FOLA Congratulates 2023 Award Winners

The Federation of Ontario Law Associations (FOLA) congratulates its 2023 award winners Michelle Gerrits, Mary-Jo Petsche, and Kelli-Ann Day. They will be honoured at FOLA’s Spring Plenary, which is taking place from May 8 to 10 in Toronto.

Luminary Award: Michelle Gerrits

The Luminary Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of law association staff to the functioning of their local law library, their law association, and local justice system.

Michelle Gerrits, Manager and Librarian of the Lambton Law Association, relentlessly and tirelessly leads the management of the library and law association. She developed the association website which was critical during the COVID-19 shutdown and resulting virtual operations. She also spearheaded the acquisition and facilitation of an integrated system which allowed the development of her association’s own catalogue and circulation system, which includes a computerized self-serve checkout. She has sat on the Ontario Courthouse Libraries Association Board as Treasurer, and on the LiRN Library Advisory Team.

Luminary Award: Mary-Jo Petsche

Mary-Jo Petsche, Executive Director of the Welland County Law Association, has pushed the association forward with her creativity and vision. She has developed ambitious CPD programs in legal technology, made resources available across the region, and organized mentoring programs for new counsel.  She has been a member of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries since 2001 and served on numerous committees. She is currently the Vice-President One on the CALL/ACBD Board. She is a member of the Ontario Courthouse Libraries Association where she served as Chair from 2004 to 2006. Mary-Jo joined LibraryCo Inc. as a Director from 2004 to 2007. She was also a member of the Library Committee of the County and District Law Presidents Association from 2007 to 2014.

Emerging Leader Award: Kelli-Anne Day

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a recently-called licensee of the Law Society of Ontario who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made exemplary contributions to their county or district law association.

Kelli-Anne Day, has developed a reputation for being an excellent advocate with unparalleled integrity, and is an accomplished litigator with Black & Associates. She has been instrumental in the co-creation of the Ottawa Pro Bono Employment Law Legal Clinic and leading as the Clinic Director. She has helped lead the Advocacy Club, created programming at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, contributed to the running of the New Lawyers and Students Submit with the County of Carleton Law Association’s (CCLA) Young Lawyers Committee, and shapes the direction of the CCLA as a member of the Board of Trustees.

President’s Award

The Presidents’ Award recognizes a long-serving member of a county or district law association who has made outstanding contributions to their association and/or to the community or profession.

The President’s Award was not awarded in 2023.

Nominations for 2024 Awards

Through our award series, FOLA recognizes exceptional contributions and leadership by members and staff of Ontario’s county and district law associations. Award recipients are typically announced at FOLA’s November plenary and presented at a future event held by the local law association. Nominations are accepted until September 30, 2024. The nomination form is available here and when completed may be submitted to kelly.lovell@fola.ca.

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“FOLA’s awards series recognizes the leadership and dedication of members of local legal communities across Ontario and their contributions to the justice system. From the service of these individuals service, lawyers, paralegals, courts, and the public benefit from high-quality legal services in every part of the province. On behalf of FOLA’s board of directors, congratulations to the 2023 award recipients.”

– Douglas W. Judson, Chair of FOLA

About FOLA

FOLA is a non-profit organization that represents Ontario’s 46 county and district law associations, and about 12,000 lawyers. Most of FOLA’s members are sole practitioners or work in small firms across the province.

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Contact:

Ian Hu

Director of Policy and Advocacy

Federation of Ontario Law Associations

Email: ian.hu@fola.ca