Holly Reid, Blakes Associate, accepts the 2010 "Canada's Best Diversity Employers" award.
	Linc Rogers and Melanie Gaston Win First Blakes Diversity Champion Award [read more]
	Blakes Scholar in Residence Peter Hogg at the recent Black Law Students' Association of Canada (BLSAC) conference in Montréal.

Equity & Diversity

Blakes has been named one of "Canada's Best Diversity Employers" for 2010. This is the third consecutive year the Firm has received this award.

Blakes is committed to providing legal services with a workplace environment rich in perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. Diversity strengthens the Firm, making it more effective in competing in an international marketplace and representing our multinational client base.

For many years, Blakes has participated in an array of programs, such as the Rotman/University of Toronto Program for Women in Law, The Judy Project, the New Pioneers Awards, Law in Action within Schools (LAWS)/Blakes Mentoring Program, as well as many community outreach programs. Blakes also periodically publishes the Blakes Bulletin on Equity & Diversity, holds Firm seminars on subjects related to equity and diversity, and supports a number of ongoing initiatives. In 2008, the Firm launched the Women at Blakes network for women legal professionals at the Firm, and last summer, Blakes celebrated its second annual Multiculturalism Day. The events in our various offices were organized to recognize diversity at Blakes and featured music, food, and information about a number of cultures and groups.

And we are always adding new initiatives, some of which include:

Urban Financial Services Coalition: Blakes has been acting as pro bono counsel to the Toronto chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) since July 2008. A not-for-profit organization, UFSC is dedicated to promoting the growth of minority professionals in all areas of financial services. UFSC also seeks to promote financial fluency and increase awareness of personal finance issues in disadvantaged and minority communities. Several of our lawyers are active in the organization and contribute to UFSC's various educational and professional development initiatives, including by serving on UFSC's corporate advisory board and leading professional development seminars at its general meetings.

University of Calgary: Blakes was instrumental in the inception and launch of an annual seminar for female law students on practice issues and opportunities.

The Law Society of Alberta's Working Group for the Retention of Women in the Practice of Law: Blakes is a founding member of the Law Society's Working Group and has been instrumental in implementing a number of programs aimed at supporting and educating young women lawyers and law students in the Calgary legal community. The expectation is that more far reaching programs will evolve with our Firm’s continued involvement.

The Justicia Project: Blakes is participating in this Law Society of Upper Canada initiative aimed at increasing the retention of women in private practice.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary: Blakes has been providing pro bono legal services regarding a variety of corporate matters to support the delivery of the Clubs' broad range of services for various challenged minority, socio-economic, immigrant and aboriginal communities. This includes providing an annual Blakes scholarship for youth who have forged their way through periods of homelessness to further their educational pursuits and find self-sufficiency.

To learn more about the Firm’s commitment to equity and diversity, please contact either David Tupper or Andrea York, Co-chairs of our Equity & Diversity Committee. Or, you may click here for more information on our equity and diversity programs at Blakes.