When: Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9, 2024

Where: Crystal Lodge, 4154 Village Green, Whistler, BC, V8E 1H1

FACL BC is pleased to announce its inaugural Membership Retreat taking place at the Crystal Lodge in Whistler, BC from June 7 to 9, 2024. The Membership Retreat will consist of 3 parts:

• Conference at the Crystal Lodge on June 8, 2024 (CPD eligible) 
  
• Keynote Dinner on June 8, 2024
  
• Accommodation at the Crystal Lodge from June 7 to 9, 2024 
  

Details about each of these components are provided below. If you have any questions about the Membership Retreat after reviewing the following information, please contact info@faclbc.ca. We look forward to welcoming you to Whistler, BC this summer! 

We extend our deepest gratitude to Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP for being our Title Sponsor for this event. 

How to Register 

Attendees have the option of purchasing a Retreat Ticket, which includes access to our Conference programming and the Keynote Dinner, or a Dinner-Only Ticket. Retreat Tickets are available to purchase now, and our Dinner-Only Tickets will be available for purchase on April 1, 2024. This is to ensure our conference attendees receive priority registration for dinner. 

Accommodation at the Crystal Lodge is optional and can be requested through a separate form. Invoices will be issued once your accommodations are confirmed. Early Bird rates for Retreat Accommodation will be available until April 5, 2024. 

Please ensure you complete the following steps to secure your registration: 

(1) Purchase a ticket here. 
(2) Submit your meal preferences and dietary restrictions for our Keynote Dinner here.
(3) Request accommodations at the Crystal Lodge, if desired, here.

Retreat Agenda

Please note that the following agenda is subject to change by FACL BC. Our conference programming will only be available in-person at the Crystal Lodge. The sessions will not be livestreamed (no hybrid option) or recorded. The Conference is eligible for CPD credits. 

Friday June 7, 2024

• 4:00 pm: Arrival and Check In
  
• 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Hot Tub and Free Time
  
• 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Welcome Reception at Crystal Lounge*

Saturday, June 8, 2024 (Conference & Keynote Dinner)

• 8:00 am to 9:00 am: Registration, Tea and Coffee
  
• 9:00 am to 9:15 am: Introduction and Land Acknowledgement
  
• 9:15 to 10:15 am: Session #1: Pathways to Justice: Navigating Barriers, Overcoming Adversity, and Fostering Equity on the Bench presented by Judge Glenn Lee (BCPC), Justice David Masuhara (BCSC), and Judge Grace Oh (BCPC)
  
• 10:15 am to 10:30 am: Health Break (Pastry and Fruits)
  
• 10:30 am to 11:30 am: Session #2: Breaking Barriers: Navigating the Path to Partnership in Law presented by Gaynor Yeung and Gurminder Sandhu, KC
  
• 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: Lunch Break*
• 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: Session #3: Breaking Barriers without “Breaking” Yourself presented by Raji Mangat
  
• 2:00 pm to 2:15 pm: Health Break (Pastry and Fruits)
  
• 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm: Session #4: Navigating Leadership: Overcoming Adversity and Breaking Barriers presented by Jennifer Chow, KC and Scott Morishita
  
• 3:15 pm to 3:30 pm: Closing Remarks
• 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm: Hike and/or Free Time
• 6:00 pm to late: Keynote Dinner featuring Chief Justice Leonard Marchand 

Sunday June 9, 2024

• 11:00 am: Check Out and Farewell
  
• 11:00 am to 1:00 pm: Lunch at Old Spaghetti Factory* 

* Denotes at own separate cost

[Session #1] Pathways to Justice: Navigating Barriers, Overcoming Adversity, and Fostering Equity on the Bench 

Learn about the British Columbia judicial landscape with our distinguished panel featuring Judge Glenn Lee (BCPC), Justice David Masuhara (BCSC), and Judge Grace Oh (BCPC). Our judges and justices will share their personal narratives as they discuss their trajectory from law school through the practice of law, ultimately ascending to the British Columbia Bench.

Gain invaluable insights into why each speaker decided to pursue judicial roles and the formidable barriers they encountered along the way. Listen to their reflections on how these barriers have evolved over time and what overcoming adversity truly means in the context of their judicial careers. Furthermore, explore their nuanced perspectives on working with racialized litigators as racialized judges themselves, navigating the delicate intersection of identity and justice within the legal system.

This dialogue seeks to move the British Columbia legal system toward a more inclusive and equitable legal profession, offering a wealth of wisdom and guidance for both seasoned practitioners and aspiring law students alike. Do not miss this opportunity to engage with these esteemed jurists and enrich your understanding of justice in our society.

[Session #2] Breaking Barriers: Navigating the Path to Partnership in Law 

Gain insights on your own legal career path with the guidance of our esteemed panelists, Gurminder Sandhu K.C. and Gaynor Yeung, partners at Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation and Whitelaw Twining, respectively. Gurminder and Gaynor will share their path to partnership as Asian-identifying lawyers called to the British Columbia bar. They will discuss their narratives of perseverance, resilience, and triumph over adversities on their own paths to partnership. 

Learn invaluable strategies for overcoming obstacles, navigating office politics, and striking a delicate balance between ambition and pragmatism. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a law student, this panel will equip you with indispensable wisdom and guidance for charting your course toward leadership roles in the legal profession. 

[Session #3] Breaking Barriers without “Breaking” Yourself 

Join us for an insightful discussion with Raji Mangat, executive director of West Coast LEAF. Raji will share her reflections on navigating a non-traditional(-ish) legal career, which has taken her from Wall Street to The Hague, and from defending financial institutions to representing single mothers. Over the course of her 20 year legal career, Raji has often floundered, felt miscast in the story of her life, and waged forays into remodeling her Asian-Canadian minority status. She will critically reflect on how you can break through barriers (including the ones you put up yourself) without feeling like you’re broken. Join her for an informal conversation about how we can cultivate transformative ways of lawyering through critical reflection and community.

