WLAO had a very productive year in 2006. We are pleased to report on the following:

WLAO Events 2005
August 2005	August 17, 2005 – WLAO Annual Think Tank, Il Fornello, 214 King Street West, Toronto
August 2005	August 22, 2005 – WLAO/CAWEE 4th Annual Deb Snead Memorial Golf Social and AGM, Board of Trade Golf Club, Toronto
September 2005	September 16, 2005 - OBAP/WLAO Women’s Wellness Luncheon, Toronto
	September 20, 2005 - WLAO Executive Meeting, University Women’s Club, Toronto
	September 22, 2005 – PWSA Symposium “Take Charge of Your Professional Path”, Oakville
October 2005	October 15, 2005 - Chief Justice Of Ontario Fifth Colloquium on Professionalism, Queen’s University, Kingston
	October 18, 2005 – WLAO Executive Meeting, Toronto
	October 27, 2005 – WLAO Art and Dine Evening at the Art Gallery of Ontario and One Up Resto, Toronto
November 2005	November 24, 2005 - OBAP/WLAO Women’s Wellness Luncheon, Toronto
November 2005	November 29, 2005 – Life Members Appreciation Event at the Ontario Club, Toronto
December 2005	December 14, 2005 – Swearing-In Ceremony for Justices Frank Marrocco and J. Patrick Moore, Toronto
December 2005	December 14, 2005 – WLAO Executive Meeting, Toronto
January 2006	January 4, 2006 – Opening of Courts and Divine Interfaith Service, Toronto
	January 9, 2006 – Swearing-In Ceremony for Lou Ann Pope as Case Management Master in Windsor
	January 17, 2006 – WLAO Executive Meeting via Teleconference, Toronto
	January 27, 2006 - OBAP/WLAO Women’s Wellness Luncheon, Toronto
February 2006	February 2, 2006 – Find Your Balance event with Catalyst Consulting, LSUC, Toronto
	February 8, 2006 – PWSA Dinner with Janet Ecker, One Up Resto, Toronto
	February 23, 2006 – WLAO Executive Meeting, The Metropolitan Hotel Toronto, Toronto
	February 23, 2006 – WLAO Winter Festive Dinner and McCarthy Award Presentation with Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, The Metropolitan Hotel Toronto, Toronto
March 2006	March 8, 2006 – Trafficking in Women and Children Event for International Women’s Day, LSUC, Toronto
	March 10, 2006 - Chief Justice Of Ontario Sixth Colloquium on Professionalism, University of Toronto
	March 31, 2006 - WLAO Executive Meeting via Teleconference in Toronto
April 2006	April 3-7, 2006 - Law Week throughout Ontario
	April 8, 2006 – Pinocchio Crèche Wine and Cheese, University of Toronto
	April 27, 2006 - OBAP/WLAO Women’s Wellness Luncheon, Toronto
	April 27, 2006 – OBA Feminine Legal Analysis Section Dinner, Toronto
	April 28, 2006 – WLAO Executive Meeting via Teleconference, Toronto
	April 29, 2006 – Women’s Cocktail Power Hour, Toronto
May 2006	May 4, 2006 - Legal Aid Sidney B. Linden Award presented to Paul Copeland, Toronto
	May 7, 2006 – A Touch of Spring for Princess Margaret Hospital Fund, Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto
	May 16, 2006 – WLAO Executive Meeting via Teleconference, Toronto
	May 17, 2006 - WLAO Mentoring Committee Teleconference, Toronto
	May 25, 2006 – Law Society Medal Presentation to members Sheila Block and Linda Silver Dranoff, Toronto
June 2006	June 6, 2006 - The Power Within for Women, Toronto
	June 20, 2006 – WLAO President’s Award Presentation to Mary Elizabeth Atcheson, The Metropolitan Hotel Toronto, Toronto
	June 26, 2006 – McMurtry Garden of Justice Project, Cocktail Reception, Toronto
August 2006	August 21, 2006 - WLAO/CAWEE/PWSA 5^th Annual Deb Snead Memorial Golf Social and AGM, Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, Thornhill
Monthly	Every 2nd Thursday WLAO members participate in CAWEE breakfast Networking Series. The meetings take place the second Thursday of every month in Toronto.

Mentoring Program

WLAO is launching a new program in October 2006. Networking and support is what we do, and we have a track record dating back to 1919. As a professional organization geared toward addressing the needs of women lawyers, we believe our program will provide a different and unique kind of mentorship experience to interested members.

The WLAO program will facilitate structured, formal mentoring relationships governed by standard agreements that will set out rights and responsibilities and clarify boundaries so both parties know what is expected. This will include limitations on liability of the Mentor and the time expected to be committed to the relationship. Initial mentoring relationships will be on a trial basis (6 months or less) but may be continued or extended by agreement between participants.

