Law Times

Law Times • December 3, 2018 Page 5 www.lawtimesnews.com Ontario human rights case makes it to the big screen BY SHANNON KARI For Law Times A n impasse between Pardeep Singh Nagra and the Canadian Amateur Boxing As- sociation transformed within a few days from a sports dispute into a human rights precedent in the country and also a story that received national media at- tention. Nearly 20 years later, the le- gal and boxing battle is a fea- ture film, with Mickey Rourke playing the role of the grizzled trainer and actor Prem Singh as Nagra, who fought to box with a full beard, which is an article of his Sikh faith. The movie, entitled Tiger, opened in theatres on Nov. 30 and, as is the case with any fea- ture film "based on a true story," there are some changes to the facts and the people involved. Lawyers Satwinder Gosal, Jim Smith and Chris Leaf loor, who obtained a last-minute On- tario Superior Court injunction in December 1999 to permit Nagra to fight in the national championships without shaving his beard, are not portrayed in the film. Instead, they have been re- placed by a single character played by Janel Parrish, who is the lawyer and love interest to Nagra. The movie is also set in the United States and many scenes were shot in Hamilton, Ohio. "She does a very good job," says Smith about Parrish's per- formance. Despite the artistic licence taken by the filmmakers, all three lawyers are pleased that a movie has been made about Nagra and his struggle to have his religion respected so he could compete in his chosen sport. "The injustice I think is something that everyone can understand," says Gosal. He and Smith are partners at the RZCD Law Firm LLP in Mississauga. Leaf loor, who was a colleague at the firm at the time they all acted for Nagra, has been a Crown attorney in Toronto with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and the Department of Justice for a number of years. The real-life back story to the legal dispute began in 1998 when Nagra filed a human rights com- plaint against the Ontario Box- ing Association, because of its requirement that all boxers be clean shaven. That complaint was resolved by mediation and he was per- mitted to compete. Nagra won his weight divi- sion, but a few days before the Canadian championships in Campbell River B.C., he was informed by the national federa- tion that he could not compete unless he shaved his beard. The national championships were part of the selection process for the Sydney Olympics, so the stakes were high for Nagra. He contacted Gosal, who then con- sulted with Smith and Leaf loor on what action to take. The lawyers concluded that asking for an injunction was the only way to obtain a remedy so Nagra could compete. "It was 43 hours from the time we learned about the prob- lem until we obtained the in- junction," Leaf loor recalls. The boxing association was served, but it declined to send a lawyer to respond when the mat- ter was argued in a courtroom at Osgoode Hall. Justice William Somers agreed to issue an injunc- tion that required the association to allow Nagra to compete. When it learned about the injunction, the boxing associa- tion decided to cancel the entire competition in Nagra's weight class rather than comply with the court order. That decision turned the case into a national news story about Nagra and his fight to observe his faith. "He is articulate and an ath- lete. He was the perfect client" to highlight the broader human rights issue, says Smith. A month later, the Superior Court issued a permanent in- junction ordering Nagra to be permitted to compete and found that the requirement for him to be clean shaven was a breach of the Charter. The association re-scheduled a "box-off " in Nagra's weight class, but he was defeated by the defending national champion and was not selected to compete in the Olympics. Nagra, who is currently the manager of employment equity at the Toronto District School Board, has continued to try to change international rules that prohibit boxers from wearing beards. While his case ended the prohibition in Canada, it was not until earlier this year that amateur boxing officials in Eng- land agreed to end their ban. While Nagra's story may have been turned into a Hollywood movie, the human rights issues are just as relevant two decades later, says Gosal, given the cur- rent political climate and calls by some groups and politicians to restrict the wearing of religious head coverings. "I think we are much better in Canada than a lot of countries. But have we progressed in terms of human rights? It is an ongoing process," says Gosal. LT NEWS TWO JUDICIAL VACANCIES ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE WINDSOR The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee advises the Attorney General of Ontario on the appointment of Judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, and invites applications for two judicial positions in Windsor: WINDSOR (1) – criminal WINDSOR (1) – 75% family / 25% criminal These appointments also involve travel within the regional boundaries as assigned by the Regional Senior Justice and/or the Chief Justice. The minimum requirement to apply to be a Judge