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TORONTO (May 16, 2019 ) – Members of Ontario’s legal professions will be recognized for their exceptional career achievements and contributions to their communities at the annual Law Society Awards ceremony on May 22, 2019, at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. The highest honour bestowed by the Law Society, the LSM was established in 1985 to honour lawyers in Ontario whose outstanding service in the profession is in accordance with the highest ideals of the legal community.

Among the recipients is St.Kitts-Nevis , Toronto based Attorney Frank Walwyn. Called to the Bar in 1995, Frank Walwyn is being recognized as a leader in the legal profession and as a trailblazer in the Black legal community in Ontario. He is the longest serving President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and has championed equity and diversity in the legal profession, making invaluable contributions to the legal community as a whole.

“Frank is widely known to be one of Canada’s top commercial litigators. Beyond his advocacy skills, Frank’s dedication to the legal profession and the community at large is exemplary,” says Wayne Egan, Managing Partner, WeirFoulds LLP. “Frank dedicates an enormous amount of time to increasing the number of minorities participating and thriving in our legal profession. He served as a member of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee (JAAC) for the Ontario Court of Justice, and also served as a member of the Judicial Advisory Committee (JAC) for federal appointments in the GTA. In addition to other initiatives, Frank continues to volunteer his time by serving on the Board of Directors of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO). This honour is very well deserved by Frank, and we continue to be so proud of his numerous contributions over his years in the legal profession.”

Frank’s contributions to the legal profession and to the community have been formally acknowledged on many occasions, including: the Diamond Jubilee Medal presented by Command of Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of his contributions to Canada; The Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lincoln Alexander Award in recognition of his commitment to the public and its well-being through community service; the Ontario Bar Association’s Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes exceptional career contributions and/or career achievements to jurisprudence in Ontario or Canada or to the legal profession, law or development of the law in Ontario or a significant law related benefit to residents of Ontario; the Alumni Achievement Award from Ryerson University awarded to Ryerson graduates who have excelled in their careers and have made a significant contribution to their profession and community; and the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award from The University of the West Indies given to individuals of Caribbean heritage who are “rising stars” in Canada.

“This year’s award recipients have all demonstrated outstanding achievements, along with an exemplary commitment to service,” says Law Society Treasurer Malcolm Mercer. “We look forward to honouring these exceptional legal professionals with the Law Society’s highest awards of recognition.”

The awards presented will include: The Law Society Medal, The Lincoln Alexander Award, The Laura Legge Award, The William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award and the J. Shirley Denison Award.