Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

REPORT TO THECOMMUNITY 2018

Our Board Our FundersThe Edmonton Community Legal Centre receives the majority of its funding from the Alberta Law Foundation. We appreciate financial support from a variety of foundations, government agencies and departments, law firms, and private individuals. Our financial supporters all contribute to our ability to provide access to justice to Albertans in need.

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Our Major Funders Include:

• Alberta Law Foundation

• Alumni & Friends of the Faculty of

Law Association

• City of Edmonton

• Government of Alberta

(STEP and Casino)

• Law Foundation of Ontario

• Service Canada

(Canada Summer Jobs)

• Union 52 Benevolent Society

Law Firm “Sustaining Funders”

Thank you to these law firms for their multi-year ongoing funding commitments, which totalled $77,000 in 2018.

• Bennett Jones LLP

• Bishop & McKenzie LLP

• Dentons Canada LLP

• Duncan Craig LLP

• Field Law

• McLennan Ross LLP

• MLT Aikins LLP

• Miller Thomson LLP

• RMRF LLP

• Witten LLP

2018 Funders and Corporate Donors

• ACE Reporting Services

• Edmonton Bar Association

• Edmonton Community Foundation

• Canadian Bar Association

• Hawkings Epp Dumont LLP

• Keeran Networks

• Muttart Foundation

• RMRF LLP

• Target Heating Limited

• UNITE HERE Local 47

• White Knight Construction

The Edmonton Community LegalCentre provides access to justice

and free legal information, education, support, advice, and representationin the areas of civil, immigration, and

family law to persons living with lowincome in the Edmonton area.

Allyson Jeffs Chair, Emery Jamieson LLP

Matthew Lewans Vice Chair,

University of Alberta

Cherisse Killick-Dzenick Treasurer,

Community Representative

Scott Matheson Secretary, Field LLP

Brian Summers Past Chair, Dentons LLP

Beverly Allard Homeward Trust, Edmonton

Noreen Berkes Community Representative

Marie Gordon, QC Gordon Zwaenepoel

Averie McNary, QC Community Representative

Matthew Lewans University of Alberta

Bill Ostapek Alberta Workers’

Compensation Board

Natalie Tymchuk Emery Jamieson LLP

Dilara Yegani Community Representative

EDUCATION1194 people attended 112 public

legal education sessions

Genevieve endured physical and financial abuse from her wife during their 15-year marriage. She met with a volunteer lawyer for advice about a divorce. An ECLC employee also met with

Genevieve to develop a safety plan, and refer her to a shelter.

2018 has been a special year for me, as it marked my 10th anniversary as ECLC’s Executive Director. Staff lawyers Sarah Eadie and Tim Patterson also celebrated 10 years with the ECLC, and certainly for all of us, the past 10 years have seen many changes…with the most important things staying the same.

We have moved to new premises three times since I joined the ECLC, and our increasing office size has reflected growth from a staff of nine and 92 volunteers, to a staff of 22 and 385 volunteers. While we originally employed one staff lawyer, we now have six, plus a certified immigration consultant, and two annual articling student positions. We have expanded our services from only civil law to encompass a wide range of civil, family, and immigration law practice areas. We have increased from 642 clients receiving free legal advice at twice-a-week evening clinics, to over 3000 people at four weekly evening clinics and daytime clinics throughout the week.

We have become a hub of learning and practical experience for university students from a range of disciplines: social work, business, human ecology, and certainly law. 60 law students now volunteer with us over the course of each year, assisting in all aspects of client service, and receiving mentorship from the 300 lawyers who work and volunteer with the ECLC.

2018 ushered in a new era of stability for the ECLC—as a result of an eight-year sublease and our most recent move to new premises in January 2018. Our new location has seven clinic offices

and a large reception area with a beautiful view of Edmonton’s river valley. Given Edmonton’s high vacancy rate, our sublease provided for no rental nor occupancy costs whatsoever in 2018, and continued future low costs. Over the next eight years we will be able to spend a larger proportion of our funding on client service.

The ECLC received financial support from a new major funder in 2018—the Law Foundation of Ontario. Over the next three years we will receive $230,000 from the LFO to expand our family law service delivery to low income people in northern Alberta. Free family law legal advice will be provided in-person when possible by local northern Alberta lawyers, or by phone or videoconference by Edmonton volunteer lawyers.

Although the ECLC has experienced much growth and service expansion over the past 10 years, our commitment to access to justice, and providing an opportunity for Edmonton lawyers to provide pro bono legal advice to low income people has continued, with the support of our dedicated and multi-disciplinary staff team. Thanks to all of you for the past 10 years, and for all that is yet to come!

