF Committees: In-Person Meetings |
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As a national organization LEAF's Board and Committtee Volunteers hail from across the country. Much of our business is conducted in a teleconference and email. The Board and committees meet in-person annually to plan activities and discuss issues important to the organizations work.
As LEAF prepares for its 25th Anniversary the Board, Educationm and Governance and Law Progam Committees recently met. To develop the next three year strategic plan for LEAF.
Some of the priorities identified include: increase education programming to youth, strategies to raise the profile of LEAF and many stakeholders development of legal equality through post Kapp and more research and litigation.
These, and other activities will reposition LEAF to be a natural leader in equality rights.
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