in the Ontario Court of Justice is ten years completed membership as a barrister and solicitor at the Bar of one of the Provinces or Territories of Canada. All candidates must apply either by submitting 14 copies of the current (July 2017) completed Judicial Candidate Information Form in the first instance or by a short letter (14 copies) if the form has been submitted within the previous 12 months. Should you wish to change any information in your application, you must send in 14 copies of a fully revised Judicial Candidate Information Form. If you wish to apply and need a current Judicial Candidate Information Form, or if you would like further information, please contact: Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee Tel: (416) 326-4060 Fax: (416) 212-7316 Website: www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/jaac/ All applications, either sent by courier, mail or hand delivery, must be sent to: Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee c/o Ministry of Government and Consumer Services Mail Delivery 77 Wellesley Street West, Room M2B-88 Macdonald Block, Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1N3 Applications must be on the current prescribed form and must be TYPEWRITTEN or COMPUTER GENERATED and RECEIVED BY 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018. CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 14 COPIES OF THEIR APPLICATION FORM OR LETTER. A Fax copy will be accepted only if 14 copies of the application or letter are sent concurrently by overnight courier. Applications received after this date WILL NOT be considered. NOTE: Please specify which vacancy (law specialty) you are applying to. The Judiciary of the Ontario Court of Justice should reflect the diversity of the population it serves. Applications from members of equality-seeking groups are encouraged. DEUX POSTES À POURVOIR AU SEIN DE LA MAGISTRATURE COUR DE JUSTICE DE L'ONTARIO WINDSOR Le Comité consultatif sur les nominations à la magistrature conseille le Procureur général de l'Ontario sur les nominations de juges à la Cour de justice de l'Ontario et invite les personnes intéressées à présenter leur demande aux deux postes de juge à Windsor : WINDSOR (1) – affaires criminelles WINDSOR (1) – 75 % affaires familiales / 25 % affaires criminelles Ces nominations nécessitent également des déplacements à l'intérieur des limites régionales, selon les assignations du juge principal régional ou du juge en chef. Pour pouvoir poser sa candidature à un poste de juge à la Cour de justice de l'Ontario, il faut, comme condition minimale, avoir été inscrit comme avocat-plaidant et procureur au barreau de l'une des provinces ou de l'un des territoires du Canada pendant au moins dix ans. Tous les candidats et candidates doivent poser leur candidature soit, dans le premier cas, en présentant 14 exemplaires du Formulaire de renseignements sur le candidat/la candidate à la magistrature courant (juillet 2017), soit en envoyant une courte lettre (en 14 exemplaires) si le formulaire a été présenté au cours des 12 mois précédents. En cas de changements à apporter à un formulaire déjà envoyé, le candidat ou la candidate doit envoyer à nouveau 14 exemplaires du formulaire de renseignements corrigé. Si vous voulez poser votre candidature et que vous avez besoin d'un Formulaire de renseignements sur le candidat/la candidate à la magistrature courant, ou encore si vous souhaitez obtenir de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec : Comité consultatif sur les nominations à la magistrature Téléphone : (416) 326-4060 Télécopieur : (416) 212-7316 Site Web : www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/fr/jaac/ Toutes les demandes envoyées par service de messagerie, par la poste ou en main propre doivent être soumises à l'adresse suivante : Comité consultatif sur les nominations à la magistrature a/s Ministère des Services gouvernementaux et des Services aux consommateurs - Services de distribution du courrier 77, rue Wellesley Ouest, salle M2B-88 Édifice Macdonald, Queen's Park Toronto (Ontario) M7A 1N3 Les demandes de candidature doivent être déposées par l'entremise du formulaire prescrit courant et DACTYLOGRAPHIÉES ou CRÉÉES PAR ORDINATEUR et reçues au plus tard à 16 h 30 le vendredi 21 décembre 2018. LES CANDIDATS ET CANDIDATES DOIVENT FOURNIR 14 EXEMPLAIRES DE LEUR FORMULAIRE OU DE LEUR LETTRE DE CANDIDATURE. Une télécopie ne sera acceptée que si 14 exemplaires du formulaire ou de la lettre de candidature sont également envoyés par service de messagerie de 24 heures. On n'accordera AUCUNE considération aux candidatures reçues après cette date. REMARQUE : Veuillez préciser à quel poste vacant (spécialité juridique) vous postulez. La magistrature provinciale doit refléter la diversité de la population qu'elle sert. Nous encourageons les membres de groupes de promotion de l'égalité à présenter une demande. Untitled-2 1 2018-11-28 8:42 AM Jim Smith (top left), Pardeep Singh Nagra (bottom left), Satwinder Gosal (bottom right) and Chris Leafloor (top right) are happy to see the story of their client's legal battle 20 years ago adapted as a Hollywood film.

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