The Bruce Law Association (BLA) is a not for profit incorporated association, whose members are a voluntary group of practicing lawyers, primarily practicing law in Bruce County.
The BLA is governed by a volunteer board of lawyers from all practice areas, who represent all sizes of local law firms, and who also manage and maintain the Walkerton Courthouse Law Library. The BLA also represents our members to the Ontario bench and bar, to all levels of government and to the public at large.
We are situated in the former Town of Walkerton, Bruce County, now part of the Municipality of Brockton, located within some of the most beautiful farming and recreational lands this province and Canada have to offer. On two sides, we are bordered by what have been well described as inland seas. Directly to our West, is Lake Huron, and to our North and Northeast, are the North Channel and Georgian Bay, respectively.
Although primarily a rural area, this region does boast one city, Owen Sound, in neighbouring Grey County, plus many, many beautiful villages, hamlets and other small communities.
In the majority of southern Bruce and Grey Counties, a drive in any direction will find you surrounded by incredible rolling farmland. In many of these areas you can witness the most modern farming practices, alongside the step back in time represented by the many traditional Mennonite and Amish farms and communities.
If you venture up the famous Bruce Peninsula, you can immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Niagara Escarpment, with its many picture perfect bays and inlets.
We wish to acknowledge the traditional territory upon which and within which the Bruce Law Association and its members are situated.
Specifically, we want to acknowledge the territory of the Chippewas of Nawash, Unceded First Nation, Band No. 122, also known as Neyaashiinigmiing, and the territory of the Saugeen First Nation, Band No. 29.
For many thousands of years, the Chippewas of Nawash and Saugeen Ojibway Nations have sought to walk gently on this land. They offered assistance to the first European travellers to this territory and shared their knowledge for survival in what was at times a harsh climate.
Today we seek a new relationship with the original peoples of this land, one based on honour and deep respect. We cannot change the past, but we seek to continue to share in the work of healing and reconciliation, respectfully following the leadership of Indigenous communities and leaders.
Our community is richer when we include people of all ages, gender identities, racial and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, abilities, economic circumstances and family configurations. We all need to seek to provide a safe space so that each person can bring every aspect of their whole self into participation with all members of our society, including the members of the legal profession, the judiciary and all persons involved in access to and the administration of justice, within in Bruce County and beyond.
Perhaps the video dramatization in the link below, will make the concept of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility), more understandable to us members of the legal profession.
The following YouTube video was presented by Diversity Session Speaker, Juliet Knapton, at the FOLA 2022 Fall Plenary on November 11, 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC7lbdD1hq0
We have all stood and watched in horror, hardly able to believe our eyes, as we've watched from afar the the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
On our behalf, our federal government has provided significant support to assist the Ukraine military in their fight to repel the Russians, but there is far more support needed, especially for the general population of Ukraine who, like all civilians in a war, are caught in the middle.
There are many avenues of support that Canadians can choose, to contribute to the efforts to help the civilian population of Ukraine. The two below are merely two of the more well know. The links below will take you directly to the Unicef Canada or the Canadian Red Cross websites set up to receive donations to their efforts in Ukraine.
