Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Policy: Where is it Headed?
Sponsored by Canadian Law Society & Courthouse Library Director’s Group

During the years when the majority of people arrived in Canada by boat, Halifax’s Pier 21 was the place where nearly all immigrants to Canada first landed. (More than a million immigrants entered Canada through Pier 21 in Halifax between 1928 and 1971). Following Sunday night’s opening reception at Pier 21, where conference attendees will have a chance to tour the interactive museum, Monday’s plenary will focus on our country’s current immigration and refugee legislation, its intent, its application and its interpretation by the courts.

Speakers:

Rick Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and MulticulturalismImmigration And Multiculturalism.

M. Lee Cohen, Barrister & Solicitor.

Dr. Marguerite Cassin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University, Director, Metropolis Centre

Chair: Peter Lambly, Research Coordinator, Nova Scotia Legal Aid.



The Technology of Law
Sponsored by Irwin Law

While courses on the law of technology are common in law schools, only a few faculties of law offer classes on the technology of law. One such class is “Neteracy for Lawyers” at the University of Pittsburgh in which students learn how to create online legal content for the Internet and intranets. The students experience first-hand that the World Wide Web requires them to re-think how they read, write and present information in a dynamic and interactive medium. They are also taught that they have an obligation to contribute to the quality and quantity of online legal information so that the Internet can be a useful and credible public legal information source. In this plenary, Professor Hibbitts, who teaches “Neteracy for Lawyers”, will share his thoughts and expertise with law librarians, who are also consumers and creators of online legal information.

Speaker:

Bernard J. Hibbitts, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh; Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of JURIST.


Planning for Palliative and End of Life Care: What I Need to Know about the Law; What I Need to Ask the Lawyer

Increasingly, the Baby Boomer generation is faced with the challenges of providing long term care for aging family members. This raises legal and ethical questions for caregivers and their loved ones. Law librarians are challenged professionally and, in many cases, personally to provide information on a topic that is covered by a patchwork quilt of legislation, jurisdictional differences and case law precedent. This panel will focus on palliative care, advanced directives and living wills, providing an overview of the state of the law in Canada on end of life issues and discussing critical issues and key cases.

Speakers:

Professor Jocelyn Downie, B.A. (1984, Queen's); M.A. (1985, Queen's); M.Litt. (1990, Cambridge); LL.B. (1993, Toronto); LL.M. (1996, Michigan); S.J.D. (1999, Michigan). Professor Downie is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and Professor, Faculties of Law and Medicine.

Jeanne Desveaux, Barrister & Solicitor, Halifax NS

Leah Hutt, Research Associate, Health Law Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS

Description of Awards Luncheon Speaker

Bruce Nunn, Mr. Nova Scotia Know-It-All

Bruce Nunn, a storyteller in Nova Scotia, has earned himself the nickname of Mr. Nova Scotia Know-It-All with his twisted but true tales extracted from the rich history and culture of this unique province. His storytelling style blends a fine mix of humour and history ... amusing slices of Nova Scotia life; dramatic sea adventures; interesting Nova Scotian links to major world events and famous people; stories of nostalgia, invention, family connections, heroism and some real oddities. He was a regular contributor to CBC’s Radio One and has appeared on CBC TV's program CBC News — Canada Now. Mr. Nunn has written several books, including History with a Twist , More History with a Twist and Buddy the Bluenose Reindeer.

Luncheon Sponsored by Carswell, a Thomson Reuters Business

 

Descriptions of Concurrent Program Sessions:

Life After Librarianship
Host: Program Committee

In times of economic downturn and institutional downsizing, the possibility of becoming a law librarian without a job may turn into a reality. What would you do? What skills have you acquired as a librarian that may stand you in good stead, not only to get a new job, but perhaps to change careers? Have you considered becoming a Facilities Manager? a Communications Officer? an Entrepreneur? the Proprietor of a Bed & Breakfast or Café? These speakers have done just that and will share their stories, demonstrating by real-life example how their skills and experiences as librarians prepared them for alternate career paths.

Speakers:

Sue Rigney, Manager, Justice Facilities, Dept. Justice and Attorney-General, Brisbane, Australia

Suzan Hebditch, Bailey House, Annapolis Royal

Research Matters:  Recent Research by CALL/ACBD Members
Host: Committee to Promote Research

Through grants, the CALL/ACBD Committee to Promote Research provides Association members with financial assistance to conduct research in many areas of interest to those working in law libraries. This focus on research is also part of CALL/ACBD's Working Plan and is important in fulfilling the Association's long-term goals. Recent grant recipients will discuss their projects – results, research process and methodology, publication and advice to researchers. The research topics are “The Pursuit of Happiness: Job Satisfaction in Canadian Law Libraries” and “The Role and Impact of Librarians in the History and Development of Public Legal Education in Canada”.

