Faculty of LAW NE WSLET TER VOLUME 1 2024/2025
Message from the Interim Dean H
appy New Year to all! We are pleased to welcome everyone back after a successful fall semester, which saw the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (BLFL) welcome our largest class ever of 90 1L students. Although we expected growing pains, not only has the class itself been a delight, having the building full and active creates good energy for learning. To meet the needs of expanded cohorts, we are in the midst of planning renovations for three new classroom spaces, as well as additional office spaces for faculty and staff, and updates to the student lounge and Indigenous student lounge, all over the next five years. These newly available interior spaces are augmented by our grant-funded outdoor learning space that enables a range of land-based teachings. The Clean, Green and Beautiful Emerging Project Grant from the City of Thunder Bay helped us fund a fire-pit and seating; next year we hope to further landscape the area behind the building and plant a medicine garden. The space has already hosted two important events: a dedication by elders on September 27th and a blanket exercise for National Truth and Reconciliation Day, as well as a three-day hide tanning camp with elders and speakers in October. Access to space for land-based education on site at BLFL supports the work the law school began at Law Camp, during which all 1Ls met for three days at SOIL (School of Indigenous Learning). Students had the opportunity to meet each other, meet their faculty and staff, and learn about the lands around Thunder Bay from local elders and knowledge holders. We have had opportunities this fall to share successes of numerous faculty members and students that are highlighted in this newsletter. We look forward
to hosting the Kawaskimhon Moot and Harold G. Fox Distinguished Lecture Series, happening later this semester, to celebrating graduation, and to many additional successes in the spring. We deeply appreciate all the members of our extended community who help us make these activities and our students’ successes possible through financial contributions, as well as important donations of your time. Warmest thanks to you all! I wish you all the best possible in 2025! Interim Dean, Betsy Birmingham