A new book, co-edited by two members of the Common Law Section, pays tribute to one of Canada’s most influential jurists. Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella: A Life of Firsts (University of Toronto Press) is a wide-ranging and thoughtful reflection on the legacy of Justice Abella, the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The book is co-edited by Professor Vanessa MacDonnell, Co-Director of uOttawa’s Public Law Centre, and Visiting Professor Stephen Bindman, Executive in Residence at the Faculty of Law, alongside Gerald Chan, Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto. They have brought together a distinguished group of scholars, judges, lawyers, and artists from across Canada to explore Justice Abella’s profound contributions to law and public life.
Justice Abella’s career spans nearly five decades and includes pioneering work in equality law, labour law, and human rights. From her early life in a displaced persons camp to her influential 1984 Royal Commission on Equality in Employment – which introduced the concept of “employment equity” in Canada – Justice Abella has been a transformative force in Canadian legal history.
This new volume offers both tribute and critical reflection, inviting readers to consider what it takes to challenge the status quo and drive change through law.
In addition to the leadership of Professors MacDonnell and Bindman, the book also features contributions from Professor Aimée Craft, Professor Jamie Chai Yun Liew and Professor Rosemary Cairns-Way from the Common Law Section, as well as a chapter from Professor Mona Paré of the Civil Law Section.
The book is available in open access, making this important collection freely accessible to all readers.
Click here to learn more about Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella: A Life of Firsts.