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External Resources

These resources were not created by OJEN and they don’t belong to us. They do have information that educators and youth might find helpful.

General

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO): CLEO is a community legal clinic that produces clear language material for people with low incomes. A list and order form for all of CLEO’s materials are provided on-line (publications are free of charge). They also maintain a resource library of materials produced by others. Main topics include social assistance, landlord and tenant law, refugee and immigration law, worker’s compensation, women’s issues, family law, employment, insurance and human rights.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA): Site contains the electronic copy of the booklet, “The Fundamentals Of Our Fundamental Freedoms” as well as information about the CCLA’s schools program.

Ontario History & Social Science Teachers’ Association: A voluntary organization which promotes the teaching of History in elementary schools and History and Social Sciences in secondary schools.

Classroom Connections is a non-profit organization dedicated to initiating positive societal change by producing progressive educational resources for Canada’s youth. Its award-winning resources are ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned and innovative in content and pedagogy. Since 1997, Classroom Connections has provided more than 15 free support resources to 80% of Canadian schools.

Canadian Judicial Council: Provides information about the Canadian Judicial Council, the Judges’ Act, and complaints, process of judicial appointment, salaries, ethics and the differences between federally appointed and provincially appointed judges. Includes a list of Council publications, with its variety of pamphlets and books on the conduct, role, ethics and independence of judges.

Canadian Superior Court Judges’ Association: The Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association was founded in 1979 to represent judges at all levels of the federally-appointed judiciary in Canada. It is a non-profit voluntary association dedicated to the maintenance and enhancement of an independent judiciary and to provide a collegial forum for judges to discuss matters of common interest for the purpose of improving the administration of justice for all Canadians.

Try Judging is an interactive multimedia educational program for high school social studies, civics and law courses, and designed for integration into Canadian school curricula. Developed by the Canadian Superior Court Judges’ Association, Try Judging introduces students to the role of judges within our judicial system, and encourages exploration of important concepts such as the rule of law, judicial independence and judicial impartiality. Try Judging has three components – a teachers’ guide, a resource website for teachers and an online interactive program for students. The program is built around five guiding questions that lead students through case scenarios and issues associated with the role of judges in Canada’s judicial system.

Department of Justice Canada: Official site of the Department of Justice Canada. Its index includes “Canada’s System of Justice” and “Canada’s Court System”. Site also explains how legislation is developed and passed by Parliament and the role of citizens in developing, amending and modifying laws and regulations. Outlines the responsibilities of federal versus provincial governments and courts, and provides information on all Department of Justice initiatives. Includes links to the court system, the laws of Canada, and many relevant reports and statistics (see “Pursuit of Justice” Quiz).

Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario: The site of Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. Outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Attorney General and provides a number of resources such as “The Parental Responsibility Act – Recovering Losses in Small Claims Court” – a brochure outlining parents’ obligations for damages caused by their children, and guides to the procedure of small claims and family courts, being a witness in a criminal trial, and other topics.

Guide to the Ontario Courts. Includes information on the three courts of Ontario – Court of Appeal, the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. Also includes information about the Ontario Judicial Council, the process of appointment of judges, and links to other relevant sites.

Supreme Court of Canada: The website of Canada’s highest court. Links to Supreme Court of Canada judgments.

Statistics Canada: Presents statistics that help us better understand our country – in terms of population, resources, economy, society and culture. Gives access to many relevant statistics for law classes including crimes, victims and suspects, and the police.

Canadian Bar Association: The CBA site includes a useful public legal education section with an extensive list of law-related links.

Ontario Bar Association: Includes information on the OBA and its Law Day activities including poster, photo, and website competitions, and mock trial tournaments.

Extra-Provincial and International Jurisdictions

The Law Connection: A site where teachers can learn to incorporate legal concepts and principles into their classroom teaching, and students can access information about the law. Includes lesson plans, legal updates, and a list of supplemental resources. Based in British Columbia, the site includes federal laws and Supreme Court of Canada decisions as well as materials relating to British Columbia laws. Resources include the ‘Legal Beagle’, who answers your legal questions by email.

Justice Education Society of BC: Helpful books, pamphlets, videos, charts, and curriculum for use in British Columbia can be ordered from this site.

