TLA’s social calendar is about to get more interesting

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • With the fog of COVID-19 slowly receding the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) has plans to bring Zoom-weary members together socially in the coming months.

The pandemic pushed the world onto video screens and after more than a year of social distancing, TLA executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang says members are anxious to get back out there.

She says the association has already started planning for two major events: An Evening at the Steam Whistle Roundhouse on Oct. 14 and the TLA Awards Gala in March 2022.

“We recognize the importance of being safe but we also realize people are missing people. They want some of that real human contact,” Rataic-Lang tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “That led us to the Steam Whistle.

‘Everyone should be settling in and feeling fairly safe’

“There’s a patio for 250 people. By mid-October everyone should be settling in and feeling fairly safe,” she adds. “We thought, ‘Let’s do something for our membership.’ The event will be open to members and non-members.”

Rataic-Lang says the TLA will monitor government social distancing protocols and as soon as health regulations permit such a large gathering tickets will be going on sale, possibly by mid-August.

“We are all a bit nervous because we haven’t had that contact for quite a while,” she says. “In the past 18 months, the only people I have seen is my family. It’s kind of weird to be thinking about an event where there’s going to be potentially 200 people. But I’m sure that trepidation will fade pretty quickly.”

Rataic-Lang says the TLA Awards Gala, the association’s signature event, will be making a welcome return. The gala typically draws 300 lawyers.

“It’s become a part of the landscape in Toronto. People know about it and they expect it,” she says.  

It was disappointing when the gala had to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rataic-Lang says.

“There was a lot of discussion about making it a virtual event but that would not be the same. It’s not as much fun,” she says. “Networking virtually is not easy. We decided that an event like the gala is so much more dynamic and exciting when we do it in person.”

Signature event set to return in March 2022

The 2022 gala will be held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Omni King Edward Hotel.

“It’s a beautiful location, the food is fantastic and the people we honour are always impressive,” Rataic-Lang says. “The speeches are interesting, and it’s just a really nice night.”

The TLA will be  accepting nominations for the Honsberger Award and TLA Emerging Excellence Award. Any Toronto lawyer is eligible to receive the awards with nominations opening on Sept.7. 

The Honsberger Award was named in honour of TLA past president John D. Honsberger and recognizes a single unique accomplishment or ongoing contributions to the legal community exemplifying the TLA’s three pillars: Knowledge, Advocacy and Community. TLA members in practice between 15 to 25 years are eligible to make nominations.

The TLA Emerging Excellence Award is presented to a Toronto lawyer in practice for 10 years or less or to a Toronto organization in existence for 10 years or less. Nominees must exemplify leadership or innovation in advancing the TLA’s three pillars of Knowledge, Advocacy and Community.

Rataic-Lang says she is working to ensure the TLA is meeting the needs of its members as COVID-19 restrictions ease. She says she sees the value of video conferencing and will take a hybrid approach, staging live events that people can join online.

‘We have to stay on our toes’

“We have to be able to operate in the 21st century. It’s what the expectation is going to be,” she says. “We have to stay on our toes to be able to provide what our members expect.”

The association is increasing their bandwidth at the 361 University Ave. courthouse library to allow them to host virtual events.

“We have a lot happening. One of my staff told me I always get excited when there’s more work but to me, it’s not more work. We’re being progressive. We’re trying to be where our members need us to be and that’s exciting,” Rataic-Lang says.

To learn more about TLA events and educational programs, click here.