On Tuesday, October 8, 2013 in Toronto, a dynamic group of Canadian legal, business, labour and academic professionals will celebrate the 28th LEAF Annual Persons Day Breakfast.
Toronto, October 7, 2013 - The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) invites you to demonstrate your commitment to equality for women and girls in Canada and attend the 28th Annual Persons Day Breakfast Gala on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto from 7:00 am until 9:00 am.
This year's event will feature the Honourable A. Anne McLellan - one of Canada's most inspirational women. A former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, accomplished legal academic and Officer of the Order of Canada, Anne McLellan has had a distinguished career in federal politics and made a significant contribution to advancing women in political life.
Ms. McLellan notes, "It is an honour for me to be this year's guest speaker at LEAF's Annual Person's Day Breakfast. Over the years, LEAF's work has helped define equality rights in our country. They are also powerful advocates with governments at all levels to ensure we have the laws, policy and programming that give substance to the language of equality."
Suhana Meharchand, Host of CBC News Now and a long-time women's community supporter will host the breakfast. Once again, LEAF will partner with the Ontario Justice Education Network and welcome 100 female students for the breakfast followed by a day of workshops and seminars with legal groups and women in the legal profession.
Diane O'Reggio, Executive Director of LEAF remarks, "LEAF is delighted to host our 28th annual breakfast. Thank you to all the sponsors, donors and volunteers for their support and for ensuring that we can continue to provide the quality legal action, public education and law reform services for women and girls across Canada."
LEAF annually celebrates Persons Day to commemorate the Persons Case when on October 18th, 1929 the British Privy Council ruled that women were to be considered persons under the law and should be eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate.
LEAF also recognizes the valuable contributions of its dedicated volunteers and their promotion of women's substantive equality through their work with LEAF. This year, LEAF is proud to present the 2013 LEAF Lifetime Recognition Award to Ms. Jennifer Tomaszewski, Past LEAF Chair and a long-time dedicated supporter. She has been tirelessly contributing to the efforts of LEAF and its community since the 1990s, when she first became a LEAF member. Jennifer joined the LEAF National Board in 2006 and was its Chair from 2010 until 2013. Her contributions have been remarkable as she helped build LEAF's organizational capacity through her leadership in governance, contributions to LEAF's online presence and expansion of LEAF's profile through public speaking and media relations.
LEAF has dedicated itself for more than two decades to research, litigation, education and action, and has shown that it is possible to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women. It does, however, require commitment, sustained action, and resources.
Kim Stanton, Legal Director of LEAF notes, "Although women appear to have made many gains over the last few decades, there are many women and girls who have not benefited from these gains and who continue to suffer discrimination and worse due to the fact that they are female. We have a long way to go before substantive equality is the birthright of every girl in Canada. LEAF is needed more than ever to work toward that goal."
For more event information and to register online please visit: www.leaf.ca
About Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
LEAF was founded in 1985 and is the only women's organization in Canada committed to confronting all forms of discrimination through legal action, public education and law reform to achieve equality for women and girls under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. By intervening in court cases at the Supreme Court level, LEAF helps the courts interpret the meaning of equality as it relates to women's lives. For more information please visit: www.leaf.ca
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For media inquiries, contact:
Elena Mazur
Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
[email protected] | 416.595.7170