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March 11, 2005
Speakers engage students to learn about the justice system
Edmonton... One central portal designed for the purpose of inviting justice professionals such as lawyers, Crown prosecutors, and judges to speak with Alberta students will be available to teachers and community organizations this September.
Alberta Justice and the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, through a unique partnership, will bring together their existing speaker programs to form the new Justice Education Speakers Centre. The Speakers Centre will streamline the request process by providing an easy one-step on-line form and increase the number of legal professionals that are available to speak in classrooms across the province.
"Guest speakers are important to boosting students' interest and encouraging learning about the law," said Justice Minister Ron Stevens. "Albertans have told us that educating their children about the justice system is important to them. This Speakers Centre is one more way that we are working with partners to help increase Albertans' awareness and understanding of the justice system."
"The CBA-Alberta Branch is very pleased to assist with the participation of volunteer lawyers and judges to the Speakers Centre. The CBA has a long-standing commitment to public legal education and this is an exciting opportunity for us to participate in the education of Alberta students," said CBA-Alberta President Walter Pavlic. "It is through such programs that an understanding of the judicial system and its importance to society can be made better known to the public."
The Justice Education Speakers Centre is also supported by the judiciary and the Law Society of Alberta, and is being designed in line with educational activities that support the Alberta Education Social Studies Curriculum.
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Attachments or Editors Note: See attached backgrounder for more information.
Justice Web Site:
Media enquiries may be directed to:
Mark Cooper
Alberta Justice Communications
(780) 427-8530
To call toll free in Alberta dial 310-0000
Justice Education Speakers Centre
What is it?
The Justice Education Speakers Centre will provide one central place for teachers and community organizations to go to schedule a justice professional such as a judge, lawyer, or Crown prosecutor to speak to their class or community group.
The Speakers Centre is a free educational service designed in line with Alberta Education's Social Studies Curriculum and is scheduled to be fully operational by September 2005.
Why was it developed?
Guest speakers help to increase interest, encourage learning and engage students through face-to-face interaction in the classroom.
A streamlined easy-to-use request process that assists teachers and community organizations looking to book a legal professional to speak with their class about the justice system is currently not available.
The Justice Education Speakers Centre is being developed as part of the Education Coordinator Project-an Alberta Justice initiative to work with partners to help improve Albertans' awareness, education and understanding of the justice system.
Who is it for?
The Speakers Centre partnership with the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association will enhance access for teachers and community groups to invite legal professionals as guest speakers that will assist in engaging students' to learn about the justice system.
The partnership also allows for a greater number of lawyers being available to speak to students in communities across the province on a diversity of topics such as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canada's Constitution, family law in Alberta, criminal law and the Criminal Code of Canada.
How does it work?
The Justice Education Speakers Centre is being designed to provide a one-step seamless service for teachers and community organizations by providing easy access to an online form that will request basic information such as grade, topic, and date.
Once the teacher submits the request it is automatically sent to Alberta Justice and then forwarded to the appropriate area (i.e. Canadian Bar Association-Alberta Branch, the judiciary, department division, etc) based on the topic. Once a speaker is identified, contact is made directly with the teacher and the speaking engagement is confirmed.
Copyright(c); 2004 Government of Alberta