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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
April 4, 2007
Social Justice Champion to receive Sidney B. Linden Award
Toronto ON: April 4, 2007 - Legal Aid Ontario’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Robert (Bob) Kellerman has been selected as the 2007 recipient of the Sidney B. Linden Award.
Mr. Kellerman has been a champion of the legal rights for vulnerable people throughout his 38-year legal career. As a lawyer and as a leading social activist, he has made an outstanding contribution of his time, expertise, and service to promoting access to justice in Ontario.
"Bob Kellerman's career is a shining example of commitment to the spirit of the Sidney B. Linden Award," said Janet Leiper, Legal Aid Ontario's Chair. "On behalf of Legal Aid Ontario's Board of Directors, I congratulate Bob for this singular honour."
In 1974, Mr. Kellerman co-founded the Law Union of Ontario, a group of progressive lawyers, students and legal workers dedicated to promoting social justice. In addition, Bob has served two terms as Director of the Criminal Lawyers' Association Board. Mr. Kellerman is in private practice in Toronto where he continues to inspire and mentor younger members of the Bar.
“Bob Kellerman’s compassion and dedication to the pursuit of justice for the underprivileged people of Ontario personify the nature of the Sidney B. Linden award,” said Aly Alibhai, Award Selection Committee Chair and member of the Legal Aid Ontario Board of Directors. “His unyielding commitment to access to justice is an extraordinary example of the power of individuals to make a significant difference in the world around them. “
Legal Aid Ontario created the Sidney B. Linden Award to honour exceptional individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to helping low-income people in Ontario and given their time, expertise, and/or service to ensuring access to justice. The award is named in honour of Legal Aid Ontario’s first Chair of the board of directors, Justice Sidney B. Linden, who has been involved with legal aid for over 30 years and whose distinguished professional career has been characterized by a genuine commitment to issues concerning access to justice. Mr. Kellerman is the third recipient of the Award, which was given posthumously in 2005 to Diane Martin and last year to Paul Copeland.
This year’s Sidney B. Linden award selection committee included The Honourable Brian Lennox, Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice; Professor Patrick Monahan, Dean of the Osgoode Hall Law School York University; Janet Leiper, Legal Aid Ontario Board Chair; Aly Alibhai, Legal Aid Ontario board member and Patricia E. DeGuire, former Legal Aid Ontario board member.
The award will be given to Mr. Kellerman at a presentation ceremony to be held in June 2007.
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is an independent government funded organization with a mandate to promote access to justice for low-income Ontarians. Each year, LAO provides nearly one million legal assist to people across Ontario through a network of 51 Area Offices, 79 Community and Specialty Legal Clinic, 6 Student Legal Aid Societies, and Duty Counsel services in every courthouse in Ontario including 31 fly-in locations.
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For more information, contact:
Kristian Justesen,
Manager of Communications and
Public Affairs
Legal Aid Ontario
(416) 979-2352 Ext 4782
justesk@lao.on.ca
Website: www.legalaid.on.ca
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