Justice as a Common Good: Moving from Vision to Action

November 23-25, 2026
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4

2026 SUMMIT AGENDA

Monday, November 23, 2026

TIME

5:00-7:00PM

Opening reception at the Supreme Court

5:30 p.m. Welcome remarks from the Honourable Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, Chair of the Action Committee on Access to Justice.

5:35 p.m. Keynote address from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada.

Note: Entrance is located on Lyon Street. Please allow extra time for security screening upon arrival at the Supreme Court of Canada. Please review the Court’s security screening information in advance.

Business attire is recommended.

PROGRAM

ROOM

SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

West Memorial Building

344 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON

Tuesday, November 24, 2026

8:30-9:00

Breakfast

PROGRAM

TIME

ROOM

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

9:00-9:20

Welcome and housekeeping

Emcees Christine O’Doherty and Patricia Hebert welcome guests and go through housekeeping items.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

9:20-9:25

Land Acknowledgment

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

9:25-11:00

A Renewed Vision for Access to Justice

Justice Karakatsanis opens the Summit by introducing the Action Committee’s renewed vision, Toward Justice as a Common Good, and the principles that guide it. She will speak to why this moment matters, the priorities and opportunities taking shape, and what success could look like in the years ahead. The session sets the stage for the days to come by highlighting where our shared commitments lie and how we can act on them together.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

11:00-11:15

Morning break

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

11:15-12:15

The Role of Universities in Advancing Justice as a Common Good

This panel explores how universities can advance justice as a common good, from the ways they teach and train future professionals to the research and knowledge they mobilize. It also considers how universities engage with their communities and foster public dialogue and civic participation.

Moderator: Trevor C.W. Farrow, Dean and Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

  • Sophie Thériault, Dean, Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa

  • Joel Westheimer, Full Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

12:15-1:15

Lunch

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

1:15-2:15

Government Leadership and Public Policy

This panel explores how governments, public institutions, and cross-sector partners can work collaboratively to advance access to justice and systems change. It also identifies practical lessons, policy approaches, and leadership opportunities that can help translate the vision of justice as a common good into sustained public action.

Moderator: Jérémy Boulanger-Bonnelly, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University

  • Marie-Josée Hogue, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada

  • Philippe-André Tessier, Associate Deputy Minister, Ministère de la Justice du Québec

  • Andrew Pilliar, Research Director, Access to Justice Centre for Excellence, University of Victoria

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

2:15-3:00

Collaborative Conversation 1: From Ideas to Collective Responsibility

Details forthcoming.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

3:00-3:15

Tables Report Back

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

3:15-3:30

Afternoon Break

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

3:30-4:30

Fireside Chat: Building Public Support for Justice Reform

Details forthcoming.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

Wednesday, November 25, 2026

8:30-9:00

Breakfast

PROGRAM

TIME

ROOM

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

9:00-9:20

Keynote address

Details forthcoming.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

9:20-10:30

Cross-Sector Lessons on Innovation and Systems Transformation

Insert blurb

Moderator: Catherine McKinnon, Senior Counsel, Access to Justice Secretariat, Department of Justice Canada

  • Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister of Health, Health Canada

  • Brian Golden, Sandra Rotman Chaired Professor in Health Sector Strategy, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

10:30-10:45

Morning break

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

10:45-12:00

Leadership for Justice System Change

This panel explores the role of judicial and institutional leadership in advancing justice system transformation and fostering cultures of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. It also identifies the leadership approaches, relationships, and conditions required to move from incremental reform to meaningful and sustained system change.

Moderator: TBC

  • The Honourable Tracey K. DeWare, Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick

  • The Honourable Shannon H. Smallwood, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories

  • The Honourable Justice Frédéric Pérodeau, Coordinating Judge, Civil and Family Divisions, District of Montréal, Superior Court of Quebec

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

12:00-1:00

Lunch break

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

1:00-2:00

Generative AI and the Future of Access to Justice

This panel explores how technology, digital services, and artificial intelligence can improve justice outcomes by making justice systems more accessible, responsive, effective, and people-centred. It also identifies opportunities, risks, and governance considerations associated with emerging technologies, including AI, and their potential to advance justice as a common good.

Moderator: Margo Nightingale, Lawyer, Nightingale Law Office, Yellowknife

  • Tim Brown, K.C., Chief Executive Officer, Law Society of Saskatchewan

  • Amy Salyzyn, Associate Professor and Dean’s Research Professor in Technology and Justice Futures, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, University of Ottawa

  • Abdi Aidid, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

2:00-2:15

Afternoon break

MARGARET AVISON ROOM

2:15-3:00

Collaborative Conversation 2: From Ideas to Action – Sector-Based Implementation Discussions

Participants meet in small groups by sector to explore what justice as a common good means for their work. Each group will identify the greatest opportunities for action and the supports, partnerships and conditions needed to seize them, including how the Action Committee can help move this work forward.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

3:00-3:30

Sectors Report Back

Sector groups share key insights and recommendations.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

3:30-3:55

Closing Panel: Commitments, Partnerships, and Next Steps

Forthcoming.

Moderator: Mark Benton, K.C., former Chief Executive Officer, Legal Aid BC

  • The Honourable Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, Supreme Court of Canada, and Chair, Action Committee on Access to Justice

  • Trevor C.W. Farrow, Dean and Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

  • Véronique Morissette, Executive Director, Action Committee on Access to Justice

  • Brea Lowenberger, Strategic Advisor, Action Committee on Access to Justice 

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

3:55-4:00

Closing remarks

Justice Karakatsanis closes the Summit by reflecting on what we have heard together and how we can carry this shared commitment to justice as a common good into the work ahead.

WINIFRED BAMBRICK ROOM

Recorded session

Simultaneous Interpretation and transcript available

Note: The conference agenda is subject to change as programming is finalized.