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chang LEE joins beamish law

Beamish Law is pleased to welcome Chang Lee (Chang-Yeol Lee). Chang will complete his practice placement as a paralegal student of triOS College from August to September 2022, before graduating in October 2022.

Chang holds a Master of Divinity from McMaster University, and an economics degree from a Korean university. Prior to returning to post-secondary to become a paralegal, he worked as a programmer/system analyst and a senior consultant for a large global business and IT consulting firm.

Chang has been supporting not-for-profit organizations in the Korean community for over 20 years, and has dedicated extensive time as a volunteer to serving the elderly, people with dementia and autism, and other people facing marginalization in Canadian society. He feels fortunate to have volunteered with an Ojibway First Nation for two years, working with community members to help renovate one of its church buildings.

Chang shares Beamish Law’s commitment to building healthy, just, and rights-respecting societies, and he looks forward to building his skills as a paralegal through his placement so that he can better assist not-for-profit organizations in his community.

MOURNING THE PASSING OF DR. MOANA JACKSON

Beamish Law acknowledges and mourns the passing of the renowned Māori leader, lawyer, teacher, activist, and Elder Dr. Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou). Dr. Jackson’s legacy of courageous, visionary, and loving work for the rights, well-being, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples at home and globally will be felt, treasured, and built upon for generations to come.

“We are not alone in our struggles. We stand in the light of our ancestors.” - Dr. Moana Jackson

SArah Beamish speaks at “Health Care Law and its Intersection with the Indigenous Experience”

Sarah Beamish was pleased to join a panel of experts for the Ontario Bar Association’s event “Health Care Law and its Intersection with the Indigenous Experience” on February 24, 2022. The panel explored the lived experience of Indigenous women within the health care sector, the development of case law, and what the future of the provision of health care to Indigenous communities should look like as it evolves to support the inclusion of Indigenous voices within the health care system. Sarah’s talk was co-created with three of her Indigenous women clients who generously allowed her to share their stories of challenging discrimination in Ontario hospitals.

Beamish Law win featured at “Keeping Up with Health Law”

Sarah Beamish was invited by the Ontario Bar Association to present at its “Keeping Up With Health Law” series on January 19, 2022, to discuss her client’s precedent-setting win at the Health Professions Appeals and Review Board in A.D-S v N.M.N., 2020 CanLII 67103 (ON HPARB). This series features significant cases and legislative updates in health law. In A.D-S, the HPARB found that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario failed to adequately investigate an Indigenous family’s concerns regarding the role of racial discrimination in a doctor’s non-consensual genital examination of their young daughter.

CBC News: “Indigenous two-spirit woman files human rights complaint against London Health Sciences Centre”

We are honoured to work with our client Hollee George, a Two-Spirit Anishinaabekwe who has brought a discrimination application against a hospital and several of the health care workers involved her treatment. Hollee alleges that she experienced discrimination on the basis of her Indigeneity, her sex, and her disability. Hollee’s story has been featured in an article published on November 25, 2021 by CBC News. Learn more here.

megan hooper joins beamish law

Beamish Law is pleased to welcome Megan Hooper as a part-time summer law student.

Megan is a Dual JD student entering her final year at the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy. Prior to law school, Megan earned her HBA in Criminology, Sociology, and Women & Gender Studies at the University of Toronto. Her undergraduate studies focused on Indigenous communities and the impact of land dispossession through research addressing the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

As she transitioned to law school, Megan sought to continue her work at Windsor Law, where she was humbled by the opportunity to work alongside Haudenosaunee land defenders of 1492 Land Back Lane. While doing so, she witnessed the impact municipalities have on Indigenous Nations.

Today, Megan is conducting research on how injunction proceedings disproportionately target Indigenous people and often lead to the removal of Indigenous Nations from treaty lands.

Megan is excited to continue her journey with Beamish Law, where she will gain further experience advocating with and for Indigenous people. 

maxwell hill joins beamish law

Beamish Law is pleased to welcome Maxwell Hill. Maxwell is working with Beamish Law as a part-time student during summer 2021, and will begin as a full-time Practice Placement student from January to April 2022.

Maxwell is entering his final year studying law at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University. Maxwell received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Waterloo.  

Maxwell is the Director of Indigenous Issues for the Bora Laskin Law Students’ Society.  While at Bora Laskin, Maxwell has spoken to incoming classes, mentored incoming Indigenous students, and served as a Dean’s fellow.

Maxwell is actively involved within community both at home and at Lakehead University.  His interests are mainly related to Indigenous issues, such as human rights, access to justice, public interest, and Aboriginal Law as a whole. 

dawne mowbray joins beamish law

Beamish Law is pleased to welcome Dawne Mowbray. Dawne is working with Beamish Law as a part-time student during summer 2021, and will begin as a full-time Practice Placement student from September to December 2021.

Dawne grew up in Northern Ontario and received her BA from Lakehead University.  After raising her family, she completed an HBA in Geography, followed by a Master of Environmental Studies.  She is currently working towards a Juris Doctor at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

Dawne worked as a consultant on several projects including an economic diversification plan for a First Nation community; exporting opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs; and how to provide better access to counselling for Northern Ontario Indigenous students.  She was also a senior policy analyst with the Assembly of First Nations, providing support to initiatives related to the justice system such as the MMIWG, and other key projects.