[Session #4] Navigating Leadership: Overcoming Adversity and Breaking Barriers 

Join us for an inspiring discussion with Jennifer Chow, KC and Scott Morishita as they delve into their path to leadership with the Law Society and CBABC, framed within the context of overcoming adversity and breaking barriers. Each will share their personal journey, offering insights into their experiences. We’ll explore topics such as changes and improvements made within the the Law Society and CBABC, alongside lingering challenges that persist despite progress. Emphasizing the importance of remaining vigilant, we'll discuss how we can’t take progress for granted. Finally, we'll conclude with a Q&A session, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with Jennifer and Scott.

Keynote Dinner 

As part of our Membership Retreat, we are pleased to invite Chief Justice Leonard Marchand as our keynote speaker for dinner on June 8, 2024. The Keynote Dinner will feature a 3-course dinner with complimentary red and white wine, and will be held at Bearfoot Bistro (4121 Village Green, Whistler, BC V8E 1H2) from 6 pm to 10 pm. 

As part of registration, attendees will be asked to review the menu for the Keynote Dinner, submit their meal preferences, and indicate any dietary restrictions they may have by May 22, 2024 in our form linked above. 

Meet our Keynote Speaker: Chief Justice Leonard Marchand

The Honourable Leonard S. Marchand is the Chief Justice of British Columbia, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Yukon. He was appointed Chief Justice in 2023, having previously been appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia in 2013, to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2017, and to the Courts of Appeal for British Columbia and of Yukon in 2021.

Prior to becoming a judge, Chief Justice Marchand articled and practised at Fulton & Company LLP in Kamloops from 1994 to 2013. His practice focused on the liability of public authorities and he appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and before many administrative tribunals.

Chief Justice Marchand dedicated a substantial portion of his career as a lawyer to pursuing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, including by advancing civil claims on behalf of residential school survivors. In 2005, he helped negotiate and was a signatory to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement which, at the time, was the largest class action settlement in Canadian history. He then served on the Oversight Committee for the Independent Assessment Process and the Selection Committee for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Chief Justice Marchand is Syilx and a member of the Okanagan Indian Band. He grew up in both Kamloops and Ottawa. After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in 1986, he worked in the oil industry for several years. He then attended law school at the University of Victoria, graduating in 1994. He was called to the British Columbia bar in 1995 and to the bars of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories in 2006.

Chief Justice Marchand divides his time between Kamloops and Vancouver with his wife, Laurie. Together their family also includes three grown children, their children’s partners, and two much-loved grandchildren.

Accommodations

FACL BC has reserved a discounted hotel block for the Membership Retreat. Please note that prices indicated below are for two nights of accommodation (Friday June 7, 2024 and Saturday, June 8, 2024) with check out on Sunday June 9, 2024.

Availability is subject to a first-come-first-serve basis - there are limited spots! Once the FACL BC hotel block at the Crystal Lodge sells out, Membership Retreat attendees are responsible for coordinating their own accommodation in Whistler, BC. Payment for the accommodation is non-refundable once received by FACL BC.

Due to Crystal Lodge's requirements, we are unable to accommodate requests for one night of accommodation. Commitment to the full duration of the Membership Retreat is required if booking accommodations as part of the FACL BC hotel block. For all other accommodation requests please contact Stephanie Okeil at Crystal Lodge (sokeil@crystal-lodge.com) and quote the FACL BC Retreat in the subject line.

Early Bird Pricing Until April 5, 2024 (Two Nights, Tax Included)

• Triple Occupancy: $225 per person (3 people per room)
  
• Double Occupancy: $250 per person (2 people per room)
  
• Single Occupancy: $490 (1 person per room - note that the booked individual may bring up to 3 other people, including a spouse and/or children)
  

Regular Pricing After April 5, 2024 (Two Nights, Tax Included)

• Triple Occupancy: $250 per person (3 people per room)
  
• Double Occupancy: $275 per person (2 people per room)
  
• Single Occupancy: $505 (1 person per room - note that the booked individual may bring up to 3 other people, including a spouse and/or children)
  

To request a single, double, or triple occupancy room, please complete our accommodation request form linked above. We encourage attendees to coordinate with potential roommates and submit one form per group. Please note that attendees submitting as a group will be given priority over individual requests. We cannot guarantee room availability for individual requests.

Transportation

FACL BC assumes no liability for any injuries or accident(s) that occur in, or on the way to and from Whistler, BC. All attendees are responsible for their own transportation cost(s) to and from Whistler, BC.

Shuttle Transportation. YVR Skylynx, Epic Rides and Ace Charters offer daily, frequent shuttle transportation from Vancouver to Whistler. Comfortable coach rides provide spectacular city, ocean and mountain views as well as free WiFi so you can stay in touch on the go. 

• YVR Skylynx. Three pick-up locations: (1) Vancouver Airport (2) Pacific Central Station and (3) Downtown Vancouver outside of Hyatt Regency Hotel 
  
• Epic Rides. Pick-up location: Downtown Vancouver outside of Burrard Station 
  
• Ace Charters. Two pick-up locations: (1) Vancouver Airport (2) Downtown Vancouver by Hyatt Regency Hotel 
  

Driving. Parking is available at Crystal Lodge Hotel for $29/day. A discounted rate of $20/day is available for attendees who have reserved accommodations at Crystal Lodge.