Ministers, judges, mayors, businesspeople, high-ranking government officials – lawyers around the world. Since 1953, the Civil Law Section has trained thousands of men and women who have a direct influence on Canada’s destiny.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Law Section, more than 125 alumni gathered for a gala evening on September 6, at the Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel. The evening featured a tribute to former University of Ottawa students who became federal or provincial ministers.
"We are proud of our alumni and we want to honour them," said Louis Perret, dean of the Faculty. "They are respected ambassadors of the University in Canada and the world."
In 1953, the University of Ottawa created a Faculty of Law in order to offer judicial training to future law professionals in Quebec, mostly for the Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions. Quebec’s provincial legislative assembly had amended its Act respecting the Barreau du Québec and Notarial Act in order to recognize the University of Ottawa Licentiate in Civil Law.
Today, the University of Ottawa is the only law faculty in Canada to offer a National Program, teaching both civil law and common law in English and French.
Two other galas will take place in the spring of 2004, to honour former University of Ottawa civil law students who became judges, mayors or businesspeople, as well as all civil law alumni.
50th anniversary Web site (French only)
