Highlights from Final Day of Access to Justice Week: Justice research centre established at the U of S

October 31, 2016

By Sarah Trefiak
Communications Officer, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Dean of Law, Martin Phillipson is pleased to announce the establishment of the CREATE Justice research centre, which will operate within the law college.

The centre was announced Oct. 25 prior to a guest lecture by the Honourable Thomas Cromwell, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The primary objective of CREATE Justice is to address key gaps in data and access to justice research in Canada. The centre’s research will be oriented towards two general dimensions of access to justice: transforming legal and justice services, and the removal of systemic barriers to justice.

“This centre will help make important data more readily available for informed and credible research and policy making,” said Brea Lowenberger, access to justice co-ordinator at the College of Law. “We will work to centralize information and projects; to streamline efforts and communication between researchers; and encourage research, evaluation, and action at, and beyond, the University of Saskatchewan.”

The centre was created in response to the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters 2013 report, the Canadian Bar Association’s Reaching Equal Justice Report and a recommendation by participants at the 2015 Dean’s Forum on Dispute Resolution and Access to Justice at the U of S.

Following his lecture, Cromwell was named an Honorary Fellow of CREATE Justice.

“Cromwell’s ongoing leadership with the National Action Committee on Access to Justice, his unwavering dedication to access to justice in general, and now his connection to CREATE Justice, will undoubtedly benefit access to justice not only in Saskatchewan, but nationwide,” said Phillipson.

CREATE Justice has also received more than $500,000 in funding from the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan to assist its development over the next five years.

“We are extremely grateful to the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan for providing such generous support to CREATE Justice.  This support will enable the centre to begin fulfilling its mandate from the outset,” added Phillipson.

Researchers, members of the public, and justice system stakeholders interested in access to justice are encouraged to visit law.usask.ca/createjustice or email createjustice@usask.ca to find out how they can become involved with CREATE Justice research and initiatives.