Speakers:

Nancy McCormack, Head, W.R. Lederman Law Library, Queen's University

Kirsten Wurmann, Librarian, Legal Resource Centre, Edmonton, Alberta



Making Some Room: Strategies that Turn New Staff Into New Leadership
Host: Education Committee

Whereas in the past 50 years challenged organizations to find jobs for people, the next 50 years will ask organizations to find people for jobs. Strategic planning in this environment needs to consider the strategic plan each individual in their organization has for their own desired career or lifestyle path. At this stage, current leaders need to think beyond setting an objective for a succession plan toward something more transformative -- creating an organization that preserves the wisdom of the old while making room for the wisdom of the new.
Focussed around this question of a transformative leadership strategy, this session is not your typical leadership presentation. Using a fishbowl discussion, Ryan Deschamps will "make some room" and challenge his audience to sense, presence and realise a strategy that attracts, keeps and grows an organization of leaders.
This presentation is intended to continue to build leadership skills in our members, and to continue the dialogue which has taken place at our CALL Conferences over the past two years.

Speaker:

Ryan Deschamps, e-Learning Manager, Halifax Public Libraries

And God Made Law. Talmudic Law and Shariah Law: Introduction and Discussion of Their Use in Canada.
Host: Academic SIG

With Ontario's 2007 announcement that it will end the use of faith-based arbitrations, new light was shone on the area of religious law. Scholars, lawyers on the global stage and local members of the legal community may raise questions about religious law at our reference desks. Law librarians should take this opportunity to learn more about two areas of religious law: Talmudic law and Shariah law, and understand how these areas of law have impacted Western legal education and concepts, and the difficulty in finding primary Jewish and Islamic law sources.

Speakers:

Professor Thomas Kuttner, Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick

Dr. Pascale Fournier, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa

Going Green in the Legal Environment
Host: Private Law Libraries Special Interest Group
Sponsored by Stewart McKelvey

Being “environmentally friendly” is at the top of everyone’s to do list these days. Whether it is an individual effort, a business initiative or part of a global response to climate change it is a growing concern throughout the country. The legal community is involved in doing its part to minimize its effect on the environment. Come hear how some of Atlantic Canada’s law firms are introducing “green initiatives” to their everyday practice of law.

Speakers:

Colin Piercey, Stewart McKelvey, Halifax – Sustainability Committee

Derek Simon, Patterson Law, Truro – Co-Chair, Green Team

Jane Gourley-Davis, Patterson Law, Truro – Co-Chair, Green Team

Kathy Johnston, Education Officer, Solid Waste Resources, Transportation & Public Works, Halifax Regional Municipality

Libraries in Canada's Prisons - Challenges and Perspectives
Host: Prison Library SIG

The focus of this presentation is to provide some insight into the state of Canada's prison libraries. The discussion will offer an overview of each region’s libraries, as well as how they are organized, staffed and funded. The speakers will touch on topics such as the prison subculture, censorship, collection development and literacy, in addition to the difficulties of developing national standards with respect to legal collections. These challenges not only relate to the cost and format of legal resources but also to the security considerations created by the availability of these resources to the inmate population.

Speakers:

Ronald Dalton, spokesperson for AIDWYC.

Kim Rempel, Librarian at William Head Prison.

Sharepoint : KM’s Swiss Army tool
Host: KM SIG
Sponsored by McInnes Cooper

This session will examine how Microsoft's SharePoint product is being used to facilitate legal Knowledge Management initiatives. From portals/intranets, social networking, and workflow solutions, SharePoint is a tool that law librarians and knowledge managers should be familiar with. Participants will discuss how their organizations are leveraging Sharepoint to facilitate collaboration and access to information.

Speakers:

Joshua Fireman, Vice-President and General Counsel, ii3 Inc.

