As I launch into the final six months of my extended presidential term – a term that presented twists and turns even before it began when our incoming president was appointed to the bench – I find myself embracing the opportunity to advance my OBA Link mandate even further and to “lean in” to the opportunity for reinvention.

With two new positions on each of our 40 section executives, the OBA is making new strides in advancing diversity and inclusion across the association.

Recent weeks have been replete with recognition and celebratory events, demonstrating just how far we have come not only in our capacity to connect with others when circumstances combined to keep us apart, but in our willingness and ability to do so creatively, constructively and inclusively.

The legal community came together on June 9 to celebrate outstanding members of the profession who have made exceptional contributions to the practice of law in Ontario and to the Ontario Bar Association. This was the first OBA Awards Gala in three years, after the popular event was sidelined due to public health measures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OBA’s Supreme Evening brought together admiring members of the bench and bar to pay tribute to The Honourable Rosalie Abella and The Honourable Mahmud Jamal and celebrate “a passing of a precious baton from safe, strong hands to safe, strong hands.” The gala’s highlight were the remarks from the guests of honour, whose praise for each other conveyed respect, kinship, humour, and genuine affection – excerpts from which they have kindly shared.

At the OBA, the pursuit of concrete info and expert insight that will equip lawyers to improve their practices and perform at their very best is endless and all-encompassing – and the fruits of this labour are yours for the taking.

Since unrolling my OBA Lawyers Link mandate in September – designed to build upon the connection our members across the province have with each other and with the tools they need to thrive, wherever they are situated, within a rapidly modernizing world of law – I have witnessed some impressive examples of cross-region solution-sharing, collaboration, community-building and support.

The Honourable Mary Jo Nolan has devoted her decades-long career to advocating for access to justice for society’s most vulnerable, achieving many firsts along the way: first female case management master in Ontario, first female judge appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Essex County, and now, first recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Southwest Region.

The forthright new memoir from renowned criminal defence attorney Marie Henein formed the basis of a fascinating OBA Community Book Club event. Attending virtually and answering questions on everything from public perception of law to double-standards that plague powerful women, Henein lived up to her reputation for candour and acuity.

As she prepares to take the reins as OBA president on September 1, with a mandate to strengthen the vital links between lawyers in all regions across Ontario and ensure they capitalize on the opportunity in this diverse community, Karen Perron talks to us about the lure of association involvement, the advice and advice-givers she turns to, and the hopes she has for her presidential term.