PBSC Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award
- Apr 15
- 13 min read
Photos by Arad Shadmani
Established in 2019, the Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award honours outstanding PBSC volunteers from across Canada who exemplify our core values of dignity, equity, and humility. The 2026 Awards, generously sponsored by our National Law Firm Partner, McCarthy Tétrault, were presented to this year’s recipients at Chapter-led events and celebrations held nationwide.
On March 30, the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, attended an award ceremony hosted by our University of Calgary Chapter. Reflecting on the contributions of PBSC students across the country, Chief Justice Wagner shared the following words: “Hope is not something you feel before you act. It is something that grows because you act. Thank you for the example you are setting. For your commitment to service, for your engagement with your community, and for showing us what it looks like to practice hope.”
At the University of Calgary ceremony, Chief Justice Wagner presented the Award to the Chapter’s recipient and congratulated all PBSC volunteers for their ongoing work to dismantle barriers to justice and support underserved communities across Canada.
PBSC received a record number of nominations this year, recognizing more than 160 remarkable individuals across our 22 Chapters. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate a volunteer whose dedication and service made a meaningful impact within their Chapter and local community. Congratulations to all of our 2026 Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award recipients and thank you to all PBSC volunteers for the vital role you play in practicing hope through service.
Flora Mendes (she/her)
University of Victoria Faculty of Law
BC Human Rights Tribunal Research, Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition
"My time with Pro Bono Students Canada has been a highlight of my first year at UVic Law. As the leader of a student research team, I collaborated with my peers to produce a long-form legal memorandum addressing a crucial legal question for a community client. In addition to advancing my legal research and writing skills in a real-world setting, this experience expanded my client-communication, project-management and collaboration skills in a way that will carry me through law school and into real-world practice. More than anything, it’s been deeply fulfilling to put my education into action, champion access to justice in Canada, and serve the legal needs of my community."
Natasha Cross (she/her)
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
Advocacy Research, Justice for Girls
“Volunteering with Justice for Girls through PBSC has been an incredibly meaningful experience. Through PBSC, I have strengthened my legal research and writing skills, and have become more knowledgeable on a number of issues affecting girls across Canada. This project has reinforced my interests in social justice and family law by giving me direct experience working on meaningful cases.”
Sarah Holman (she/her)
Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law
MAiD Community Education, Kamloops Society for Community Inclusion
“Volunteering with PBSC has been an incredibly rewarding and full circle experience. My project, creating an accessible video about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for non-profit Kamloops Society for Community Inclusion (KSCI), allowed me to combine my background supporting caregivers, my education in digital media, and the legal research and writing skills I have developed in law school. Having worked in the non-profit sector, I have seen firsthand the impact that limited access to justice can have on individuals and communities. Contributing to the network of support that PBSC provides to organizations like KSCI has affirmed my passion for public interest work. I am grateful to have worked alongside such creative and dedicated group members, with the thoughtful guidance of our supervising lawyer, KSCI, and the PBSC coordinators. This experience will stay with me as I move forward into my legal career. Thank you, PBSC!”
Thao Nguyen (she/her)
University of Calgary Faculty of Law
Wills Clinic, Calgary Vietnamese Women’s Association
“It is a privilege to be a law student. I am honoured to have served in PBSC in different capacities including the positions of a project lead in two projects and an executive. Through the PBSC UCalgary Chapter, I have been given the opportunity to providing pro bono services to Calgary residents, especially to the Vietnamese community in Calgary, with the Housing Tenancy and Wills Clinic projects. I would like to thank the support of PBSC National, the Project Coordinators, student volunteers, volunteer lawyer supervisors, our firm sponsors, and the Partner Organization, the Calgary Vietnamese Women's Association to make these projects possible. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities to use my skills and knowledge to give back to the communities. I hope to continue to serve the underrepresented in Calgary within my capacity as part of my legal practice upon graduation."