The Courts of Nova Scotia: Good resource source for teachers and students. Includes Justice Wise’s virtual court tour, and information on the Nova Scotia Courts Courtrooms & Classrooms program.

Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan: Free brochures on a variety of legal issues and topics that includes federal law as well as Saskatchewan provincial law.

US Supreme Court Decisions: Provides information on the US Supreme Court and its recent decisions. Links to other US jurisdictions.

American Bar Association Public Education: The American Bar Association’s (ABA) public legal education division website that includes information on the US Supreme Court, lawyers and judges and how the American court system works.

Aboriginal Law

Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services: Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation delivers and coordinates a range of legal services and alternative processes within northwestern Ontario that are culturally sensitive to, and enhance unique values, customs and traditions, to promote healing and reintegration with First Nation communities. Current legal services include: summary advice and short legal services; quasi-paralegal services; victim/witness services; law reform; public legal education; alternative justice processes under criminal and family matters (Talking Together, Child Welfare and Restorative Justice); administrative assistance; video jail applications.

Métis Law Summary: A comprehensive introduction to Métis law issues written and updated annually by Jean Teillet, counsel for the Powely family in R v. Powley (Métis hunting rights case).

Ipperwash Inquiry: The Ontario government established the Ipperwash Inquiry in November 2003 and appointed Mr. Justice Sidney Linden as the Inquiry Commissioner. The mandate of the Inquiry is to examine the events surrounding the death of Dudley George, report on the findings and make recommendations aimed at avoiding violence in similar circumstances in the future. The Inquiry process is divided into two parts: the formal hearings part and the policy and research part. There is a live web cast of the hearings on the Inquiry web site and the transcripts of the proceedings are posted each day of hearings. The research papers and summaries of the Inquiry’s consultations are posted on the web site as well.

The Cradleboard Teaching Project was developed by Buffy St. Marie and provides public education and resources, including curriculum based lesson plans, about Native American culture. Material is tied in with geography, science, social science and history for students in elementary, middle and secondary school grades. Access to many Cradleboard programs and resources is free, but some involvement is for-profit.

Youth and the Law

Justice for Children and Youth: This legal aid clinic provides legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and vicinity. It is a community legal clinic specializing in protecting the rights of those facing conflicts with the legal system, education, social service or mental health systems. The site has numerous publications and briefs on legal issues concerning children and includes an “ask the lawyer” service. Site provides information on issues such as Leaving Home, School, The Young Offender’s Act, Police, Age Based Rights, Peer Mediation as well as an “ask a lawyer a question” section.

Youth Criminal Law: Is a website produced by CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario/ Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario)  It gives general information about Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act and has resources for people in Ontario.

Toronto Child Abuse Centre: Provides information directed at children who are testifying in abuse cases. Includes information on the roles of persons in the courtroom (basic level) including judges.

CourtPrep: An interactive, educational resource about the justice process in Canada, this site is designed and developed by youth for youth who are preparing to testify in court. Features information on the Courtroom, Witness Tips and the Justice Process, and includes definitions and games.

Cory’s Courthouse: An interactive site designed to help prepare young children who are testifying in criminal court proceedings.

Charter of Rights & Human Rights Legislation

Decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada relative to the Charter of Rights : A useful source for research.

Ontario Human Rights Commission: General information website with a link to an educational package called “Teaching Human Rights in Ontario.” The package was specifically designed for use in the Grade 11 Law course. (Also available: Racial Profiling Inquiry Report – ‘Paying the Price: The Human Cost of Racial Profiling’).

Criminal Law

John Howard Society of Canada: The Society is an organization governed by people whose goal is to understand and respond to problems of crime and the criminal justice system. The mission is “effective, just and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.” Lesson plans, publications, and position papers are available on the site.

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies: Elizabeth Fry Societies work with, and on behalf of, women involved with the justice system, particularly women in conflict with the law. The website offers numerous issue papers and reports.

Correctional Service Canada: Governmental agency website that has a Public Education section that includes a Speakers’ Kit, statistics, myths and realities, and a teacher’s guide with a lesson plan.

Duhaime’s Canadian Criminal Law Centre: Plain language articles on Canadian criminal law with an expansive list of topics.

Family Law

Families Change This website provides age-appropriate information to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up. The website was produced by the Justice Education Society in collaboration with Community Legal Education Ontario.

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