TLA’s Awards Gala ‘a beautiful event in a stunning setting’

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) recognized “knowledge, advocacy and community” at its sold-out Awards Gala on March 2.

“It was a beautiful event in a stunning setting at the historic Carlu,” says executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang. “There was wonderful food, companionship and impressive award recipients. People really enjoyed themselves.

“It sold out early. People were still contacting us right up to the week of the gala,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “It is always exciting when there is such a demand for tickets because it is an indication of how much the gala means to people and how invested they are in the Toronto Lawyers Association.”

Rataic-Lang says it was the association’s first year at the Yonge Street venue, which was built in 1930 and extensively renovated in 2003.

‘Everyone was quite impressed’

“It is a beautiful art deco space with a working fountain in the middle of the room,” she says. “Everyone was quite impressed.”

The TLA has had to contend with the pandemic the past few years and was forced to cancel the 2021 gala, Rataic-Lang says.

“People were a little more cautious about COVID last year,” she says. “There were still a few who were being careful this time. However, there were people here this year that I didn’t see last year. It seems we are getting back to normal and people are feeling a little more comfortable about getting out and about.

“The gala is important not only because it provides the opportunity to network with colleagues. It is also the chance to recognize those who make a positive contribution to our community,” Rataic-Lang adds. 

She says the award recipients reflect the values of the association’s three pillars of “knowledge, advocacy and community.” The winners included Chris Paliare, who received the Award of Distinction in recognition of his “extraordinary contribution to the integrity and worth of the law and to the legal profession.”

Honouring his Macedonian heritage

During his career, Paliare honoured his Macedonian heritage by serving at Macedonian Place, a home for Macedonian senior citizens.

In 1991, he represented the Macedonian Human Rights Association at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Moscow, advocating for Macedonians whose human rights were being violated in Greece. He also travelled to Helsinki and Warsaw to persuade other nations under the Helsinki Accord to acknowledge Macedonian basic human rights in Greece.

The Honsberger Award was presented to Pro Bono Ontario (PBO). Since its inception in 2001, the PBO team has helped an increasing number of people who have nowhere to turn to resolve their legal needs.  The organization provides legal services relating to civil litigation, housing, wills and estates, small business start-ups, charities, employment, debt and consumer protection. 

Devin Persaud received the Toronto Lawyers’ Association Emerging Excellence Award, which recognizes a lawyer who has been in practice for 10 years or less.

Persaud is president of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto, the largest diverse bar association in Canada with more than 1,000 members, where he actively promotes the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession and South Asian communities.

Rataic-Lang says speeches by the award recipients were enthusiastically received.

‘You realize why they were being honoured’

“Sitting in the room and listening to them speak you realize why they were being honoured,” she says. “Chris Paliare has such humility and an appreciation of where he came from and what he has been able to achieve in his career. You can see how deserving he is. He is just such a lovely man and when he finished speaking, everybody jumped up and started clapping.”

PBO vice chair Sarah Armstrong spoke on behalf of the organization and detailed “the dedication and passion of the volunteers who are involved with pro bono,” says Rataic-Lang. 

“The information that she shared about the good work they are doing was very impressive. I am sure there were people in the room who know all about Pro Bono Ontario, but she was able to hit home just how significant the work really is.”

She says as a young lawyer, Persaud “will be someone to watch.”

“He showed the enthusiasm and joy of a young lawyer being recognized for the work he has done outside of the office,” Rataic-Lang says.  “He truly dedicates his time through his volunteer work in the community he was raised. He is very impressive.

“The commitment and attitude shown by these award winners feed off itself and encourages those around them to want to make a difference themselves,” she adds.

Click here to see the photo gallery from the gala.

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