CCCA CONFERENCES IN MONTREAL
The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association will hold two back-to-back conferences in Montreal this month.
The 2012 CCCA World Summit will take place April 13-15 just prior to the CCCA national spring conference on April 15-17.
Speakers will include author Richard Susskind and lawyer Lucien Bouchard on April 15. Ernst & Young Global leader and partner Trevor Faure will speak on the same day.
In addition, Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu will speak on April 16.
Each conference will involve plenaries and concurrent sessions on a range of topics, including discussions about what the global economic crisis means for business in the European Union.
The event will also feature the announcement of the recipient of the Robert V.A. Jones Award for excellence in corporate counsel service.
Both conferences will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal.
AIRD & BERLIS DONATES AEROPLAN MILES
Aird & Berlis LLP has donated one million Aeroplan miles to the Air Canada Foundation.
The new foundation, launched Feb. 29, will use the firm’s donation to provide flights to children and their parents who need medical care at pediatric hospitals such as the Hospital for Sick Children.
“We are grateful to Aird & Berlis LLP for their generous donation of one million Aeroplan miles to the newly launched Air Canada Foundation,” said Priscille Leblanc of the Air Canada Foundation.
“These miles will directly benefit the hospital transportation program which uses donated Aeroplan miles to transport ill children and a parent to centres offering medical treatment unavailable in their community.”
The program uses Aeroplan miles to send people to 15 pediatric hospitals across Canada.
“At A&B, we are committed to making a difference in the communities in which we live and do business,” said David Malach, a partner and member of the firm’s executive committee.
“Our lawyers and staff are passionate about being able to help those who are less fortunate, particularly children who are in need. We are delighted to have the opportunity, thanks to Aeroplan and the Air Canada Foundation, to donate our Aeroplan miles and know that they are being used for such a worthy cause.”
NEW LAW ON NUCLEAR TERRORISM
The federal government introduced amendments to the Criminal Code targeting nuclear terrorism last week.
The changes would create a number of new offences, including possessing or trafficking nuclear or radioactive materials or devices; committing an act against a nuclear facility with the intent to compel someone to do or refrain from doing something; committing an indictable offence to obtain access or control of a facility; and the threat to commit those offences.
“This bill would improve our existing approach to counterterrorism by punishing those who aspire to commit acts of nuclear terrorism,” said Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, who introduced the amendments on behalf of Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.
MUNDELL MEDAL ANNOUNCED
The Ontario government has announced that former Federal Court of Appeal justice Allen Linden and professor Kent Roach are the recipients of the David Walter Mundell Medal.
Former attorney general Ian Scott created the award in 1986 to honour exceptional contributions to legal writing. The attorney general awards the medal on the recommendation of a selection committee led by Chief Justice Warren Winkler.
In announcing the honour, the government noted Linden’s many books and articles, including Canadian Tort Law. It also noted Roach’s work as a “prolific author.” His most recent book examined counterterrorism efforts around the world.
“Each exemplifies the depth of understanding, lurid analytical thinking, and ability to convey sophisticated concepts simply, that are the hallmarks of the award,” Attorney General John Gerretsen said of the two recipients.
