Equality and Diversity Award

CBABC extends our congratulations to Anita Atwal (Anita Atwal Law) on receiving the 2024 Harry Rankin, QC Pro Bono Award.

Anita was instrumental in the creation of the South Asian Legal Clinic in BC, which provides pro bono culturally sensitive support for those in the South Asian community facing access to justice issues. As past president and current director of the South Asian Bar Association of BC she has forged a path for South Asian women to excel in the legal profession. Among all of this, she somehow finds the time to mentor aspiring lawyers at the Access Pro Bono Everyone Legal Clinic, act as a special advisor in Equity & Inclusion at Simon Fraser University. Read Anita's acceptance speech.

The Equality & Diversity Award celebrates CBABC members who have succeeded in advancing equality in the legal profession or generally in British Columbia.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must be individual lawyers who are members of CBABC. Groups are not eligible for consideration.

CRITERIA

The award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to improving the status of women, people with disabilities, people of colour, Aboriginal people or peoples, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirited people or people who are members of historically marginalized communities.

Consideration will be given to candidates who have successfully championed equality and promoted understanding of diversity through education, policy development, advocacy (including litigation), creating or leading organizational change, volunteerism with equality-seeking groups, or other means.

Consideration will be given to candidates who have worked on race, disability, sexual orientation, gender or other diversity issues in their communities, in government or government agencies, within the institutions of the legal profession (including CBA, the Law Society, CLE, LSS, the judiciary, or the law schools), or elsewhere.

NOMINATION & selection

Nominations are sought in the spring. The CBABC Board of Directors selects the recipient. The nominee must consent to the nomination and must be nominated by three CBABC members in good standing.

presentation

The award is presented by the CBABC President at the last Provincial Council meeting of the fiscal year, usually held in June. The award is a round glass award on a stand.

Previous Recipients

2023 - Jim Wu

2022 - Ken Kramer, QC and Audrey Jun

2021 - Susanna Allevato Quail

2020 - Tina Parbhakar

2019 - Kamaljit Lehal

2018 - Zara Suleman

2017 - Adrienne Smith

2016 - The Honourable Donna Martinson, QC

2014 - Janine L. Benedet

2013 - Benjamin D. Levine

2012 - Jennifer Spencer

2011 - Jennifer Conkie, QC

2010 - Sarah Rauch

2009 - Kuan Foo

2008 - Valli Chettiar

2007 - Anna Fung, QC

2006 - Anne Bhanu Chopra

2005 - Halldor Bjarnason

2004 - Joseph J Arvay, QC

Names, designations and honorifics are reflected as they were when the award was presented.

Additional Information 

CBABC Awards
604.687.3404 or 1.888.687.3404
awards@cbabc.org