The 2026 Alumni Awards recognized graduates whose careers reflect leadership, service and a commitment to justice.
Across Canada and beyond, Osgoode alumni are advancing justice in courtrooms, communities, classrooms and public institutions. From strengthening Indigenous governance and expanding access to justice, to shaping public policy, mentoring future lawyers and leading with compassion on the bench, this year’s alumni award recipients reflect the breadth and impact of the Osgoode Hall Law School community.
“At Osgoode, we see the law as an instrument for building a more just and equitable society,” said Dean Trevor Farrow. “What is so inspiring about this year’s recipients is how they are putting that into practice—through leadership, service, and a deep commitment to the communities they serve.”
Alumni, faculty, students and friends gathered at Osgoode Professional Development for the 2026 Alumni Awards Evening to celebrate graduates whose work continues to shape the profession and serve the public.
Awards were presented in three categories: the Mentor of the Year Award, the Alumni Association Gold Key Awards and the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law.
The Mentor of the Year Award was presented to Richard Mar (JD ’09) for his sustained support of Osgoode students through the Alumni Mentor Program. An intellectual property lawyer with a background in science, Mar is known for offering thoughtful, empathetic guidance to students navigating the legal profession — particularly those entering unfamiliar spaces as first‑generation law students.
“Richard has been incredibly helpful while I navigated things that felt foreign to me as a first‑generation law student,” wrote one nominator. “He embodies the values of leadership and support that this award stands for.”
Presented by the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association, the Gold Key Awards recognize alumni whose contributions have strengthened the profession, the law school and society.
The One‑to‑Watch Award was presented to Aashish Oberoi (JD ’19), an associate at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP whose practice focuses on Indigenous governance, land and resource law. Since graduating in 2019, Oberoi has advised Indigenous governments across Canada on matters including self‑government, co‑governance, land management and impact and benefit agreements. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Osgoode, co‑teaching the first‑year seminar Rights and Reconciliation: Indigenous Peoples and the Law.
The Gold Key Award for Service recognized George Ellinidis (LLB ’94) for his sustained contributions to the Osgoode community. Since 2022, Ellinidis has taught in the JD program every academic term, often stepping in on short notice to ensure continuity in core business law courses. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty Representative on Faculty Council and continues to mentor students beyond the classroom. He is vice‑president and general counsel, Canada and international, at The J.M. Smucker Company.
The Public Sector Award was presented to Jonathan Hood (LLB ’04), senior counsel with Competition Bureau Legal Services at the Department of Justice Canada. Hood has led litigation on several of the country’s most significant competition cases, including the Rogers–Shaw merger appeal and the Cineplex drip‑pricing case. He was also recognized for his commitment to mentorship within the public service, where colleagues refer to his files as the “Hoodie School of Excellence.”
The Gold Key Award for Distinction honoured Shalini Konanur (LLB ’98) for more than 25 years of leadership advancing racial equity, access to justice and systemic legal reform. As executive director and senior lawyer at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, Konanur has led advocacy and litigation on issues including discrimination, immigration, gender‑based violence and access to justice. Her work has reached the Supreme Court of Canada and international human rights forums, alongside extensive service to professional and public institutions.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Justice Sheilagh O’Connell (LLB ’89) in recognition of a distinguished career dedicated to family, child protection and youth justice. Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2010, Justice O’Connell has held numerous leadership roles, including senior advisory family judge to the Chief Justice of Ontario, and has contributed to Indigenous‑focused courts and judicial education across the province.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law to John McCamus, a longtime faculty member, former dean and internationally respected scholar. Since joining Osgoode in 1971, McCamus has played a central role in advancing legal education, access to justice and public service, including through leadership in legal aid reform and civil liberties advocacy—work that has shaped generations of legal thinkers and strengthened the justice system in Ontario and beyond.
The ceremony also recognized the contributions of alumni volunteers and outgoing members of the Alumni Association Board, including outgoing president Justice Mavin Wong (LLB ’84), whose leadership has helped strengthen connections across the Osgoode community.