2009 Canadian Essay Contest

Winners:

• First Place Winner of $10,000 is Emilie Fortin, Université de Sherbrooke.
  English & French
• Second Place Winner of $5,000 is Toni Lynn Eckes, University of Saskatchewan.
  English

Accommodating Freedom of Religion in a Multi-Cultural Society:

Based upon Canadians’ pride in cultural and religious diversity, the country is often held up as a model of harmonious accommodation of diversity.  With religion at the core of Canadian society, freedom of religion has become the core upon which accommodation has been tested.  The Supreme Court of Canada has been confronted with controversial issues such as Sharia law, polygamy and the Quebec Accommodation Commission in its consideration of religious accommodation in Syndicat Northcrest v. Amselem, and later, in Bruker v. Marcovitz, where a wife’s equality rights were favored over her husband’s right to freedom of religion. Students were asked to consider how Canadian courts, in a principled way, might preserve fundamental Canadian values while  providing the fundamental right of freedom of religion to Canada's increasingly diverse society.

Panel of Judges:

The winning essays were selected by a panel of distinguished judges who are also Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers:

The Honourable Charles D. Gonthier, Chair (deceased)
former Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada

The Honourable Justice Eleanore A. Cronk, Vice Chair
Ontario Court of Appeal

The Honourable Justice Edward C. Chiasson
British Columbia Court of Appeal

The Honourable Justice Neil G. Gabrielson
Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench

The Honourable Justice Michael F. Harrington
Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador,
Court of Appeal.

Essay Media Links:

Canadian Essay Winners Press Release  | French Version