Announcements

The Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C. – Tribute Dinner
A tribute dinner for The Honourable Donald Brenner, Q.C., is being held on January 21, 2010. The event is also a fundraiser; a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to the Justice Education Society and Pro Bono Law of BC/Western Canada Society to Access Justice.

The night is hosted by The Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch, The Law Society of BC, UBC Law Alumni Association, and the Vancouver Bar Association. For more information, please contact Meghan Kavelman (604.646.7855).

KidsBC.ca
KidsBC.ca has launched! The site provides kids experiencing a parental divorce or separation with an online resource to help them deal with a family break up. The site has been receiving positive feedback. For example: “Thanks so much for this great resource - I am a child therapist and will use this as a tool with kids going through this difficult time in their life.”

Legal Independence: It’s Your Right
Legal Independence: It’s Your Right is a new, free resource that uses real-life examples in an engaging, 10-minute video to help Civics 11, Social Studies 11 and Law 12 students understand the concepts of judicial and legal independence. A teacher’s guide is available. Order this publication.

Being an Active Citizen – Law, Government & Community Engagement in BC
Being an Active Citizen is a set of resources that enhances the current Social Studies curriculum for grades 7-11. The activities will build students’ knowledge in the topics of law and citizenship so they are:

• Better informed citizens who understand the structure and operation of Canada’s political and justice systems
• Engaged citizens that actively participate in their communities

The project will begin piloting all five grade levels in November. We would like as much feedback as possible so that the resources succeed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to be active citizens. If you would like to pilot the resources with your class contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588). In addition to Social Studies grades 7-11, the material is applicable to the Social Studies 12, Law 12, Social Justice 12 and Civics 11 curriculums. For more information, visit the new website www.BCCitizenship.ca.

Immigrant PLEI Consortium
The Immigrant Public Legal Education & Information (PLEI) Consortium is a pilot project that will design a model for more effective delivery of PLEI for immigrants in Metro Vancouver so that they can better able to address their legal needs and have a better awareness of core Canadian legal values. The project is a partnership between 12 organizations and is led by the Justice Education Society.

The project is currently focusing on the areas of employment law and residential tenancy law. Cross-sectoral workshops will be held throughout the Lower Mainland in November and December. Representatives from PLEI agencies, legal service providers, settlement agencies, government services and community organizations will identify service gaps and opportunities as well as strategies and activities that would improve PLEI delivery. To find out the time and date of the workshop in your community, or if your organization would like to send a representative to the meeting, contact Sandra Wilking (778.968.3732).

YCJA.ca
Content for Explore the YCJA was just updated and launched as a distinct website. YCJA.ca provides training on the Youth Criminal Justice Act for teachers and students. Teachers can go through the lessons and receive professional development credit upon passing the final exam. In addition, teachers have access to a range of YCJA online resources, quizzes for each section and recommended student assignments.

New Publications
The Justice Education Society’s Program & Resources 2010 Catalogue has been printed and is being distributed. This FREE Catalogue is our primary tool for promoting the Society’s broad range of programs and resources.

In addition, the Society has produced new brochures for the Justice System Education Program, Court Information Program for Immigrants and Finances After Separation. Contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588) to order any of the new publications.

Project News

LawConnection.ca
LawConnection.ca provides information on current legal issues for teachers and students. Each issue includes background information and teaching resources. The site is a partnership between the Justice Education Society, SFU’s Centre for Education, Law and Society and Law Clerks at the BC Courts.

AdminLawBC.ca
AdminLawBC.ca now includes text translation to Chinese, Punjabi and Spanish. Four new videos on How to Prepare for Tribunal Hearings: First Steps, Written Submissions, In-Person Hearings and Telephone Hearings have also been added.

Children & Parents After Separation
Children & Parents After Separation, which will be offered as a whole-family alternative to our Parenting After Separation program, has entered its second phase. A curriculum writer is building the course materials. Once they are completed, the program’s evaluation model and materials will be developed. The first of 16 pilot programs will begin in January 2010 and piloting will finish by January 2011. If you are a facilitator and would like to lead the program’s sessions, contact Kevin Smith (604.660.0588) for more information.

Finances After Separation
A new video resource was created for the Finances After Separation program’s curriculum, which helps separating parents manage the financial aspects of their family break up. For more information, or to register, contact 604.775.0856 .

Though the Heavens Fall
A DVD and Teacher’s Guide have been produced to mark the 100th Anniversary of the BC Court of Appeal. Though the Heavens Fall will be broadcast in January on CBC, with additional air dates on the Knowledge Network. The teacher’s guide will be distributed to Law 12 teachers in January.

What Every Renter Needs to Know
What Every Renter Needs to Know is a series of videos that teach renters about their rights and responsibilities. Topics include Beginning of the Tenancy, Security and Pet Damage Deposits and Ending the Tenancy. View the videos.

Justice Education Society’s International Website
The International Programs section of the Justice Education Society’s website has a new look, with detailed information about the Society’s international projects and upcoming events. Subscribe to their new quarterly email newsletter.