Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. The 2021 theme for Black History Month is: "The Future is Now." Find out more about the history of Black History Month, noteworthy historical figures, as well as organizations and educational resources that promote awareness of Black history in Canada. 

As we look to the future, we must also pay homage to the past. One of Alberta’s own noteworthy historical figures is Violet King Henry (born 1929 in Calgary), the first Black person admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1954. She was also the first Black woman to become a lawyer in Canada and subsequently the first woman appointed to an executive position with the YMCA in the United States. You can read more about her incredible life and legacy in this article from the Canadian Encyclopedia. 

“King shattered glass ceilings and broke down colour barriers to pave the way for future generations. Her hard work and drive to excel in all facets of her career are an inspiration for those who also aspire to do great things in their field.” – The Canadian Encyclopedia 

Visit this CBC article and this Edmonton Journal article for a list of resources and events and to help your firm or organization get involved in Black History Month.

Image courtesy of Glenbow archives.

Substantial changes to the Divorce Act come into force on March 1, 2021. Experts from the Family and Children’s Law Team, Department of Justice Canada, are offering free virtual training to provide you with an overview of the amendments. 

This course will be helpful to those who need an introduction to the amendments and to those who need a refresher on the eve of implementation. 

It is likely to be of interest to lawyers, courts and dispute resolution practitioners, as well as other family justice professionals.

The course will cover the following:

Course Dates and Times:

A limited number of seats will be reserved for Department of Justice employees in each session. You must also register through PeopleSoft using course code: 017757

Please also note that the Department of Justice Canada is offering online courses related to Bill C-78. You can find the Introduction to Federal Family Law Amendments here.

Based on the current state of the pandemic, it has been determined that it is possible to proceed with all matters currently scheduled in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta for the week of Feb. 1, 2021 and subsequent weeks.

The Court’s schedule may continue to change, subject to developments in the pandemic. Parties and counsel are encouraged to check the Court’s website regularly for any further announcements.