In 1986, the people of Canada were awarded the Nansen Medal, in recognition of their exceptional contribution to refugee protection, by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This is the only time that the Nansen Medal has ever been awarded to the people of a country. This honor was bestowed on the people of Canada for their contribution in welcoming and resettling thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was the first time that the Canadian Government applied the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program that provided an opportunity for community groups, associations, and even groups of five individuals to sponsor refugees to resettle in Canada. The wars raging in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia led to millions of people fleeing these countries and seeking asylum abroad. In just one year, 1979 to 1980, Canada welcomed 60,000 Indochinese refugees, 26,000 were government sponsored and 34,000 were privately sponsored. Between the 1970s and 1990s, Canada continued to welcome Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian refugees with over 200,000 arriving during that time, the highest rate per capita among all the countries that were accepting such refugees. This period in Canada’s history has been described as being a turning point in its immigration policy and the positive humanitarian response by Canadians reflected a change in attitude towards refugees.

The Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees exhibit commemorates the lives of all those Southeast Asian refugees who resettled in Canada during the tumultuous war-torn period of the Vietnam War, the Cambodian Genocide, and the Laotian Civil War, which led to the Communist takeover of these countries. The Passage to Freedom documentary film is based on the HOF interviews of many of those who escaped the horrors in these countries and made their way, first, to refugee camps in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines before being resettled to Canada.

The creator and curator of the Hearts of Freedom exhibit is Dr. Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe at Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Manitoba, who is also currently the President of the Canadian Association for Refugees and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS). Professor Stobbe has been touring her exhibit and film across Canada in places as the Senate of Canada in Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21 in Halifax, the Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg, and different university campuses and venues. The HOF – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees exhibit will be on display at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School Library, main entrance, from September 13^th to October 14^th, 2024. The Passage to Freedom documentary will be screened at the official opening of the exhibit at the Helliwell Centre, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, on Tuesday, September 24^th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Everyone is welcomed to attend this free event.

The exhibition was curated by Professor Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe, Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Manitoba. She will be one of the principal guest speakers at the official opening ceremonies on the 24^th of September and take everyone there on a guided tour of the exhibition and discuss the documentary film. Professor Stobbe is the current President of the Canadian Association for Refugees and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS). And, most importantly, she was one of the many thousands of Southeast Asian refugees who arrived in Canada as a young child with her family. Stobbe shared, “It is remarkable that all those Southeast Asian refugees who arrived in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s quickly adapted to their new country and have made outstanding contributions to Canadian society. Many Canadians are unaware of their individual stories of resilience and how they enriched Canadian society in so many ways. Our exhibition and documentary film help to educate Canadians about this very important period in their country’s history.” The exhibition and documentary film have made their way across Canada and were recently displayed at the Senate of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21, Manitoba Museum, Hamilton City Hall, and a number of university campuses and other venues. “It is wonderful to see how well our exhibition and film have been received and celebrated right across Canada,” states Stobbe.

The HOF exhibit and accompanying documentary also has close ties to York University. The late Dr. Howard Adelman, a distinguished philosopher at York University’s Department of Philosophy, was the founder and head of Operation Lifeline that brought thousands of Southeast Asians to Canada through the Canadian Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program in the 1970s and 1980s. Professor Adelman went on to establish the Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) at York University, which is one of the world’s leading research centers of its kind. Each year the CRS holds its annual Howard Adelman Lecture in honor of its founding Director and one of the most influential and distinguished academics in the field of refugee studies. Professor Adelman was not only an early pioneer in the new discipline of refugee studies but one of its most influential scholars, activists, and policymakers. There will be an opportunity to recognize Professor Adelman’s contributions to York University and Canadian society at the official open of the Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees exhibit and Passage to Freedom film screening.

All York University community members are welcomed to attend the official opening of the Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees exhibition and Passage to Freedom film screening on Tuesday, September 24^th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Helliwell Centre, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. To reserve your free ticket, click on the link https://bit.ly/3AFVr9c.

For more information, please see the Hearts of Freedom website https://heartsoffreedom.org/.

If you have any questions, please contact, Michele Millard, Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS), York University, at mmillard@yorku.ca.

At their Annual Meeting in Denver on June 6, 2024, the Law and Society Association (LSA) presented Dr. Inbar Peled ’24 PhD with the LSA Dissertation Prize for her work in “Professionalizing Discrimination: Legal Actors and The Struggle against Racialized Policing in Multicultural Societies.” The LSA Dissertation Prize is awarded annually to a dissertation that best represents outstanding law and society scholarship. The award committee noted that “Ms. Peled’s dissertation represents the epitome of law and society scholarship.” Peled was previously awarded the York Dissertation Prize for her exemplary research.

Read more on the LSA site.

Osgoode Hall Law School is proud to announce the addition two exceptional faculty members: Hassan Ahmad and Richard Frimpong Oppong. Their appointments will strengthen Osgoode’s commitment to global legal scholarship and further enrich the school’s dynamic and diverse learning environment.

“We look forward to welcoming Professors Ahmad and Oppong to the Osgoode community,” said Dean Trevor Farrow. “Their extensive experience and remarkable scholarly contributions will significantly enhance our academic programs and invigorate the intellectual vitality of our school.”

