The child protection law course was developed, and is offered in memory of, Justice Heidi Levenson Polowin, who was a passionate and dedicated advocate for child protection. The course not only carries her name but has enabled her work to live on through a new generation of lawyers who are inspired by her remarkable legacy.
Justice Levenson Polowin was a leader in the field of child protection. She received her LLB from the University of Ottawa in 1977 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. She was a partner at the Ottawa law firm Ogilvy, Renault before leaving private practice in 1995 to take on the role of Director of Legal Services at the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. She was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in 2000.
The course has been taught since 2018 by Ottawa-based lawyer Julie Guindon, who brings decades of expertise and professional experience in family law and child protection law to its instruction.
“This course brings an exceptional experience to the students who have an opportunity to shadow one of our Justices at the Ontario Superior Court, Family Law for a whole day. It is a unique occasion for the students to not only observe the parties involved in a child protection proceeding but also to obtain the court’s perspective prior to a hearing. The Justice Heidi Levenson Polowin Child Protection Course constitutes a golden opportunity to learn the legal principles necessary to practice in this area where clients often find themselves in a vulnerable situation.” says Guindon.
While the course’s first five years were possible because of support from her colleagues, friends and family, this round is entirely thanks to her husband Stephen. We thank him for his generosity.