The Law Foundation of Ontario created the Guthrie Award in 1996 to honour H. Donald Guthrie who served as a Foundation trustee for 21 years, including 13 years as Chair. The Guthrie Award recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to access to justice for the people of Ontario.
A Guthrie Award recipient joins the legacy of the Guthrie Award and becomes a member of an esteemed group recognized for their achievements in improving access to justice. Past recipients have come from many directions – the judiciary, private bar, community legal clinics, and nonprofit organizations. They saw a chance to make a difference and took it.
Guthrie Award recipients have:
- Built bridges between youth and the justice system
- Advanced justice for Indigenous peoples
- Strengthened the community clinic system to assist people with low-incomes
- Launched the country’s first law-and-justice themed high school program
- Helped to understand and address the consequences and causes of violence against women
- Contributed to legal education in Ontario
- Advocated for freedom of speech and expression
- Modernized the running of law libraries
- Provided hands-on poverty law experience to law students
- Strengthened legal protections of people with disabilities
- Promoted a more just and humane immigration system
Guthrie Award recipients
We gathered on November 20, 2024 to present John Borrows with the Guthrie Award, the Foundation’s signature award to recognize exceptional access to justice champions.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2024 Guthrie Award recipient is legal scholar, John Borrows.
We gathered December 6, 2023 to recognize Francisco Rico-Martínez as the posthumous recipient of the 2023 Guthrie Award.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2023 Guthrie Award recipient is refugee rights champion, Francisco Rico-Martínez.
We gathered on December 8, 2022 to present Roberto (Robert) Lattanzio with the Guthrie Award, The Law Foundation of Ontario’s signature award to recognize exceptional access to justice champions.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2022 Guthrie Award recipient is disability rights advocate, Roberto Lattanzio.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2020 Guthrie Award recipient is the Elders’ Council.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2019 Guthrie Award recipient is women’s rights advocate, Pamela Cross.
The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce that the 2018 Guthrie Award recipient is children’s rights advocate, Mary Birdsell.