WLAO will place special emphasis on personal fit so that each match made will provide the opportunity for optimal benefit to women who can relate to one another on a personal and professional level in an understanding and supportive environment.

Equity and Advisory Group

WLAO’s Application to continue to be involved in this group was successful. WLAO is pleased to have Julie Ralhan, who was elected at the 2005 AGM, as its representative.

Government Relations

We have been looking into ways that WLAO can have a voice in issues that affect that affect women in the legal profession. Issues include number of women entering, remaining, and leaving the legal profession and practice arrangements.

OLAP

WLAO holds a seat on the Board of OLAP. From our position on the Board of OLAP, we are able to continue to ensure that we are involved in health and wellness issues affecting women in the legal profession.

Ontario Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP)
LAWPRO funds and promotes the Ontario Lawyers Assistance Program, a network of legal professionals that offers confidential help to lawyers, judges and law students who suffer from substance abuse, addictions, mental health issues, stress or eating disorders.

OLAP's unique "lawyer's helping lawyers" approach includes a group of lawyer volunteers with first hand sensitivity to these types of problems who can manage the lawyer into accepting help or treatment. Often the lawyer who needs the help is in denial, and rejects the views and advice of people close at hand.

Another unique feature of OLAP is its ability to respond to a call for help from a staff member, a partner or a family member concerned about a lawyer or judge.

The Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism

WLAO continues to partner in colloquium hosted by the CJO Advisory Committee on Professionalism. The Committee was created in September 2000 to maintain and encourage those aspects of the practice of law that make it a learned and proud profession. Composed of representatives of the judiciary, the Law Society, the legal academy and various legal and county law organizations, including WLAO, the Committee acts as a steering committee and a clearinghouse to generate ideas and to make recommendations to other organizations and individuals within the legal community about initiatives to enhance professionalism. The series of Colloquium continues in October 2006 with a day long seminar themed " Polemics and Professionalism". Papers from past colloquium are available here.

Law Day

WLAO participated in Law Day in April of 2006 promoting the legal profession at booths set-up in various malls throughout Toronto. Activities celebrating the Law ranged from the Opening Ceremonies to the Grade 5 Poster Contest, the Photography Contest, the Elementary School Mock Trial competition, the Secondary School Mock Trial competition, The Charter Challenge as well as organized Court Tours, Special Citizenship Court, and Phone-A-Lawyer programs. Executive members Virginia MacLean, QC and Julie Ralhan participated on behalf of WLAO.

WLAO Scholarships

Presently WLAO sponsors or co-sponsors three (3) scholarships:

1. Osgoode – Helen Kinnear Award and WLAO Estate Planning Award

2. McCarthy-WLAO award

3. WLAO Scholarships

These scholarships assist young lawyers who devote their education and educational pursuits to issues related to women and women in the legal profession.

Networking Opportunities

WLAO continues to promote networking opportunities within and outside the profession. I encourage those who attend events to use them as an opportunity to:

market yourself;
market your firm;
become a mentor;
find a mentor;
find a friend; and
share experiences.

Elections

Our elections were held on August 21, 2006. We have two new members of the Ontario Executive, Susan Jack and Atoosa Mahdavian - welcome! If you are interested in becoming involved please contact the WLAO Vice President Suzette Blom.

We always welcome new members for the executive or its committees (you do not have to be a member of the executive to join a committee).

I would like to thank the following persons on the WLAO’s 2004-2005 Executive:

Suzette Blom - Vice President

Elissa Gamus - Past President

Linda Wolanski - Membership Coordinator

Susan McCallum –Treasurer (June 1, 2005) and OLAP rep

Kathryn Airey-Hendrikx – Program Coordinator

Sharon Davis - Program Coordinator

Wendy R. Cole - Secretary

M. Virginia MacLean - Government Relations; Rep (OBA)

Julie Ralhan – Rep (EAG) and Law Day Rep

Sheryl N. Beckford - Archivist and Privacy Officer

Stephanie Spiers - Member-at-Large

Antonella Ceddia - Member-at-Large (McCarthy Award)

Martha Drassinower - Member-at-Large

Lori Mattis (Retired) - Member-at-Large

Raj Pannu - Member-at-Large

Kathy Shadbolt – Ottawa Rep

Helen McLachlen –Ottawa Steering Committee Chair

as well as our Project Coordinator, Patty deLaat.

Elisabeth Sachs

President, Women’s Law Association of Ontario

WLAO - Speaking Out for Ontario Women Since 1919

March 2006

August 2006