Tiffany Situ (she/her)
University of Saskatchewan Faculty of Law
Cyberbullying Prevention and Awareness,
“Leading the Cyberbullying Prevention & Awareness Project through PBSC has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time in law school. Working with a dedicated team of volunteers to bring legal education into classrooms across Saskatchewan has shown me how impactful accessible legal information can be for young people and their communities.”
Luis Manuel Trejo Linares (he/him)
University of Manitoba Faculty of Law
Client Services, Legal Help Centre
“My experience as a pro bono student with the Legal Help Centre has deeply inspired me. Their commitment to provide accessible legal services with dignity, equity, and impartiality reflects the true spirit of access to justice. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute while learning from experienced lawyers.”
Mathury Sanjeevkumar (she/her)
Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Lakehead University
Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Project, Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation (NALSC)
“As someone with a personal experience with navigating the obstacles with access to justice for marginalized communities, PBSC has given me the opportunity to volunteer for clinics that face these issues head on. I had the privilege to volunteer with two clinics during my 1L year: the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre's Indigenous Human Rights Clinic and the Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Project. My career ambitions have led me to the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law with an interest in the Indigenous and Aboriginal Law mandate. PBSC allowed me to meaningfully engage with these interests by working directly with organizations that support Indigenous communities and by contributing to initiatives that aim to reduce barriers to justice. Through these experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of the legal and systemic challenges many individuals face, while also strengthening my commitment to pursuing legal work that supports equitable access to justice.”
Ieuan C. Edwards (he/him)
University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Rapha Presentation, Rapha Youth Outreach Services
“My time with PBSC was defined by the realization that personal convictions are the most powerful tools for community change. I had the privilege of working with RAPHA Youth Outreach Services throughout the year with the end goal of delivering a presentation on safe police interactions to marginalized youth. This project was deeply personal for me; growing up, positive police interactions were rare, and I often wish my friends and I had been equipped with this knowledge as to avoid being treated in a manner that hindered our dignity. Our goal for the project was to ensure that these young men and women could arrive back home safely, while being aware of the necessary procedures for them to take action. I am incredibly grateful to the mentors who guided our group through every step of this project, helping us turn a lived experience into a resource for marginalized youth.”
Sarah Spector (she/her)
Western University Faculty of Law
“As a first-year student coming into law school with a business background, I had a particular interest in the business side of the legal profession. What PBSC has shown me, however, is that pursuing those interests and giving back to the community are not mutually exclusive. Through my placement with Legal Line, I had the opportunity to contribute to resources that provide clear and understandable legal information to people across Canada. This work, and the example set by my mentor Andreas Levine, reminded me how important clear legal information can be for individuals who may not have legal guidance available to them or the education needed to navigate the law. My experience with PBSC has reinforced that regardless of where my legal career leads, there will always be opportunities, and responsibilities, to use my legal training to support access to justice.”
Olga Karmanova (she/her) and Frank Ye (he/him)
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
PLE and Client Intake, Community Legal Clinic of York Region (CLCYR)
“Over the past two semesters, I have assisted Andrian Nakarikov at the Community Legal Clinic of York Region with a range of matters. I have had the privilege of supporting the Clinic's work serving low-income residents, including by preparing ODSP clients for Social Benefits Tribunal hearings, conducting asset-related legal research, and assisting with data analysis related to service allocation. The Clinic's clients go through many challenges, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to help out with their legal questions.”
— Olga Karmanova
“Volunteering with the Community Legal Clinic of York Region (CLCYR) through PBSC was an incredibly meaningful experience. It allowed me to give back to my community while advancing access to justice. Growing up in York Region shaped my understanding of this community’s strengths and its challenges, and PBSC’s partnership with CLCYR gave me the opportunity to support those who needed it most. Whether preparing Ontario Disability Support Program appeal packages or assisting the legal team with Landlord and Tenant Board matters, this opportunity allowed me to develop critical legal skills while helping those in my community. This experience deepened my appreciation for the challenges surrounding access to justice and just how important pro bono legal work is. It reaffirmed my belief in PBSC’s mandate and the critical importance of the organization’s work. It has been an amazing opportunity and privilege to contribute to PBSC’s work, and I cannot express how grateful I am to have had this opportunity to work alongside the great lawyers and legal professionals at CLCYR.”
