I am a student from CW Jeffreys, and I am about to start my 11th-grade studies. My engagement with the LAWS program, particularly through workshops managed at my school, has been extremely advantageous. These workshops not only enriched my understanding but also played a crucial role in assisting my summer job/internship placement with OJEN. These […]
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In a few short days, the last bell of the day will ring and classes will end for the school year. It’s been another challenging year for teachers and students, as the pandemic eases and in person activities resume. We were delighted to see so many students back in courthouses arguing their cases in mock […]
It is a rainy afternoon In March, but the BGC St. Alban’s Club’s activity room is filled with the vibrant energy of teenagers attending an after-school homework club. Ten youth between the ages of 14 and 16 gather around the facilitator who introduces the discussion topic – racial discrimination and human rights. Most of the […]
OJEN’s Apps for Justice Challenge pilot program wrapped up last month with six schools entering final submissions in the competition. The program was developed in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s (uOttawa) Faculty of Law. It incorporates content from the Access to Justice Legal Apps Challenge Modules, a uOttawa “mini course”. University of Ottawa law […]
In early March, OJEN’s Outreach team spent an eventful week in Simcoe, Ontario. It started with a drive to Sprucedale Youth Centre. The youth detention centre is located a couple of hours away from Toronto in a building that used to be a school. The biting cold weather graced us with its presence, yet our […]
The 2022 Summer Law Institute Webinar Series for educators featured a session about Ontario’s Justice Centres. These centres are part of a new and innovative strategy to move justice out of traditional courtroom settings and into community spaces. There are four Justice Centres in Ontario, one in Thunder Bay, one in London and two in Toronto. […]
I arrive at the airport in Rankin Inlet on the flight from Iqaluit. My plane will continue on to Yellowknife today, and be back in a week for the next flight in. The airport is itself just one very charming turquoise building, about the size of a school gym. They are serving coffee and homemade […]
Each year, hundreds of high school students throughout Ontario compete in OJEN’s Charter Challenge. The only mock appeal program for high school students in Ontario, students are given a mock judicial decision in which complex Charter issues are raised on appeal. Student teams research and write a factum with legal arguments in favour of the […]
An important factor contributing to the success of OJEN’s programs for youth is the involvement of a Youth Leadership Team (YLT). YLT members are hired from the communities where pilot programs are offered, and can be involved in various stages of a pilot program. From development through delivery and evaluation, input from YLT members helps […]
OJEN’s success in reaching broad and diverse youth audiences, is based on our practice of forging collaborative partnerships with existing youth-serving organisations. Meeting youth in their communities and tailoring programs to meet their unique needs and interests, opens the door to meaningful exchange about law and the legal system. It fosters engagement and creates a […]
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a lawyer. From watching almost every crime documentary that has ever existed on Netflix, to having the opportunity to join the Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) program at my high school, law has been the career path my heart has been set […]
