A constitutional cop‑out: Federal government passes the buck on conversion therapy

April 1st, 2019 by Michael Hackl

This article was first published on rabble.ca

The federal government missed an opportunity to introduce a significant protection for the LGBTQ community by failing to take steps to ban conversion therapy (the discredited practice of trying to convert individuals with non-heterosexual sexual orientations to heterosexuality under the guise of therapy). Instead, in its response to a petition calling for a ban on conversion therapy the federal government passed the buck to the provinces and territories.

The petition and the government’s response

On February 1, NDP MP Sheri Benson presented a petition to the House of Commons seeking a ban on conversion therapy, with a focus on protecting minors. The petition pointed out that organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Canadian Psychological Association have issued statements indicating that the practice is not supported by scientific research, lacks medical justification, and rather than providing assistance to affected individuals, can have significant adverse effects on their mental and physical health.

Continue reading “A constitutional cop‑out: Federal government passes the buck on conversion therapy”

Seniors Co-Housing:
Re-Thinking Traditional Housing Models for Canada’s Growing Senior Population

March 28th, 2019 by Brian Iler and Claudia Pedrero

This article was originally prepared for the Ontario Bar Association’s Real Property Law & Elder Law program on March 22, 2019

The Toronto Star recently featured a High Park co-housing project – Wine on the Porch. That project, its story, and a small handful of others like it, has helped spark renewed interest in co-housing (or collaborative housing) in Ontario.

That story began:

“It began half in jest — two couples enjoying their annual weekend getaway, strolling the streets of Stratford, Ont., wistfully admiring the pretty Victorians and wondering aloud about the future.

“Would it be feasible to avoid the loneliness that creeps with age by joining forces in a private home with room for shared meals and laughter and cosy nooks for private chats or reading?”

Continue reading “Seniors Co-Housing: <br/>Re-Thinking Traditional Housing Models for Canada’s Growing Senior Population”

Client Profile: Canadian Mental Health Association York and South Simcoe

March 27th, 2019 by Iler Campbell

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) York and South Simcoe is a branch of CMHA National and works to promote mental health for all and assist with the recovery of those living with mental illness and addiction. CMHA works toward this mission by providing education and resources about mental health, and offers a range of supports and services. CMHA York and South Simcoe serves York Region and South Simcoe County through several locations in these areas.

CMHA recognizes that mental health is something that affects us all, and it is important to educate people on the importance of taking care of their mental health and destigmatizing mental illness. One in three people in Canada will experience mental health problems or illness.

Continue reading “Client Profile: Canadian Mental Health Association York and South Simcoe”

Spring event roundup

March 13th, 2019 by Iler Campbell

It’s been a long, snowy winter and we’re more than ready to emerge again to engage with our clients and others in the sector.  Please check us out at these spring events!

Please say “hi” if you’re at these events.   We look forward to seeing you.

Webinar recording and slides: Good practices for using the internet and social media to promote your organization

March 13th, 2019 by Iler Campbell

Does your organization have a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account, or any other social media accounts? Does it have a website, or a blog? Does it have any sort of internal network linking members or stakeholders? These tools can be powerful ways to get out information; they can reach far more people than the old fashioned newsletter or bulletin board. However, there are risks to having tools to get information out to more people, more quickly – when the information is defamatory or discriminatory, or otherwise problematic, having it distributed on line can create serious problems.

Iler Campbell lawyer, Shelina Ali discussed these issues in a webinar last Friday. A recording of it is now online. Check it out below. You can download a copy of her slideshow here.

Supreme Court’s Jarvis decision re-examines privacy in public places

March 5th, 2019 by Brynn Leger

This article was first published on rabble.ca

In R v Jarvis, an Ontario high school teacher was charged with voyeurism after secretly taking videos of his female students’ chests with a camera pen. Intuitively, Jarvis’ actions seem wrong. But the trial court and Court of Appeal acquitted him. The Supreme Court overturned those decisions and convicted Jarvis, updating the analysis of “reasonable expectation of privacy” in the process. Continue reading “Supreme Court’s Jarvis decision re-examines privacy in public places”