February 2025 Newsletter: News from the BCLI!
February 28, 2025
BY British Columbia Law Institute
The Canadian Centre for Elder Law Moves to TRU Faculty of Law
The BC Law Institute (BCLI) Board is excited to announce a new chapter for the Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL) as it transitions to the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Faculty of Law, and it will no longer be a division of BCLI. We are incredibly proud of CCEL’s accomplishments over the years and the impact it has had on elder law reform in Canada.
As CCEL embarks on this next phase, we extend our gratitude to all those who have contributed to its success and wish TRU Law the very best in carrying forward this important work. We look forward to future collaborations and to seeing the CCEL continue to thrive in its new home.
You can read the joint statement from BCLI and TRU Faculty of Law below:
The Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL) is moving to the TRU Faculty of Law, the BC Law Institute (BCLI) and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) announced Thursday.
As part of a revised memorandum of understanding, TRU’s Law Library will now house all Canadian Centre for Elder Law publications, including the Practical Guide to Elder Abuse and Neglect Law in Canada.
The CCEL has operated since 2003 as a successful division of the law institute, researching and releasing over 30 publications and providing legal information and educational resources to a growing number of community organizations engaged with the field of aging.
“We are pleased that the TRU Faculty of Law will be continuing the CCEL’s important work. BCLI is proud of the CCEL’s accomplishments to date, and there is still much more to do,” said Ed Wilson, law institute board chair.
“The range of issues related to our aging populations is diverse and the need for innovative legal approaches is more important than ever. Hosting the CCEL is a wonderful opportunity for the TRU Faculty of Law to deepen our research and commitment to excellence in this area,” said Daleen Millard, TRU’s dean of law.
“We’d like to collectively thank all past staff of CCEL for their contributions to developing timely resources and capacity in the elder law sector,” Wilson said on behalf of himself and Millard.
The BCLI is BC’s independent not-for-profit law reform agency, conducting law reform projects in the public interest since 1997. The institute remains committed to research on elder law reform and will continue in collaboration with TRU Law on elder law projects.
New Guide: Trauma-Informed Legal Writing for a More Compassionate Legal System
Legal professionals and justice workers rely on written communication in all aspects of their work, including client relationships, advocacy, conflict resolution, and reporting decisions. Regardless of practice area, we write to, about, and on behalf of people who have experienced trauma.
The British Columbia Law Institute has recently released its Guide to Trauma-Informed Legal Writing. This Guide is meant to be a resource for anyone working in or around the justice system. It seeks to equip legal professionals with practical tools to produce clear, compassionate, and legally rigorous documents that are sensitive to the needs of those affected by trauma.
New Guide for Legal Professionals Advising on Estate Planning for First Nations on Reserves
Estate planning and will drafting for First Nations individuals living on reserves involve distinct legal and practical issues. Practitioners providing these services must be aware of these in providing legal services in these areas to residents of reserves.
The British Columbia Law Institute has developed the Guide to Wills and Estates For First Nations Clients Living on Reserves for legal professionals in British Columbia who advise First Nations clients but may not specialize in Aboriginal law or estate matters.
BCLI created this Guide with Call to Action No. 27 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in mind. This call highlights the need for legal professionals to be knowledgeable and culturally aware when providing services to Indigenous peoples.
Mathew Good Memorial Prize Essay Contest for BC Law Students
The British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI), with the support of Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia (CBABC), is pleased to announce the launch of the annual Mathew Good Memorial Prize, an essay contest for law students.
The contest invites British Columbia law students to submit essays addressing issues of access to justice and law reform. The author of the winning essay will receive a $1,000 prize, generously sponsored by the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
Submissions are due by May 2, 2025, and the winning essay will be announced in June 2025. The prize-winning paper will also be eligible for publication on BCLI’s website and in BarTalk by the CBABC.
For more information about submission guidelines, eligibility, and judging criteria, please visit the contest page at bcli.org/matgoodprize.
MARIA MICHOURIS
Pension division reform and fifth edition Q+A updates
KEVIN ZAKRESKI
Public hearings committee completes review of draft report
