ROGER ROWE B.A., LL.B
Roger Rowe is an accomplished advocate, father, and
husband. He was born in Montreal, Quebec and was
called to the bar of Ontario in 1989. He received
his B.A. in Sociology from York University in
Toronto and completed his LL.B. at Osgoode Hall Law
School in 1987. Roger has appeared successfully
before all levels of court in Canada, as well as
numerous administrative tribunals.
Roger operates a successful law practice dedicated
to the pursuit of justice for the economically
disadvantaged and members of equity seeking
communities in the areas of:
-
Family Law
-
Immigration and Refugee Law
-
Criminal Law
CAREER STAGES
Rogers commitment to community service started well
before he was called to bar. In the summer of 1984
he worked at the Legal Information Service for
the Disabled, conducting research on how to
provide access to legal information for members of
the community who had barriers to access due to
disability.
As a law student, he volunteered
his free time to C.L.A.S.P (Community and
Legal Aid Services Program) where he was a Division
Leader; his duties consisted mainly of public legal
education and outreach to equity seeking groups
including youth, homosexuals, battered women and
immigrants.
Roger was a staff lawyer at
Jane Finch Community Legal Clinic for 5 years
before entering private practice in the Jane and
Finch area in 1993.
Entering private
practice, Roger maintained his roots and core
values. His commitment and passion for equality and
human rights are stronger than ever and evident
through the quality of his work and the results he
delivers.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
He has appeared before all levels of court including
the Supreme Court of Canada where he successfully
represented the appellant Mavis Baker in the
landmark case of Baker vs. the Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration which established a new
standard for the duty of procedural fairness in
administrative law.
Baker's
stipulations regarding the duty to give reasons, the
review of administrative discretion and the
requirement for decision makers to be alive to the
best interests of children gave many Canadians a
sense of hope that fair treatment would be given to
everyone.
| ASSOCIATIONS |
| 2005 - Present |
Consent and Capacity Board Lawyer Member |
| 2001 - Present |
Canadian Bar Association |
| 2002 - 2009 |
Etobicoke Area Committee (Legal Aid Ontario)
Member |
| 2001 - 2006 |
P.E.A.C.H.: Promoting Economic Action and
Community Health President |
| 2004 |
L.S.U.C.: Law Society of Upper Canada
Competency Initiatives Developing Competency
Profiles for Barrister Licensing Examination
2006 Volunteer |
| 1997 - 1998 |
CABL: Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
President |
| 1994 - 1996 |
L.L.B.O: Liquor License Board of Ontario
Board Member |
| 1999 |
L.S.U.C.: Law Society of Upper Canada
Bencher Elections Volunteer Scrutineer |
| 1997 - 1999 |
L.S.U.C.: Law Society of Upper Canada
Treasures Liaison Committee Member |
| 1995 |
CABL: Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
Founding Member |
| 1988 - 1993 |
Inter Clinic Immigration Working Group |
| 1990 - 1992 |
Jane Finch Concerned Citizens Organization
President |
| 1991 - 1992 |
Mayor’s Committee on Race Relations for the
City of North York Member |
| COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT & MENTORSHIP |
| Oct 20 – 21, 2011 |
Panelist: Consent and Capacity Board, Annual Education Session
|
| June 7, 2011 |
Panelist: The Canadian Institute’s 2nd Annual Conference on the Law of Policing Tuesday June 7, 2011 Toronto
Ontario, conference producer Sandra Bernstein tel (416) 778-1878: panel discussion with Alan Gold,
Barrister & Solicitor on Racial Profiling. Presented my paper entitled:"Allegations Profiling: How
much disclosure of Investigative Records is Appropriate"; moderated by the Conference Chairman Mr.
Julian Falconer, Barrister & Solicitor (View Article)
|
| March 10, 2011 |
Seminar Leader: Ontario Justice Education Network Public Seminar "Finding your way Parents Session",
held at York University TD Community Engagement Centre, to educate parents about the
Youth Criminal Justice Act and how to navigate through the youth court system. Topics
included: working with Lawyers; how parents can help the court process; disclosure, diversion,
sentencing, plea court, bail hearings and surety information, the role of duty counsel,
youth and legal aid, youth records; questions and answers. Contact person Matthew
Edwards , Project Manager tel (416) 947-5259
|
| Feb 25, 2011 |
Panelist: The Law and Youth - Taking Ownership of Knowledge Workshop, University of Toronto.
Legal Education Workshop for youth which involved discussions with members of the legal community, including several judges and lawyers.
|
| Feb 2, 2011 |
Guest speaker : Practising Social Justice Law, Osgoode Hall Law School contact
person Professor Pat Case tel (519) 824-4120 ext. 53275
|
| Jan. 24, 2011 |
Guest panellist in panel discussion on Report on Racial and Gender
Stratification in the Ontario Legal Profession, with co-panellists
Dr. Michael Ornstein, Institute for Social Research, Josee Bouchard,
Equity Advisor LSUC; Beth Symes , Partner Symes & Street; moderated by
Professor Sonia Lawrence tel (416) 736-5562 ; http://bit.ly/f1YZym
reported in Law Times January 31, 2011 by Michael McKiernan
|
| Feb. 11, 2010 |
Guest Speaker/Mentor at Dalhousie Law School "Law Hour"
on Administrative Law in Canada, Halifax Nova Scotia
|
| Sept. 9, 2009 |
Key note address to First Year Law Class of University
of Toronto Law School |
| March 6, 2009 |
Learning City Panel, hosted by Collaborative
Urban Research Laboratory at Osgoode Hall
discussing challenges of a global city like
Toronto around governance, policing, poverty,
immigration, integration, education and the
environment, Speaker |
| 2004 - 2007 |
Advisor to Chief Justice Roy McMurtry on
Mayor David Miller’s Committee on Community
Safety Advisor |
| 2002 - Present |
University of Toronto Law School Summer
Mentorship Program Guest Speaker and Mentor |
| 2005 |
Jane Finch Community Legal Education Forum
Moderator |
| 2004 |
Annual ORO FPS Prosecutors Conference
(Department of Justice): Racial Issues in the
Criminal Justice System Panelist |
| 2004 |
C.L.A.S.P.: Community Legal Aid Services
Program RE: Youth Criminal Justice Act Guest
Speaker |
| 2004 |
Newtonbrook High School on Stereotyping
Guest Speaker |
| 2002 |
Elia Middle School Graduation Ceremony
Guest Speaker |
| 2001 |
Teen Moms at Black Creek Community Health
Center Guest Speaker |
| 2000 |
F.L.A.C.: Feminist Legal Analysis Committee
Guest Speaker |
| RECENT AWARDS |
| Jun. 24, 2011 |
Award of Leadership and Education for Distinguished Service in the Jane and
Finch Community from the Barbadian Canadian Friendship Association
|
| Jun. 30, 2010 |
Award of Appreciation from Chairman of Board of Directors of Legal Aid in recognition
of my years of service as an area committee member for Legal Aid Ontario |
| Mar. 13, 2010 |
Raising the Bar Award of Excellence awarded by Black Law Students Association March 13th, 2010. |
| 2008 |
Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in
Community Service |
| 2008 |
Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice
Through Law |
| 2007 |
Law Society Lincoln Alexander Award |
| 2006 |
CABL Award of Excellence for Advancement of
the Profession |
| 2003 |
Pro Bono Law Ontario Award for Community
Service |