President's Report 2021 - Chelsea Dubeau
First off, I wish to express my appreciation to our members as we continue to navigate and adapt to our new normal.
We have transitioned to virtual meetings and events, including our Lunch & Learn featuring the Honourable Judge K. Ferriss discussing the transition to the new Provincial Court Family Rules, and the first session of the Surrey “Inns of Court" mentoring program focussing on effective cross-examination techniques. The success of this program is the result of the collaboration and hard work of a dedicated committee including both judges and lawyers, and we look forward to future sessions ranging in topics addressing all areas of practice.
The SBA remains committed to supporting charities and local causes. This year we were able to provide donations and support to Access Pro Bono, as well as assist new lawyers building their practices in Surrey by offering Criminal Codes, White Books, and other resources at no cost. We continue to appreciate the donations and support from our members.
The Barrister’s Lounge continues to be operational, providing court users’ access to copying and caffeine. We appreciate the cooperation of our members with the Surrey Court COVID protocols.
Our membership has steadily increased over the last few years, and we look forward to meeting with each other in person again. 2022 looks to be the return of the Bench & Bar Dinner, Westminster County Golf Tournament, and of course, our infamous seasonal Minglers.
To the departing executive directors, it was a pleasure to work with you and I offer my sincere thanks for your contributions to the legal community in Surrey. It has been my pleasure to serve as president of the Surrey Bar Association over the past year.
Chelsea Dubeau, SBA President 2020-2021
