Archives: Grants (page 14)

The Probono Inmate Appeal Program coordinates and supports a roster of experienced criminal appellate counsel to act as duty counsel on the appeals of unrepresented appellants in criminal cases before the Court of Appeal for Ontario. This initiative enhances unrepresented appellants’ access to legal support.

Workers’ Action Centre (WAC) will continue to provide information resources to people in low-wage and precarious employment in Ontario. Through its Developing Critical Post-Pandemic Public Education Strategies to Improve Access to Justice for Workers in Precarious Employment program, WAC will provide responsive public education strategies and resources to reach workers facing emerging barriers, including those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are facing increased barriers to access to justice.

Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) bridges the gap between low-income Ontarians who cannot afford a lawyer or qualify for legal aid and lawyers who want to donate their services. Its programs include a legal advice hotline and medical-legal partnerships that operate out of five children’s hospitals. In addition to supporting these activities, the Catalyst grant will enable PBO to enhance its hotline services. The hotline currently provides free summary advice and legal drafting services in the areas of civil litigation, consumer debt and protection, employment law, housing, power of attorney for property and personal care, and corporate law (for nonprofits and small newcomer-run start-ups).

Aftermetoo will further test, expand, and enhance its web platform to better serve people facing workplace sexual harassment with a particular focus on those with specific unmet informational needs such as Indigenous people, gig economy workers, and sex workers. Aftermetoo.com centralizes laws, judicial systems, reporting options, and supports across Canada for those who experience or observe workplace sexual harassment. It uses clear and accessible language to answer common questions and provides step-by-step information to guide people through judicial and administrative forums.

Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA Canada) will host its annual conference benefiting Black law students from across the country. BLSA Canada aims to foster connections between Black law students and legal professionals to promote professional development, legal education, and cultural awareness within the legal sector.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Northeastern Ontario will create a Justice Navigation Project to provide practical and legal supports to people in northeastern Ontario in contact with the justice system. Justice Navigators will help approximately 100 people each year with legal aid applications, accessing diversion and other programming, and participating in Pre-Sentence and Gladue reports. Project trainings and a manual will be developed to help sustain and replicate the project. The objective of the project is to improve people’s understanding of their legal rights, produce more positive outcomes, and create efficiencies for the courts.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario’s Court Support Program in Thunder Bay supports women and gender-diverse individuals with: court accompaniment; safety planning; and information about court dates, legal processes and terminology; and failure to appear and related administrative charges. It also offers assistance with navigating the process of obtaining legal aid, connecting with legal representation, and with a range of services, including mental health support, housing resources, and substance abuse treatment.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough (EFSP) will expand its justice services to support marginalized people in Peterborough and area. EFSP will develop: a pilot program to increase access to community alternatives at pre-sentence by diverting matters from the court; and an outreach plan to reach criminalized individuals who are unhoused and face barriers to accessing supports. The objective of the project is to support people who face multiple, complex challenges to complete court requirements.

Healing of the Seven Generations’ Dehsahsodre Bail Release and Supervision Program, located in the Region of Waterloo, offers an alternative to typical bail release programs with a focus on reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system by facilitating culturally informed programming and allowing more people to remain in the community while awaiting hearings.