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Law Times • augusT 9, 2010 CBA ANNUAl CONFERENCE CBA conference falls to Niagara BY ROBERT TODD Law Times the Canadian Bar Association's Canadian Legal Conference & Expo in Niagara Falls, Ont., where organizers say the ac- claimed continuing legal edu- cation and social events the annual gathering has become known for await. "It's a good opportunity to L have lawyers from across the country come and share their ideas," says CBA president Kevin Carroll. "It's a chance to showcase to members, at least once a year, what we do for them in terms of their mem- bership dollars." The Aug. 15-17 conference will take place at the Sheraton on the Falls and Crowne Plaza hotels, steps from the idyllic Horseshoe Falls. The venues will serve as home base for a full slate of events and pro- gramming, from the always- topical CBA council meeting to the annual dialogue with federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. Attendees will also be keen to take in continuing legal education programs, of which 24 sessions are accredit- ed for mandatory professional development hours. egal industry profes- sionals from across the globe will soon flock to As usual, conference organizers have attracted a compelling list of speak- ers, headlined by a keynote speech from international affairs and economics profes- sor Paul Krugman. Conference-goers will be kept busy throughout the evenings as well. Open- ing night festivities will include a buffet dinner at the Table Rock Complex overlooking the falls, fol- lowed by a closer look at the natural wonder in the form of a walk through tunnels and observation decks and a historical re- view of how the falls were created 10,000 years ago. The evening action continues Monday with receptions at a set of win- eries, including Peller Es- tates Winery, Southbrook Vineyards, and the Niag- ara College Teaching Winery. That will be followed by a per- formance from Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo, as well as the Young Lawyers Late Night Bash at the Hard Rock Cafe. The evening activities wrap up Tuesday with a closing gala at the beautiful Hillebrand Estates Winery. Carroll says Niagara was a clear choice for the conference's return to Ontario. ward to hearing the views of Krugman and the long list of other speakers. They include former Canadian chief of defence staff gen- eral Rick Hillier; workplace health expert Linda Dux- bury; International Olym- pic Committee member Richard Pound; and legal futurist and author Rich- ard Susskind. "It gives lawyers an op- 'It's a good opportunity to have lawyers from across the country come and share their ideas,' says Kevin Carroll. "We've had it in Toronto in the past, we've had it in Lon- don, and this year we thought we would use Niagara Falls as the venue," he says. "It's an at- tractive place for Canadians who haven't been in our prov- ince before and it's a great jumping-off spot for so many things to do — the wine coun- try and theatre, et cetera." The CBA president says he's specifically looking for- portunity to take their minds out of the day-to- day business of the practice of law and look at things from a different perspec- tive," says Carroll. "These speakers are all designed to provoke a different kind of thought and to exercise the mind in a way we're not used to doing on a day-to- day basis." Those who have yet to sign up for the confer- ence also shouldn't forget the outstanding opportunity the event presents for networking. He says that aspect of the event is particularly attractive to law- yers from small firms, who often lack the opportunity to bounce ideas off colleagues from across the country. Carroll, a founding part- ner at Carroll Heyd Chown LLP in Barrie, Ont., recalls a friendship he struck at a past conference. At the time, he was handling a complex personal injury file and was happy to meet a Vancouver lawyer who had dealt with a similar case in the past. The lawyer pointed Carroll to the right expert. "In some ways it's fortu- itous, but it seems to happen to me each year," he says. John Hoyles, CEO of the CBA, says about 800 people are expected to attend the conference, which is a touch below average. Organizers have made some adjustments in an effort to attract more Toronto lawyers, whom Hoyles says are traditionally difficult to recruit for CBA conferences elsewhere in Ontario. Trans- portation has been made avail- able for lawyers looking to pur- chase day passes for Monday or Tuesday events, with shuttles running from downtown To- ronto at 7 a.m. and back to the city at 7 p.m. "We tried to adjust to those circumstances and, as I say, the program is top-notch," says Hoyles. "So whether the numbers are exactly as they were in Quebec City two years ago doesn't really matter as long as the quality of the programs [is high] and people feel they got good value for their money. I'm certain that they will." LT Summer Subscription Special! Get 2 years (80 issues) of information- packed issues for only $238.50 Save 25% This offer expires: August 31, 2010 SubAd_LT_July12_10.indd 1 Make the time for Law Times and keep up with all the developments in Ontario's legal scene. Now, you can save 25 percent off the regular price when you take advantage of our special 2-year rate! 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