On October 4th, ICCO Canada had the privilege of having Honourable Frank Iacobucci shedding light on his life experiences that led to his remarkable career and accomplishments. In life's intricate tapestry, there are threads that stand out as profoundly essential: the value of family, the importance of the dignity of a person, and the fundamentality of understanding one's own identity. These pillars not only shape our character but also guide our journey through the world.

Our interactions within our families and communities shape us deeply. The strength of these connections influences our perspectives and behaviours, anchoring us in a network of support and shared experiences. Upholding the dignity of every individual is paramount. It's about respecting the worth of a person regardless of circumstances, and it forms the bedrock of an empathetic and fair society. Delving into our identity is a self-discovery journey. Knowing who we are, what we stand for, and what matters most enables us to align our actions with our true selves.

Hon. Frank Iacobucci reminded us that understanding how our personal narrative intertwines with our professions provides valuable insights. It helps us appreciate the impact our journey has on our work and how our work, in turn, shapes our ongoing narrative.

Event Partners:

Special thanks to:

Disregarding initial advice suggesting that his Italian name might not be suitable for a career in law, Hon. Frank Iacobucci, a son of Italian immigrants, established himself as an exceptional Canadian jurist. He held the position of justice on the Supreme Court of Canada from 1991 to 2004 and also served as a professor and dean of law at the University of Toronto, as well as the deputy minister of justice for Canada.

In her work "Building Justice," Shauna Van Praagh skillfully intertwines the narratives of individuals whose paths and initiatives intersected with those of Hon. Frank Iacobucci. This book offers a thought-provoking examination of the study and practice of law as it traces the various stages of Hon. Iacobucci's life and career: from his upbringing in Vancouver, his early years as a practicing lawyer, his tenure at the University of Toronto and the Federal Department of Justice, his role as a judge at the highest court level, and his significant involvement in Canada's ongoing response to the legacy of residential schools.

"Building Justice" is a finely crafted biography that uses the experiences of a single jurist to delve into and illustrate the concept of engaged citizenship through the lens of law. We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening as we host a book presentation and panel discussion on "Building Justice: Frank Iacobucci and the Life Cycles of Law."

Purchase your copy!

Event guests

Frank Iacobucci has had a distinguished and diverse career spanning private practice, academia, government, and the judiciary. His career journey includes starting as a lawyer in a New York firm specializing in corporate and securities law in 1964. He later became a professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1967, serving as vice-president, of Internal Affairs, and dean of the Faculty of Law. He also held positions as vice-president and provost of the University. In 1985, he became Canada's deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general, followed by an appointment as chief justice of the Federal Court of Canada in 1988 and a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1991. After retiring from the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004, he served as interim president of the University of Toronto. In 2005, he joined Torys LLP as counsel and became chairman of Torstar Corporation. In 2005, he led discussions to achieve a resolution for the legacy of Indian residential schools, resulting in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class action settlement in Canadian history. He was later appointed as an honourary witness by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2014.

Shauna Van Praagh  is a Full Professor of Law at McGill University where she has taught since 1993, served as Associate Dean from 2007 to 2010, and received the Principal’s Prize for Teaching Excellence in 2023. She has been actively involved in transdisciplinary research teams, networks and centres, including McGill’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism and the Centre de recherche en droit public at l’Université de Montréal. A graduate of the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Science 1986, Bachelor of Laws 1989) and Columbia University (Master of Laws (LLM) 1992, Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) 2000), Professor Van Praagh clerked for The Right Honourable Brian Dickson, Chief Justice of Canada, in 1989/90. In June of 2023, she was appointed president of the Revived Law Commission of Canada, an independent agency committed to engaging Canadians in the ongoing and always dynamic evolution of law.

Event photos