— Frank Ye
Hope Mahood (she/her)
Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
Trans ID Clinic, Friends of Ruby
“Volunteering with the Friends of Ruby Trans ID Clinic has been one of the highlights of my time in law school. Supporting trans and gender-diverse youth through the process of changing their legal names and gender markers has given me the opportunity to practice legal research while working closely with clients and developing relationships with them. It’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of the network supporting people reaching such an important milestone.”
Muskan Arif (she/they)
Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University
Clinic and Legal Research Project, Justice for Children and Youth
“PBSC holds a special place in my heart because my work at Justice for Children and Youth allowed me to contribute to supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. It showed me how the law can be used not just as a system, but as a tool for compassionate advocacy.”
Heran Zhao (she/her)
Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Accessing Legal Help in North Bay, North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
“Working as a PBSC volunteer with the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre was an incredibly rewarding experience. Through this project, I was able to collaborate with dedicated community partners to improve access to justice by creating accessible legal resources for Indigenous people navigating the legal system. This experience strengthened my commitment to advancing access to justice, and affirmed my belief that future legal professionals have an important role and responsibility in creating more equitable and accessible legal systems.”
Camille Irvine
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (Common Law)
Family Law and Custody Rights, Youville Centre
“Through PBSC, I learned that meaningful access to justice is built not through grand gestures, but through thoughtful, responsive legal work grounded in the lived realities of the communities we serve. I am grateful to have worked with the Youville Centre alongside our relentlessly supportive lawyer supervisor, Concillia Muonde, and my fellow PBSC colleagues, Clara Ducellier and Paris Tomazic. At Youville, we supported young mothers navigating complex legal and systemic challenges while continuing their education. Being welcomed into that community reinforced that access to justice begins with listening, building trust, and ensuring legal support meets people where they are. PBSC reminds me why I chose to study law, to develop the tools needed to contribute to meaningful and lasting change in the communities I care deeply about.”
Maria El-Helou (she/her)
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (Civil Law)
Legal Workshop: Newcomer’s Guide, Carrefour jeunesse emploi de l’Outaouais (CJEO)
“During my time with PBSC, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Carrefour jeunesse emploi de l’Outaouais (CJEO). I had the pleasure and honour of being paired with a committed team, especially my colleagues Fanisha Hortense Pierre and Samwel Rafiki. Together, we worked on sharing legal information for newcomers to Canada. As someone from an immigrant family myself, this experience held special meaning for me. I had the privilege of contributing, at my level, to making legal information more accessible to members of the community. This work cemented my belief that legal professionals have a key role to play in disseminating legal information and promoting more equitable access to justice.”
Rayna Charanjit Sutherland (she/her)
McGill University Faculty of Law
“My time with PBSC has been the most meaningful and impactful aspect of my legal education thus far. Through my placement with the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), I drafted legal memos and complaints for submission to the Québec Human Rights Tribunal and the Commissioner of Police Ethics, collected witness statements, gathered documentary evidence, and engaged directly with victims. This work taught me that advancing Charter rights requires more than invoking principles in the abstract; it demands careful analysis of evidence and the ability to construct a persuasive legal narrative that makes injustice visible and compels remedy. Contributing to this process was formative and exposed me to criminal, administrative, human rights, and constitutional law in both official languages. It showed me how the law can give voice to the principles of justice that first drew me to law school.”
Zongo Wend-Nèyellé Flora Ines (she/her)
Université de Montréal Faculty of Law
“Access to justice often starts with access to information. Giving everyone the means to understand their rights is already a first form of justice. My volunteer work with Bienvenue à Notre-Dame-de-Grâce gave me the opportunity to guide immigrants by giving them essential legal information. This experience helped me better understand the legal and administrative challenges that some people face during the immigration process. It also reminded me that the law can be a powerful tool for supporting communities and promoting true access to justice. By helping make legal information accessible, I was able to support Bienvenue à Notre-Dame-de-Grâce’s mission and increase its community impact. Working with Bienvenue à NDG had a profound effect on me and solidified my commitment to a law that serves people. This experience was an important step on my career path and in my commitment to a law practice mindful of social realities. I am convinced that no matter how small, the actions we take to give access to legal information puts a smile back on the face of the people we help, and gives them a glimmer of hope.”
