2023 Common Law Honours Society Inductees

Faculty of Law - Common Law Section
Alumni
Awards and recognition

By Common Law

Communication, Faculty of Law

photos of the 3 newest inductees to the Common Law Honour Society
We are excited to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments and careers of the three Common Law Alumni who have been selected as the 2023 Honours Society Inductees:
  • The Honourable Colin McKinnon, K.C. LLB ’68
  • The Honorable Jodie-Lynn Waddilove LLB ’03
  • Jesse McCormick LLB ’06

The Honourable Colin McKinnon, K.C. LLB ’68 was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 1996. During his almost 23 years as a trial judge, he presided over thousands of cases, both jury and non-jury, including corporate and commercial matters, professional liability, construction, critical injury and insurance, employment, product liability, wrongful dismissal, boundary disputes, medical malpractice, interpretation of wills and estates. 

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Mr. McKinnon practiced law as a trial lawyer and was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in both Civil Litigation and Criminal Law.  

President of the Common Law Students Society in 1968, he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. He served as President of the County of Carleton Law Association, was chair of the County and District Law Presidents Association and was a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario for eight years. For eight years he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Faculty, teaching Trial Advocacy, Ethics and Evidence. 

The Honorable Jodie-Lynn Waddilove LLB ’03 is an Anishnabe (Ojibway) and Lenape (Delaware) lawyer who was born and raised on the Munsee-Delaware Nation in southwestern Ontario. Jodie-Lynn’s traditional name is “Giim-Mah-Myengun-Kwe” which translates to “Head Chief Wolf Woman.”

Jodie-Lynn began her role as Assistant Commission Counsel for the Ipperwash Inquiry in 2004.

 Three years later, Jodie-Lynn joined the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario) Crown Law Office – Civil.  She later joined the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, where she served as in-house counsel and leading prosecutor for the Ontario Provincial Police.  In 2015, she was seconded to MAG’s newest division, the newly created Indigenous (then Aboriginal) Justice Division, where she served as Executive Advisor and Legal Counsel to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General. 

In 2018, Jodie-Lynn was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice and presides in criminal courts in Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Bradford, Huntsville and Bracebridge.

Jesse McCormick LLB ’06 is the Senior VP, Research, Innovation and Legal Affairs for the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, a non-political and business focussed coalition of over 140 First Nations organizations working to advance the capacity needs of member First Nations in the broad areas of economic participation and environmental stewardship.

Jesse has previously served as the Director of Policy and Indigenous Relations for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Director of Rights Implementation for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. 

Jesse has also served at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as a Senior Indigenous Fellow and clerked at the Federal Court of Canada. 

As a proud citizen of Canada, the Anishinabek Nation and the Oneida Nation (Wolf Clan), Jesse is committed to the achievement of reconciliation through the implementation of rights, treaties and responsibilities. 

Thank you to the 2023 Honours Society Selection Committee:

  • Kristen Boon, Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean
  • Alan D’Silva LLB 87, 2015 Honour Society Inductee
  • Karen Restoule JD12, 2014 Honour Society Inductee
  • May Cheng LLB 91, 2014 Honour Society Inductee
  • Matthew Halpin LLB 84
  • Josephine Palumbo LLB 91
  • Sonia Yung LLB 92

Inductees will be formally honoured at a special event in the Fall.