Hassan Ahmad joins Osgoode from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, having previously held a position at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law.  Dr. Ahmad is an Osgoode JD graduate, SJD graduate from the University of Toronto, and member of the Bar of Ontario since 2013, he specializes in corporate governance, business and human rights law, and tort law. His research includes transnational law, international law, and climate change litigation. Recognized by organizations like the American Society of International Law, he has co-edited The Cambridge Handbook of Litigating Business and Human Rights Violations. Ahmad has also worked at the International Criminal Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practised civil and class actions litigation in Toronto.

Richard Frimpong Oppong joins Osgoode from the California Western School of Law.  A member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists since 2017, Dr. Oppong holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia, an LLM from Harvard, and a first-class LLM in Commercial Law from Cambridge. His research focuses on private international law, regional economic integration, and international dispute resolution, particularly in Africa. Dr. Oppong has published eight books and over 55 articles, earning accolades such as the 2013 American Society of International Law Prize. His global perspective will greatly enhance Osgoode’s academic reputation.

In his inaugural year as Osgoode’s 20th dean, Trevor Farrow was delighted to host the annual reception celebrating the remarkable contributions and achievements of some of the school’s most talented and successful alumni.

Dean Farrow began the event by saying, “Having served as the Associate Dean for the JD program three times and as Associate Dean of Research once, I thought I understood the Osgoode community well and knew what to expect in this new role. However, since becoming dean in September, I have discovered what previous deans told me is the best part of the job: meeting alumni.”

MENTOR AWARD:  ALEXANDRA MONKHOUSE ‘15

Alexandra, a partner at Monkhouse Law, specializes in employment law and litigation, focusing on major claims and class actions. She is adept at mediations, serving on Ontario’s government-appointed mediator roster. Alexandra has presented cases up to the Supreme Court of Canada and mentors young lawyers, inspiring them with her balanced approach to professional and family life.

DIANNE MARTIN MEDAL:  JOHN MCKINNON ‘81

John McKinnon has been a staunch advocate for injured workers since joining the Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic in 1989. Sparked by his time at Parkdale Community Legal Services as an Osgoode student, John has spent nearly four decades championing workers’ rights, notably aiding the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups in securing intervenor status at the Supreme Court of Canada. His work emphasizes community engagement and active participation in legal reforms.

ONE-TO-WATCH:  DOUGLAS W. JUDSON ‘15

Douglas W. Judson was honoured for his exceptional promise since graduating. After articling and practicing litigation at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, he founded Judson Howie LLP in Fort Frances, securing a landmark victory in Rainbow Alliance Dryden v. Webster. Active locally, he chairs the Federation of Ontario Law Associations and co-founded Borderland Pride.

ONE-TO-WATCH:  JONATHAN SILVER ‘15

Jon, a senior associate at Torys LLP specializing in public and regulatory litigation, has a rich legal career. Clerking for Chief Justice Wagner, Jon has argued significant cases at all court levels, including the Supreme Court of Canada. His efforts in Kandaharian v. York Catholic District School Board led to more inclusive policies for student trustees. Jon also mentors, publishes scholarly articles, and serves on various legal board.

SERVICE:  JONATHAN ROSENTHAL ‘87

Jonathan, a criminal defense attorney in Toronto specializing in white-collar and regulatory offenses, holds key roles at Osgoode, including Adjunct Professor and Director of the Trial Advocacy Program. A fervent advocate for legal education, he influences curriculum development and delivers lectures across notable legal associations. Jonathan’s dedication extends through his participation in faculty councils and his past role as the McMurtry Visiting Clinical Fellow.

PUBLIC SECTOR:  KIRSTEN MANLEY-CASIMIR ’01, ’05 (LLM)

Since graduating with her JD, Kirsten has pursued advanced degrees, focusing on Indigenous governance and law. Her PhD research at UBC reconceived the “duty to consult and accommodate” Indigenous peoples. Kirsten has taken prominent roles in public service, including as an adjunct professor and co-director at Osgoode, and in various capacities within the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, where she developed crucial anti-colonial and anti-racism training. Most recently, she was appointed Director, Legal and Research for the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves at Indian Residential Schools, furthering her dedication to policy reform and justice for Indigenous communities.

DISTINCTION:  RENÉE PELLETIER ‘01

Renée, a partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, specializes in Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation, and specific claims. She guides Indigenous clients on various legal matters including environmental issues and land management. Renée serves as lead counsel in Canada’s first Aboriginal title to water trial and an Aboriginal title claim for the Wolastoqey Nation. Her contributions extend to the Federal Environmental Assessment Expert Review Panel, and she has led her firm to become Canada’s largest specialized Aboriginal law practice. She co-chairs Osgoode’s Certificate Program in the Fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:  ALEXANDRA HOY ‘78

Justice Alexandra Hoy dedicated 44 years to law, initially as a lawyer at Lang Michener and then as a judge. She began her legal career handling corporate transactions and mentoring at the firm. Appointed to the Superior Court in 2002, she dealt with diverse legal matters and was designated for class action cases. In 2011, Hoy was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario, making history in 2013 as the first woman Associate Chief Justice of Ontario. She chaired the Civil Rules Committee and was involved in key legal reforms and decisions, including the carbon tax appeal. Retiring in 2023, Hoy left a legacy of judicial excellence and commitment to legal education.