Sukayna-Kayse Ali Gedi
Université du Québec à Montréal Faculty of Law Law and Profiling, LAKAY
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"My time at LAKAY taught me that justice can also take the form of reassuring words, shared knowledge, and a presence that restores dignity. Through this placement, I realized that by sowing a little more clarity, listening, and courage, we can contribute—gently but truly—to fostering the power to act within our community. This experience also reminded me how essential it is to talk about racial profiling, to name this reality, and to better equip young people so they know their rights, understand the injustices they may face, and know they are not alone. Too many young people grow up without access to these guiding principles, even though being informed can already be a way to protect oneself, to bounce back, and to reclaim one’s place. Without this pro bono project, I might never have had the opportunity to learn all of this firsthand, nor to understand so deeply how access to justice can transform a community. I sincerely thank Pro Bono Students Canada for this initiative, which builds bridges between the law, active listening, and concrete action on the ground."
Corinne Lambert (she/her) and Juliette Rioux-Rheault (she/her)
Université de Sherbrooke Faculty of Law
Pro Bono Legal Column, Le Collectif
“Participating in the PBSC pro bono project gave me an outside perspective on a community with fewer resources, notably students who don’t always have the financial means to support their university projects. Writing articles intending to popularize and make certain legal concepts more accessible to help this clientele was an especially enriching experience. This project also allowed me to delve deeper into a complex field, intellectual property rights, while learning how to make it understandable for everyone, thanks to the support of a very dedicated lawyer supervisor committed to the project’s success.”
— Corinne Lambert
“By making the law easier to understand through legal articles, I helped the public stay up to date on the latest developments in intellectual property. It is a field of law that is not often talked about but is increasingly present in our day-to-day life. This experience gave me the opportunity to hone my legal skills while making a tangible contribution to access to justice. I am very grateful to our lawyer supervisor for his guidance and support throughout the year. My involvement in PBSC taught me the role legal professionals can play by giving their time to the community.”
— Juliette Rioux-Rheault
Carrette Kumassi
Université Laval Faculty of Law
International and Regional Stocktaking on Obstetric Violence,
“I had a rewarding and unforgettable experience as a PBSC volunteer. I was honoured to have been part of a wonderful team of volunteers deeply committed to fighting obstetric and gynecological violence (OGV). Our job, which involved taking stock of the situation internationally and regionally, highlighted the interaction between the health and justice systems needed to exercise women’s rights. In our capacity, my team and I were able to help Lawyers Without Borders with its mission. This experience gave me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge while putting it to use.”
Alida Seupkam Kamdem
Université de Moncton Faculty of Law
Family Law Clinic, YWCA Moncton
“The PBSC project has always been very meaningful to me, because it is a way to apply the knowledge I have acquired from the beginning of my legal training. Volunteering with two organizations, the YWCA and Amal Newcomers, let me truly see the legal realities faced by many vulnerable people. By listening and providing guidance and support, I realized that access to justice often starts with a simple act of care and attention. This experience also helped me better understand the real impact the law can have on people’s lives. It strengthened my conviction that the law must remain accessible to everyone, not only those who can afford it, and that it can be a real tool for providing support and ensuring social equity. Thank you PBSC!”
Mackenzie Rae Green
University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law
Access to Justice for Newcomers, Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick
"My experience as a PBSC volunteer has been incredibly rewarding. Through my work with the Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick’s Legal Liaison Program, I developed a deeper appreciation for the importance of accessible legal information for newcomers navigating unfamiliar legal systems. Contributing to resources that help community organizations support individuals during some of the most stressful and uncertain moments in their lives has strengthened my commitment to improving access to justice.”
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