Author: Melissa Burkett

MARCH

• Book Club – join other members in a quarterly book club to read and discuss an agreed-upon reading list, meet new people, and share new perspectives.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

APRIL

• Networking Evening – the AWL is hosting a networking event for members at a locally owned business to support Calgary-owned small businesses and provide an opportunity for members to network with others in the legal community.
• Educational Initiative (Women and Mental Health during the Pandemic) – the mental health burden has been borne disproportionally by women during the pandemic. The AWL is pleased to host Loraine Champion, the Executive Director of the Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society, to discuss mental health in the legal profession, the impact of the pandemic on women’s mental health, and resources available through ASSIST and CAMH. Event is a collaboration between the AWL and LEAD Alberta.
• Mystery Lunch – join 5 other members for lunch at a mystery restaurant for an opportunity to meet and network with other women lawyers in a variety of practice areas and stages.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

MAY

• Spring Celebration – a night to celebrate new women lawyers joining the Calgary bar!
• Networking Dog Walks – join your fellow women lawyers for some good conversation, sunshine, exercise and puppies as we gather in a designated spot to walk our dogs and enjoy each other’s company. No dogs required!
• Book Club – join other members in a quarterly book club to read and discuss an agreed-upon reading list, meet new people, and share new perspectives.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

JUNE

• Networking Dog Walks – join your fellow women lawyers for some good conversation, sunshine, exercise and puppies as we gather in a designated spot to walk our dogs and enjoy each other’s company. No dogs required!
• Mystery Lunch – join 5 other members for lunch at a mystery restaurant for an opportunity to meet and network with other women lawyers in a variety of practice areas and stages.
• Inaugural AWL Racialized Women Lawyers Dinner Series – a collaboration between the AWL and other industry organizations to provide a space for racialized lawyers to socialize, network and mentor. All are welcome.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

JULY

• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

AUGUST

• Golf Tournament – Join AWL for the Annual Golf Tournament! Every year this event provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, network with clients and colleagues, and enjoy a fun day of golf. The golf tournament is one of AWL’s longest standing and most successful annual events.  Members are invited to play, and to invite colleagues and clients to join them. 
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

SEPTEMBER

• Book Club – join other members in a quarterly book club to read and discuss an agreed-upon reading list, meet new people, and share new perspectives.
• AWL Racialized Women Lawyers Dinner Series – a collaboration between the AWL and other industry organizations to provide a space for racialized lawyers to socialize, network and mentor. All are welcome.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

OCTOBER

• Mystery Lunch – join 5 other members for lunch at a mystery restaurant for an opportunity to meet and network with other women lawyers in a variety of practice areas and stages.
• Networking Evening – the AWL is hosting a networking event for members at a locally owned business to support Calgary-owned small businesses and provide an opportunity for members to network with others in the legal community.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

NOVEMBER

• Book Club – join other members in a quarterly book club to read and discuss an agreed-upon reading list, meet new people, and share new perspectives.
• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

DECEMBER

• Mothers in the Law Online Zoom Playdate – the last Tuesday of every month, Wilma Shim hosts a play date by Zoom from 1 to 2 pm. Members are welcome to bring their children or join on their own.

JANAURY (2023)

• Canmore Retreat – join the AWL Board and members for a weekend of professional discussion, relaxation and great company from January 27 to 29, 2023

Hello AWL members!

Hollywood’s biggest night is on Sunday, March 27, 2022 and in the spirit of friendly competition and the love of film, AWL is sponsoring a prize for best Oscar Ballot.

Please follow these easy steps to be entered to win a $200 donation in your name sponsored by AWL (to an organization approved by the AWL board) and $100 Gift Certificate to the newly reopened Plaza Theatre in Kensington.

To participate:

1. Make sure you are a member of AWL. You can log in on our website or pick the join us button at https://awlcalgary.ca/
2. If you have any issues please contact Crystle Hug at chug@sbllaw.ca
3. Download your ballot at Vanity Fair
4. Send your completed ballot to Crystle Hug at chug@sbllaw.ca prior to the starting of the program. (Late ballots will not be accepted).

May the best woman win!!!

The AWL is currently accepting applications for membership to its Board of Directors. Please send a brief resume or biography along with two references to Melanie Gaston at megaston@osler.com by no later than 4 pm on December 1, 2021.

The annual general meeting of the members of the Association of Women Lawyers (Calgary) will be held virtually as follows:

December 7, 2021

12:00 pm

Calgary, Alberta

By Zoom

All AWL members are encouraged to attend and can access the Minutes from the 2020 AGM, as well as zoom information for the meeting in the “Members Only” section of the website after logging into their account.

Many thanks to everyone who attended this year’s golf tournament! It was a great success and we had a fantastic turnout in a safe environment.

Thanks to Lynx Ridge Golf Club for hosting and to our board member, Kara Davis, for organizing.

Lastly, congratulations to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams! See you next year!

• First place: Deanna Steblyk, QC (ASC), Honourable Justice Johanna Price (ABQB), Jody Saunders (WCB), and Michelle Colley (Carbert Waite)
• Second place: Ali Hyde (Blakes), Alexa Rudakoff (Blakes), and Sydney Kitchen (Blakes)
• Third place: Karlen Majcher (TransAlta), Michelle Holmes (Torys), Chloe Sadler (PwC), and Mel Gabel (PureWeb)

The AWL Chooses to Challenge for International Women’s Day 2021! We will be making a monetary and time donation to the Elizabeth Fry Society so that more women can access legal services.

As the time for membership renewals approaches, we of the AWL Board wanted to share with our current members and potential new members some important changes to the 2021 membership structure.

In recognition of the constraints on our ability to provide programming during the pandemic and the additional hardships this pandemic has created for many of our members, we as a Board have decided to waive membership fees for all renewing and new members for 2021.

We will continue to offer events online in 2021, including a three-part Allyship, Diversity and Inclusion Series launching on January 27, 2021, as well as virtual networking nights, mystery lunches, mothers in the law playdates, and speaker events. And we remain committed to developing and offering events that allow our members to connect and develop professionally within the constraints we, as so many organizations, continue to face.

Maintaining and strengthening our community of women lawyers in Calgary and supporting the individuals who create this community remain driving objectives of the AWL. Our decision to waive membership fees for 2021 is one concrete step we have decided to take to advance these objectives and acknowledge the disproportionate impact that this pandemic has had on women.

However, many of our operating expenses remain ongoing, and our ability to offer quality programming to our members relies importantly on our funds. To that end, we would greatly appreciate any members who are able and willing to continue with their paid membership do so. We have also included an option on our renewal page for renewing and new members to sponsor memberships for those who may have difficulty paying.

Join / Renew

The annual general meeting of the members of the Association of Women Lawyers (Calgary) will be held virtually as follows:

December 1, 2020

12:00 pm

Calgary, Alberta

By Zoom

All AWL members are encouraged to attend and can access the Minutes from the 2019 AGM, as well as zoom information for the meeting in the “Members Only” section of the website after logging into their account.