A2J Week 2026
What Works, What’s Next.
Registration Now Open!
The annual Access to Justice Week events will once again be hosted by the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, the Law Society of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Bar Association.
All events are free and open to the public.
Knocking on Justice's Door: Trans People and the Law
Monday, October 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
This will be a virtual event, hosted by the MBA’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) Section.
The panel discussion will bring together advocates from various corners of the justice system that intersect with trans issues and individuals. The conversation will focus on the legal issues currently facing trans people in Canada, with particular attention to Manitoba. Topics will touch on active litigation, research, human rights, legislation, and community advocacy. This discussion is intended for anyone interested in understanding the current legal environment for trans people in Canada — including legal professionals, advocates, service providers, and community members — and will offer attendees a clearer picture of both the challenges trans communities face and the work being done to address them.
Law Society of Manitoba members: This program is eligible for 1.5 hours of CPD, all of which are considered EPPM. You must manually record these hours in your CPD Tracker.
Membres du Barreau du Manitoba: ce programme est admissible pour 1.5 heure de perfectionnement professionnel permanent, qui sont toutes considérées comme relevant de l’EPPM. Vous devez enregistrer manuellement ces heures dans votre CPD Tracker.
Allison Fenske
Allison Fenske joined the Faculty of Law in 2023 as Clinical Counsel and serves as Director of the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre (UMCLC), a partnership with Legal Aid Manitoba. She is also developing an International Human Rights Clinic and teaches as a sessional instructor.
Called to the Manitoba Bar in 2008, Allison has practised in human rights and constitutional law, representing equity-deserving communities before courts and administrative tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Her advocacy focuses on social inclusion and advancing the rights of communities affected by systemic and state oppression.
Max Harley
Max Harley (they/them) is the Program Manager, Learning and Change at Rainbow Resource Centre. They hold a BA (Hons.) from the University of Manitoba in History where their research focused primarily on contemporary Canadian queer movement histories. Prior to their current role at Rainbow Resource Centre they previously worked at the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, and as the Volunteer Coordinator at Rainbow Resource Centre. They are an avid cyclist, a baker, and shop steward of their workplace.
Lou Lamari
Lou Lamari is a Winnipeg-based lawyer and co-chair of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC) section of the Manitoba Bar Association. Lou holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies and has published work on gender representation in children’s media, examining how exposure to gender narratives shapes societal understanding later in life. While attending law school at the University of Manitoba, Lou was a founding member of the Trans ID Clinic, hosted at the Rainbow Resource Centre in partnership with Pro Bono Students Canada. Lou regularly gives public legal education presentations on everyday issues affecting the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Outside of law, Lou volunteers as a facilitator for one of the Rainbow Resource Centre’s community groups.
Karen Sharma
Karen Sharma (she/her) is a first-generation South Asian living in Winnipeg – Treaty One territory. Karen is currently the Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, where she has worked for the past eleven years. As the Commission’s Executive Director, Karen leads the promotion and protection of human rights in Manitoba through administration of Manitoba’s human rights complaints system; the development of policy and research; and the delivery of human rights education. Prior to assuming this role, Karen worked with the Commission as the Director of Investigations and Policy.
Karen currently serves as the Chairperson of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies.
Karen started her career with Manitoba’s public service in 2002. Prior to joining the Commission, she held policy and leadership positions with Manitoba Labour and Immigration and Manitoba Advanced Education and Training.
In addition to her professional work, she currently serves on the board of directors of Manitoba Possible and the Manitoba Council of Administrative Tribunals. Karen has co-organized Queer People of Colour Winnipeg, a collective that created programming that centered and celebrated Two-Spirit, Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, people of colour. She is a past chair of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Health Clinic.
Samuel Singer
Samuel Singer is an Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of Governance at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on tax law, non-profit and charity law, and trans legal issues. A long-time trans advocate, Professor Singer frequently presents his trans legal research to members of the legal community across Canada. His trans legal scholarship includes articles on trans legal strategies, the misgendering of trans people in legal proceedings, trans competent lawyering, and the tax treatment of trans medical expenses.
Before law school, Professor Singer worked with a trans advocacy organization in Montreal. He later supervised the Trans Legal Clinic in Montreal from 2014 to 2017. In 2022, Professor Singer received the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) Hero Award.
Oeuvrer ensemble vers un système de justice véritablement bilingue / Working Together Towards a Truly Bilingual Justice System
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
This will be a virtual event, hosted by The Law Society of Manitoba. Real-time translations will be available in French and English.
