Nominations are open for Toronto Lawyers Association awards

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Nominations for two of the Toronto Lawyers Association‘s (TLA) three major awards are open and executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang is encouraging lawyers and organizations to act quickly to beat the Oct. 17 deadline.

The Honsberger Award, honouring past president and published TLA historian John D. Honsberger, is given to a mid-career lawyer who has been practising between 15 to 25 years. 

Rataic-Lang says the award recognizes “a single unique accomplishment or ongoing contributions to the legal community and the community at large.”

“This award is not for lifetime achievement, but rather for someone who is on their way to such an accolade in the future,” she says, adding nominees do not have to be TLA members.

Nominations opened on Sept. 6

Nominations also opened on Sept. 6 for the Emerging Excellence Award, given to a Toronto lawyer in practice 10 years or less who, or a Toronto organization in existence 10 years or less that, exemplifies leadership or innovation in advancing the TLA’s three pillars of knowledge, advocacy and community.

For information on nominations, click here.

“Excellence is seen at all levels of the legal profession,” says Rataic-Lang. “The TLA recognizes Toronto’s best and brightest at all stages of their careers through these two awards along with the Award of Distinction, which is chosen by the association’s board of directors.

“The nomination process is not complicated,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “If someone stands out in the areas of knowledge, advocacy and community they should be nominated.”

The 2022 recipient of the Honsberger Award was Isfahan Merali, tribunal senior counsel to the Consent and Capacity Board, whose career was “highlighted by her pursuit of social justice and the right of all people to pursue their dreams,” according to the TLA.

Stephen Aylward, a barrister and solicitor at Stockwoods LLP in Toronto, won the 2022 Emerging Excellence Award and was recognized as “an accomplished scholar and teacher.”

Aylward, who is legally blind, has been cited by the Supreme Court, co-edited a volume on the judicial life of the Honourable Thomas Cromwell, written over a dozen articles and book chapters on a wide range of legal issues, and published a book on the law of unincorporated associations.

Award of Distinction winner will be announced in coming months

Rataic-Lang says the association will announce the 2023 recipient of the Award of Distinction in the coming months. The award is given in recognition of the recipient’s lifetime contribution to the integrity and worth of the law. The winner is recognized for individual excellence and outstanding achievements, as well as for their dedication to the Toronto community, legal and at large. The Honourable Louise Arbour was the 2022 winner.

“Louise Arbour is one of the most prominent and highly regarded lawyers and human rights advocates within Canada and on the world stage,” says Rataic-Lang. “She is a national icon who has earned an unparalleled and distinguished reputation.”

She says planning is already underway for the 2023 Awards Gala, the TLA’s signature event.

The Gala returned this year after COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 events.

“The Gala was sorely missed,” Rataic-Lang says. “Lawyers are social by nature and this event is the highlight of the year. We are looking forward to hosting another great night.”

For photos and video highlights of the 2022 Gala, click here.

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