The Honourable Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré received a Doctor of Laws, honoris caisa degree (LL. D) from the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) in recognition of her outstanding achievements and contribution to the legal profession. The degree was presented to her at the Toronto Call to the Bar on June 26, 2017. Each year, LSUC confers this honour on distinguish members of our noble profession at the Call to the Bar ceremonies in London, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario. The 2017 awardees included former Treasurer, Thomas G. Conway, The Honourable George R. Strathy, Chief Justice of Ontario, and Thomas G. Heintzman, OC, QC.
Westmoreland-Traoré's dogged decision to be an independent woman, her passion for, and resolute commitment to equality, social justice, and the Rule of Law inspired her to choose a career in law. Having achieved a PhD, first class, from Université de Paris, in 1969, Westmoreland-Traoré entered the frontier of justice in Quebec. She would spend over four decades in the trenches of the legal profession serving, musing, and trailblazing in many capacities - educator, advocate, mentor, dean and jurist, debunking the vestiges of discrimination in Canada, and around the world.
Her perspicacity, sound rearing by parents, and an innate intellect have boded well as she navigated her legal career during pivotal points of Canadian legal history: from the computer-room riot of Black and Caribbean students at Sir George Williams in 1969, to the Front de libération du Québec , the 1970 October Crisis, primarily in the Montreal area in the province of Quebec, the patriation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in April 1982, to Employment Equity in Ontario, to racial profiling, just to name a few.
She models the highest community standards, embodying what it means "to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly”
Westmoreland-Traoré began her legal career when the legal profession was a frigid zone for women, and even more so for Women-of-Colour. That was a pivotal point where women - Quebecois, and People-of-Colour overtly began to assert their right to fundamental rights and a progression of firsts in the Black legal communities. At the Montreal law firm of Bernard Mergler, who was known for his work in human rights and civil liberties, she found a veritable camp to launch, cultivate and hone her passion and commitment to equality, social justice, and the Rule of Law.
Westmoreland-Traoré's career was a progression of firsts in the Black legal communities. In March 2012,
“Some in our profession are recognized for their significant contributions to the private practice of law, or to legal academia, or to public service or to the judiciary. Remarkably, over her distinguished career, the Hon. Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré has made stellar contributions not only to one or two, but to all. This fact alone merits tremendous respect. Moreover, for her many admirers, it is impossible to pay tribute to her without recognizing how seamlessly she combines intellect, integrity and grace. She has not only inspired many from a distance; she has tirelessly mentored generations of legally trained professionals, including myself. She models the highest community standards, embodying what it means "to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly”.
Tamara Johnson, an award-winning Associate General Counsel - labour Relations, OPTrust, and a protégé, and alumna of Windsor Law, remarks about Westmoreland-Traoré's, "Despite holding this prestigious position [Dean of Law]...she offered to give me driving lessons", and "invited some students to her" swearing-in rite. "Throughout my career, Juanita was always there to provide me with advice. In addition to being a brilliant employment equity advocate, lawyer and judge, she is an exceptional mentor," Johnson states.
CELEBRATING THE HONOURABLE JUANITA WESTMORELAND-TRAORÉ
Legal Icon Westmoreland-Traoré Awarded LL. D by the Law Society of Upper Canada
8 BLawyerisH/July, 2017
Photography by: Yasemin Kant