Join us for an engaging panel presentation about the work being done on many fronts to improve access to justice in French. Representatives from several organizations will share the activities they are working on, as well as the challenges faced and opportunities embraced along the way.
Law Society of Manitoba members: This program is eligible for 1.5 hours of CPD, all of which are considered EPPM. Law Society staff will enter the hours for this program into your CPD Tracker.
Membres du Barreau du Manitoba: ce programme est admissible pour 1.5 heure de perfectionnement professionnel permanent, qui sont toutes considérées comme relevant de l’EPPM. Le personnel du Barreau enregistrera les heures correspondant à ce programme dans votre CPD Tracker.
Ruphine Djuissi
Originaire du Cameroun et diplômée en droit de l’Université de Yaoundé II, Ruphine Djuissi s’est installée à Winnipeg en 2017 avec la conviction que la langue ne devrait jamais être un obstacle à la justice. En 2022, elle est devenue la première personne francophone formée à l’étranger à être admise au Barreau du Manitoba.
Elle a fondé Djuissi Law Office et s’est jointe à l’Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM), où elle milite pour l’égalité linguistique et l’accès à la justice dans les deux langues officielles. En tant que présidente sortante de la Section nationale des Juristes d’expression française de common law de l’ABC, et par son engagement auprès de la Société de la francophonie manitobaine (SFM), elle contribue à promouvoir l’inclusion et à réduire les barrières systémiques à l’échelle du Canada.
Originally from Cameroon and a law graduate of the University of Yaoundé II, Ruphine Djuissi moved to Winnipeg in 2017 with the conviction that language should never be a barrier to justice. In 2022, she became the first internationally trained Francophone person admitted to the Manitoba Bar.
She founded Djuissi Law Office and joined the Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM), advocating for linguistic equality and access to justice in both official languages. As immediate past president of the CBA’s French-Speaking Common Law Members National Section, and through her involvement with the Société de la francophonie manitobaine (SFM), she continues to advance inclusion and reduce systemic barriers across Canada.
Andrea Doyle
Depuis juillet 2023, Andréa R. Doyle est une Instructrice II à la Faculté de droit de l’Université du Manitoba (Robson Hall). Elle est également coordonnatrice de la Concentration en accès à la justice en français.
Andréa a obtenu un baccalauréat en droit à Robson Hall en 2009 et a été admise au Barreau du Manitoba en 2010. Elle est bilingue et a exercé le droit en anglais et en français au cabinet Thompson Dorfman Sweatman srl (TDS) pour treize ans.
Andréa a enseigné Négociation juridique en français depuis 2020 et elle a enseigné Recours juridiques en anglais pendant le semestre d’hiver 2023. Elle était l’entraîneuse de l’équipe de négociation en français qui a gagné deuxième place au Concours de négociation national canadien.
Andrea R. Doyle joined the faculty at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Robson Hall) as an Instructor II in July 2023. She is also the coordinator of the Concentration in Access to Justice in French.
Andrea graduated from Robson Hall with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2009 and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2010. She has had a broad practice with the firm Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) for thirteen years. Andrea is fluently bilingual and has practised law in both English and French.
Andrea has been a sessional instructor at Robson Hall since 2020 teaching the French section of Legal Negotiation (Négociation juridique). She also taught Remedies during the 2023 winter term. Andrea coached the French negotiation team that placed second in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition.
Brigitte Kutin Nuamah
Brigitte obtained her Bachelor of Art’s degree in French, Sociology & Social Work at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in Ghana. She moved to Canada and persued a Master of Arts degree in French from the University of Manitoba, where she was awarded an Erasmus + scholarship for an exchange program at the University of Caen Normandi in France in 2017.
With passion for justice and a deep commitment to helping people, Brigitte enrolled in the French Common Law program at the University of Ottawa in 2020. Upon graduating in 2023, she articled at AJEFM/Infojustice MB and McIntosh Law in Winnipeg and was called to the Manitoba Bar in June 2024. She now serves as a lawyer at AJEFM/Infojustice MB where she provides legal services to the French speaking community in Manitoba.