Later she moved to the other side of the country to work with the British Columbia Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation as senior project management advisor and secretariat for the Minister’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Women (MACIW).    The job entailed facilitating advisory meetings between MACIW and BC Government Ministries. Dawne also researched the ramifications of natural resource development on Indigenous women and their families. In addition to the acknowledged negative effects of resource work camps, she also looked for entry points and partnerships that would create economic opportunity for Indigenous women.  

The study of law was a natural next step.  “The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law emphasizes the importance of practical experience and working with Beamish Law is fulfilling my long-held dream to work with Indigenous partners while advocating and practising law.” 

In addition to her work with Beamish Law this summer, Dawne is taking an Elder Law course, and researching legal issues associated with care for older Indigenous adults.

Dawne loves hiking and running in the woods, especially in the winter.  She studied music, plays piano and used to coach musicians and conduct choirs.

demi okuboyejo joins beamish law

Beamish Law is pleased to welcome Demi Okuboyejo as a Student-at-Law from January to May 2021. Demi is a graduate of the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and before that was Class Valedictorian in the Mount Royal University Faculty of Arts, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies. Demi has prior work experience with a large national full-service law firm as well as a boutique civil and commercial firm. She has an impressive record of academic and community leadership on public interest, human rights, and social justice issues, with an emphasis on mental health, poverty, gender, and issues affecting Black and immigrant communities.

In addition to her legal and volunteer work, Demi is also the co-founder and co-host of The Ordinary Black Girl podcast, which features honest conversations about beauty standards, colourism, feminism, misogynoir, and other issues that affect the lives of Black girls and women.

Demi says: "I am excited to be completing my Law Practice Program Work Placement with Beamish Law this winter, and to gain experience in legal advocacy with and for Indigenous people, whose fight for justice is at the center of public interest law in Canada. The work that Sarah Beamish does to promote social justice and human rights made her firm my top choice."

aptn: “Ontario board orders new review of doctor’s genital examination on child”

Beamish Law was successful in obtaining an order on behalf of our client from the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board for a new investigation of a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, regarding the nonconsensual genital examination of a 7-year-old Indigenous girl by a physician. The Board found that the original investigation failed to properly consider the possibility of racial bias as a factor in the complaint. APTN reported on this on October 1, 2020. Learn more here.

hparb orders further investigation into complaint on the basis that allegations of racial bias not properly considered

On September 18, 2020, the Health Professions Appeals and Review Board granted a request for further investigation of a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons about a doctor who performed a nonconsensual genital examination on a 7-year-old Indigenous girl. In its reasons, the HPARB noted Sarah Beamish’s submissions regarding systemic anti-Indigenous bias in the health care sector and the College’s failure to adequately investigate the allegations of racial bias made against the doctor. The HPARB stated that, where a complaint against a doctor involves allegations of racial/cultural bias, the College has an obligation to assess the doctor’s conduct through that lens and to obtain information and any necessary expert advice to assist in understanding how conscious or unconscious bias may affect a doctor’s actions. This precedent-setting decision will assist Indigenous and racialized people who seek accountability for biased behaviour by physicians. Read the decision here.

APTN: “Senator asks feds why family’s Jordan’s Principle application was denied”

Senator Yvonne Boyer questioned the government during Question Period on June 17, 2020 about why it rejected the Jordan’s Principle application and appeal of one of Beamish Law’s clients, an Indigenous girl who was 7 years old when she was subjected to a nonconsensual genital examination by a physician after alleged racial profiling. APTN reported on this on June 18, 2020. Learn more here.

APTN: “Senator responds to allegation of forced exam on child by physician”

Senator Yvonne Boyer spoke to APTN on June 12, 2020 about the case of one of our clients, a child who was allegedly subjected to a forced genital examination by a physician. The child’s parents allege that this happened as a result of racial stereotyping. Learn more here.

APTN: “Parents’ complaint alleges physician did genital exam after racial stereotype”

The case of one of our clients, alleging racial discrimination and professional misconduct related to a forced genital examination on a 7-year-old Indigenous child, was featured by APTN on June 11, 2020. Learn more here.

canadian art: the specialists: four lawyers share their advice for canadian art collectors

Sarah Beamish was interviewed in the Canadian Art Collecting Guide published on March 24, 2020, on the topic of considering Indigenous peoples’ laws and rights when considering collecting items of cultural significance to them. Learn more here.

APPEARANCE ON CBC RADIO’s all points west

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s All Points West with Kathryn Marlow in Victoria on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

APPEARANCE ON CBC RADIO’s up to speed

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Up to Speed with Aviva Jacob in Winnipeg on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

APPEARANCE ON CBC RADIO’s afternoon drive

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Afternoon Drive with Allison Devereaux in London/Windsor on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

APPEARANCE ON CBC RADIO’s up north

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Up North with Waubgeshig Rice in Sudbury on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

Appearance on cbc radio’s mainstreet ns

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet NS in Halifax on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

Appearance on cbc radio’s trail’s end

Sarah Beamish was interviewed on CBC Radio’s Trail’s End with Lawrence Nayally in Yellowknife on February 20, 2020, where she spoke about the situation unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory and across Canada in response to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Learn more here.

sarah beamish elected as chair of international board of amnesty international

Sarah Beamish was elected as the Chair of the International Board of Amnesty International on October 6, 2019. Prior to this, Sarah served as Vice-Chair for two years and as Director for four years. Sarah is the first Canadian to serve as Chair and the second Canadian to serve on the International Board since Amnesty’s founding in 1961. Learn more here.