Gail Rawlings, Chief, Technical Services, Library Supreme Court of Canada

Jenny Gray, Technology Integration Specialist, McInnes Cooper

Moderator: Kate Greene Stanhope, Regional Knowledge Management Librarian, McInnes Cooper

Reflections on Library Re-configuration, Renovation and Construction
Host: Department of Justice/Attorney General Library SIG

Does your library have a big change in its future? Are you facing a collection consolidation or refocus, a renovation, or even a new build? Come and learn from others' recent experiences! Organizations face many challenges when renovating or constructing client-centred library spaces. In addition to considerations of optimizing use of physical space, our panellists will discuss their collection concerns (electronic v. print, and others), associated client service issues, and their experiences in balancing the needs and desires of different stakeholders. They will also discuss the special concerns that their libraries faced: e.g. security; access; accommodations for unique parts of their collections; and so on. Whether change in your library is imminent or comfortably down the road, you'll leave this session with food for thought and many ideas for your own project!

Speakers:

Neil Campbell, Law Librarian, Associate University Librarian, University of Victoria

Rhonda O'Neill, Assistant Director, Alberta Law Libraries

Louis Mirando, Chief Law Librarian, Osgoode Hall Law School Library

Ready to Retire? An Overview of Pensions, Strategies and Understanding the Jargon
Host: Program Committee

The demographics of our membership show that many of us will be leaving the full time workforce over the next ten years. If you are looking forward – and ahead – to your retirement, this is a session you will want to attend.

• Do you know what pension income you have available to you?
• Do you know what money you need to set aside and what is already there for you?
• Do you have any strategies for preparing the way?
• Do you know the questions that you need to ask?
This session will discuss Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Defined Benefit and Pension Plans, Defined Contribution Plans, Capital Accruement Accounts, Tax Free Savings Accounts, co-ordination of benefits, and the pros and cons of an early (or late) retirement.

Speaker:

Jim Millard, Pension Administrator, B.C. Pension Corporation (retired)

Embedded Librarians: Our Future or Our Fear?
Host: Program Committee

Judith Siess can envision a future without libraries. Yes, without libraries...but with more librarians. Her reasoning is based on several facts. More and more resources are online, even ones formerly available only in print – and many are available only online. Users increasingly want resources only if they are online; they do not want to go to the library to find answers to their questions. Arguably, it is not fiscally responsible to require users to spend their valuable time coming to the library. Nor is it fiscally responsible to allow users to spend their valuable time looking for information online when they do not know where to search; do not know how to search (effectively); and, probably do not know how to determine if the information they find is correct or reliable. Come hear about Judith’s vision of a future without physical libraries but with librarians embedded within the units of the organization – librarians professionally trained not only in librarianship, with an emphasis on customer service, but also in the subject matter of their users, whether lawyers in law firm practice groups, professors in classrooms around campus; or, solicitors attached to various government departments.

Speaker:
Judith Siess,
Information Bridges International, Inc.

Best Practices: Training Our Users
Hosts: Academic / Courthouse & Law Society SIGs

Librarians, regardless of the position they hold or type of library they work in, are required to conduct some form of training from time-to-time, and for some librarians, almost on a daily basis. This training might be conducted in a classroom or office, over the telephone, or virtually using the World Wide Web. Adding to the challenge, the ages of the trainees may vary widely. In this session, the panelists will discuss best practices for tackling the challenges of training. The topics covered will include how to best conduct training via the telephone and with Web 2.0 technologies, as well as best practices for training adult learners from diverse generations.

Speakers:

Sam MacKenzie, Executive Learning Consultant, Carswell

Karen Neves, Librarian, W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library, Dalhousie University

Gayle Lynn-Nelson, Senior Lead, Librarian Relations Consultants, LexisNexis

E-Discovery: The Impact of New Rules of Court
Host: Program Committee

Electronic discovery has been a topic of increasing interest and concern in the legal profession in recent years. But the civil procedure rules under which e-discovery takes place originated long before electronic mail, word processing and the Internet created new obligations and problems for lawyers and their clients. Although data and information in electronic form (or similar wording) appeared in civil procedure rule definitions of document, courts have been ill-equipped to handle the many issues surrounding discovery of documents that are "born digital". On January 1, 2009, Nova Scotia implemented new Civil Procedure Rules, including Rule 16 which creates a comprehensive process for sorting, preserving and disclosing electronic information in litigation. While British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta have practice directions or notes governing e-discovery (and the United States amended its Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in 2006 to address electronic discovery), Nova Scotia's Rule 16 is the first such formalized Rule in Canada and it will effect enormous changes in the litigation process. Find out what these procedural changes will mean for judges, lawyers, clients and law librarians - not just in Nova Scotia, but throughout Canada - as other jurisdictions follow suit.

Speaker:
Thomas P. Donovan, Q.C., Cox & Palmer

Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Judiciary

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