News and Views Issue 1: Winter 1998-1999
Welcome to the Forum
Forum means "a place of meeting for public discussion" (The Canadian Oxford
Dictionary), making this the perfect name for the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice.
Our purpose is to facilitate the exchange of information and sharing of experience
on civil justice reform, to assist the judiciary, court administrators, governments
and most importantly, the Canadian public. We encourage your participation in
the process of civil justice reform.
Our work will be aimed at improving access to justice through a number of initiatives
which will include, but not be limited to, simplified court procedures, public
legal education, appropriate forms of dispute resolution and a recognition that
the courts and the legal profession must be responsive to the needs and concerns
of the public.
You can support the Forum and receive our semi-annnual newsletter by becoming
a general member and paying our $50 annual membership fee. To encourage membership,
we are willing to waive the fee in our first year of operation. We hope you will
be convinced to continue your membership after the waiver expires. Those who donate
in excess of $50 will be considered Sustaining Members.
The Forum offices were opened on October 1, 1998, when Diana Lowe began work as
our Executive Director. She was recently joined by our Administrative Assistant,
Carmen Baldwin-Déry, who is bilingual and will assist us in ensuring that all
of our services are available in French and English.
Diana Lowe, Executive Director
We look forward to an active association which will preserve our judicial institutions, but make them as accessible as possible for all Canadians.
Doug F. Robinson, Q.C.
Chair, Board of Directors