ImmigrantLegal.ca

On July 1, 2010, the B.C. Supreme Court’s rules for civil law and family law changed significantly. This presentation by Family Lawyer, J.P Boyd provides those working in the field of family law with an overview of these changes, including an introduction to the new forms, terminology, and timelines used in their administration.

Part 1 – Introduction: The “Notice of Family Claim”
Part 2 – Commencing an action, Responding to an Action, Serving Documents
Part 3 – Serving documents (continued,) Scheduling Appearances, Making an Application
Part 4 – Responding to an Application, Timelines

Marylou Leung provides a brief overview of Canada’s Justice System. She introduces the The Immigrant Legal Toolkit, a resource designed for settlement workers and their clients who are seeking legal information about family law and domestic violence. The audience is then provided with examples of cases that give them the opportunity to practice using the Toolkit.

1. An overview of the Canadian Justice System
2. Types and Sources of Canadian Law
3. An Example of a Case: The Legal Issues
4. An Example of a Case: Issues for Settlement Workers
5. Making Referrals
6. Introduction to the Toolkit
7. Keeping the Toolkit Up to Date
8. An Overview of the Toolkit
9. Locating the Tool
10. Locating the Tool (cont’d)

Sandra Wilking, the IPC Project Manager, moderates a panel of experts in the areas of family law and domestic violence. The Q & A reveals the relationship between family law, domestic violence, immigration and settlement issues, and explores some of the ways that these areas can intersect and overlap.

The members of the panel are: Judge Carol Huddart British Columbia Court of Appeal; Elizabeth Araujo, Family Justice Centre; Margaret Florczyka, counsellor, Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Services Society; and, Deanna Okun-Nachoff, Immigration Lawyer, McCrea & Associates.

Part 1 – Introduction and Opening Remarks: Hon. Justice Carol Huddart and Elizabeth Araujo
Part 2 – Introduction and Opening Remarks: Margaret Florczyk and Deanna Okun-Nachoff
Part 3 – Q & A
Part 4 – Q & A
Part 5 – Q & A
Part 6 – Q & A
Part 7 – Q & A

Shashi Assanand, Executive Director, Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society, provides an overview of current Canadian demographic trends to illustrate the notion that “Canada belongs to the world.” She discusses the complex process of settlement, highlighting some of the systemic and cultural barriers that immigrant women encounter when trying to access services in Canada. She proposes that a multicultural, multi-agency model is necessary in order to understand and respond to the needs of immigrant women experiencing domestic violence in Canada.

Part 1 – Immigration and Canada: Past, Present, and Future
Part 2 – The Settlement Process Immigration Process
Part 3 – Understanding and Responding to Immigrant Women’s experiences of domestic violence