Celebrating a Canadian Milestone: The Supreme Court of Canada at 150

By Common Law

Communication, Faculty of Law

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On June 11 and 12, 2025, leading legal minds from across the country will gather at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law for a landmark academic conference: The Supreme Court of Canada at 150: The Past, Present and Future.

Hosted by the uOttawa Public Law Centre, the Université de Montréal, and Dalhousie University’s Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, the event marks the 150th anniversary of Canada’s highest court with two days of in-depth panels, keynote discussions, and critical reflection.

This fully bilingual and hybrid conference will bring together judges, scholars, lawyers, and students to assess the Court’s historical trajectory, its emergence as a central institution in Canadian democracy, and the complex challenges it faces in an evolving legal and political landscape. Simultaneous interpretation will be available for all attendees.

A Pluralistic Framework for Reflection

The conference is organized around a foundational premise: that Canada is made up of three collective projects – Canada as a whole, Indigenous Peoples, and Québec – each with equal legitimacy and authority. By foregrounding the country’s multiple juridical orders, the event seeks to offer a pluralistic framework for examining the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence and institutional role. This inclusive lens is especially timely as the Court continues to grapple with issues at the intersection of reconciliation, federalism, individual rights, and institutional legitimacy.

Conference Highlights

The program features three panels and a keynote discussion on Day 1, followed by additional panels and a preview of a special multimedia project on Day 2:
 

Day 1 – June 11

Day 2 – June 12

Join the Conversation

This anniversary conference is more than a commemoration – it is a moment to reflect critically and constructively on the role of the Supreme Court in shaping Canada’s legal and constitutional order.

Legal scholars, practitioners, students, and members of the public are invited to join the conference in person or online.

When: June 11 and 12, 2025
Where: University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law (Hybrid event)
Languages: English and French, with simultaneous interpretation available

Click here to register.Please note that a discounted rate is available for students.

Click here for the full conference program.

This event is made possible through support from JFK Law, SSHRC and ICON-S (Canadian Chapter).