Nicholas Liang
Nicholas Liang est le directeur général adjoint par intérim du Service de règlement des litiges familiaux (SRLF) au sein de Justice Manitoba. Il a rejoint le gouvernement du Manitoba en 2022 et travaille avec le SRLF depuis 2023. Depuis son arrivée au SRLF, il a contribué aux efforts visant à faire progresser l’accès à la justice des Manitobains qui font historiquement face à de nombreux obstacles. Il a notamment contribué au récent lancement du Centre de services en français pour l’accès à la justice de Saint-Boniface. Avant ses débuts au gouvernement, Nicholas a obtenu une maîtrise en économie auprès de l’Université de Victoria. Ayant parfait son éducation au sein de programmes d’immersion, il se considère comme un éternel apprenant du français.
Nicholas Liang is the Acting Associate Executive Director of Manitoba Justice’s Family Resolution Service (FRS). Nicholas joined the Government of Manitoba in 2022 and has worked with the FRS since 2023. Since joining the FRS, he has contributed to initiatives advancing access to justice for Manitobans who have faced historical barriers. Notably, he contributed to the recent launching of the Access to Justice – Francophone Service Hub located in St. Boniface. Prior to joining government, Nicholas received a graduate degree in economics from the University of Victoria. A graduate of Manitoba’s French immersion program, Nicholas considers himself a lifelong learner of French.
Betta Wishart
Betta a obtenu ses diplômes de common law et de droit civil de l’Université McGill en 2003. Elle a travaillé chez le cabinet Fasken à Montréal et ensuite à Vancouver avant de quitter la pratique privée pour travailler auprès du tuteur et curateur public de Colombie-Britannique. Depuis 2018, elle travaille pour le Barreau du Manitoba. Elle a passé sept ans en tant que conseillère de programmes, responsable pour l’organisation des séances de perfectionnement professionnel permanent dans divers domaines du droit.. Depuis août 2025, elle occupe les fonctions de conseillère en matière de politiques et de conseillère des services en langue française.
Betta graduated from McGill University in 2003 with degrees in common law and civil law. She worked for the law firm Fasken in Montréal and subsequently in Vancouver before leaving private practice for an in-house counsel position with The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia. Since 2018, she has worked for The Law Society of Manitoba. She spent seven years as Program Counsel responsible for organising continuing professional development programs in various areas of law. Since August 2025 she has been the Law Society’s Policy Counsel and Conseillère des services en langue française.
Sweat Lodge Ceremony
Friday, October 30, 2026, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Sagkeeng First Nation, Lot 3 South Shore, Fort Alexander, Manitoba.
This will be an in-person event in Sagkeeng First Nation. Transportation will be available (limited spots) and lunch will be provided.
The Sweat Lodge Ceremony is known by different names in Indigenous languages across Turtle Island. While the English term “sweat lodge” describes the physical aspect of the ceremony, it does not encompass its full meaning. The ceremony incorporates the four elements of the Earth. Fire heats the Grandfathers and Grandmothers—the stones brought into the lodge, which are honoured for their age, knowledge, and teachings. The dome-shaped lodge represents a mother’s womb and is understood as a place of safety, healing, reflection, and renewal. Water or medicine is poured over the heated stones, creating steam that may be understood as the Creator’s breath. Sweating is understood as part of a cleansing process and, symbolically, as a process of rebirth. Participants may experience healing, reflection, and renewal through the ceremony.
Teachings and protocols vary among communities and lodges, including expectations regarding attire, preparation, and participation. Those wishing to participate should speak directly with the Conductor or Knowledge Keeper responsible for the lodge and follow their guidance.
Law Society of Manitoba members: This program is eligible for 7 hours of CPD, all of which are considered EPPM. You must manually record these hours in your CPD Tracker.
Membres du Barreau du Manitoba: ce programme est admissible pour 7 heure de perfectionnement professionnel permanent, qui sont toutes considérées comme relevant de l’EPPM. Vous devez enregistrer manuellement ces heures dans votre CPD Tracker.
Sweat Lodge Ceremony – Pre-Learning
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, 260 St. Mary Ave #200, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
This optional, in-person event will be held at the Law Society of Manitoba office and led by Robert Hotomani, Knowledge Holder. It will offer legal professionals an opportunity to learn about the teachings and protocols of Turtle Lodge and to deepen their understanding of how to respectfully engage with the Lodge and its ceremonies.
Law Society of Manitoba members: This program is eligible for 1.5 hours of CPD, all of which are considered EPPM. You must manually record these hours in your CPD Tracker.
Membres du Barreau du Manitoba: ce programme est admissible pour 1.5 heure de perfectionnement professionnel permanent, qui sont toutes considérées comme relevant de l’EPPM. Vous devez enregistrer manuellement ces heures dans votre CPD Tracker.