Pro Bono Students Canada Volunteer Appreciation Event

October 23, 2018

Saskatchewan Access to Justice Week 2018

Pro Bono Students Canada Volunteer Appreciation Event

By Geneva Houlden and Coleman Owen; Pro Bono Students Canada SK Coordinators

During the lunch hour on Monday, Pro Bono Students Canada treated students at the College of Law to candy and coffee (nothing gathers students together quite like some free snacks). One goal of the event was to extend appreciation to the students who have worked so hard this year with different organizations in Saskatchewan. Volunteers with PBSC help to increase access to justice and will ideally develop a desire to continue with pro bono work throughout their careers. This event is but a small token of appreciating for their contribution.

The other goal of the event was to help initiate the access to justice conversation on campus. When students engage topics like they did, the campus community becomes a livelier and more vibrant place. To help make that happen, Cheryl, a Student Manager at CLASSIC, was present to inform students about the work that CLASSIC does – particularly with its Decolonization Project. Students were asked to think about the meaning they see in the words Decolonization, Reconciliation, and Indigenization.

This week is a time to spread the word about what access to justice means, but more importantly it is a time to engage with students and the public on why these ideas are important. Following law school, many students will not be exposed to access to justice issues unless they actively seek them out. PBSC wants to make sure that students will come to see pro bono work as an integral part of their careers and come to appreciate access to justice as a crucial goal within the justice system.