Message from Executive Director – Debbie Klein

VOLUNTEERS

385VOLUNTEERS

9475VOLUNTEER

HOURS

Clinic Services

28,217

77,280

3056

2018

9475

2954

385Volunteers

2002 to 2018

Volunteer Hours

Clients Served

30 staff, 12 Board members,

and 385 volunteers provided

service to over 32,000

low-income Albertans.

The ECLC is unique in its holistic approach to legal problems, situating the individual and family within the broader picture of their personal, financial, and social circumstances.

Clients have an initial interview to help them clarify their legal concern and to provide appropriate community and legal referrals and information.

Low income clients receive free legal information and advice from a volunteer lawyer at an evening legal clinic. Clients with complex issues may receive further follow-up by ECLC staff or free legal representation by an ECLC staff lawyer.

The volunteer lawyers and staff lawyers work in partnership with staff client support professionals and daytime volunteers to identify and address social and personal factors that may have contributed to the legal problem. This multi-disciplinary approach facilitates client access to community resources and service providers, expands opportunities for the negotiation of non-legal remedies, and ensures skilled guidance in the handling of disputes.

Our Process

967 people received free picture IDs at monthly ID clinics at the Edmonton Remand Centre, with the ECLC supplying a volunteer lawyer and a volunteer law student, and Remand Centre staff attending to administrative details.

A pro bono legal clinic serving low income Edmontonians.

Helping people with low income to find solutions to their legal problems.

Grande Prairie Volunteer Lawyers

Stephanie Ambrose

Lola Antonius

Christian Banks

Jim Bird (5)

Joe Canavan (5)

Erik Compton

Spencer Cunningham

Jocelyn Innes (5)

Chuk D’Imiri

Nathan Fry

Amara Ijomah

Jennifer Laverick

Tony Magliaro

Marlowe Maquiling

Stephane McCrum

Leah Paslawski

Drew Pearson

Robert Pierce

Julia Rees

Natalia Reiman

Denis Sawyer (5)

Yuri Shapoval

Grande Prairie Legal Guidance

Grande Prairie Legal Guidance has been providing free legal advice to low income people since 2008, and has been administered by the ECLC since 2011. One staff Program Coordinator manages services by 31 volunteer lawyers, with the support of two administrative volunteers.

31 volunteer lawyers, 220 hours;

2 community volunteers; 419 clients served

Steven Shavers (10)

Nicole Simoneau

Cameron Smith

Flora Stikker

Carley Tremeer

Derek Van Tassell (10)

Michael Wheaton (10)

Patrick Wilson

Linh Wisekal

Advice-A-thon

OurthirdannualECLCAdvice-A-thonwasahugesuccess,with157peoplereceivingfreelegaladviceinallareasoflawfrom64volunteerlawyerswhoraised$24,780indonation“pledges”totheECLC,with

anadditional$9000receivedincorporatesponsorships.40volunteerhostsassistedwithallclientandeventadministration.AllAdvice-A-thonexpenseswerepaidbycorporatedonationsanddonations-in-kind.

Advice-A-thon2018willbeheldinCityHallonSaturdaySeptember22.

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Our fourth annual ECLC Advice-A-thon was a huge success, with 125 people receiving free legal advice in all areas of law from 62 volunteer lawyers who raised $31,933 in donation “pledges” to the ECLC, with an additional $9600 received in corporate sponsorships. 40 volunteer hosts assisted with all client and event administration. All Advice-A-thon expenses were paid by corporate donations and donations-in-kind.

Advice-A-thon 2019 will be held in City Hall on Saturday, September 28.

“I want to say a big thank you for your help. After meeting with the lawyer, I have better knowledge and I know my rights now. Thank you.”

Advice-A-thon

ADVICE2,954 PEOPLE RECEIVED FREE

LEGAL ADVICE

COURT296 COURT DATES

Message from Board Chair Allyson Jeffs

We welcome this opportunity to reflect on another busy year as ECLC continues to serve a growing number of low-income Edmontonians who cannot access the legal services they require.

The civil law program helps people with residential tenancy disputes that may threaten their ability to remain housed. Many others seek help with employment, family, and immigration law matters or require an advocate to secure their social benefits.

We are mindful that not all the barriers faced by ECLC clients are financial. Some have difficulty accessing service because of cultural or language barriers. Others struggle with physical or developmental disabilities. For many of the clients served by our expanded family law program, domestic violence is a concern.

ECLC’s dedicated staff work every day to bridge these gaps with compassion and integrity.

For three staff members, 2018 marked 10 years of service to ECLC. Executive Director Debbie Klein continues to provide client-focused leadership in carrying out the organization’s mandate.

Staff lawyers, Sarah Eadie and Tim Patterson continue to show exemplary commitment to making a difference for clients

in the civil law program through their court advocacy as well as the leadership and the support they offer to our many student and lawyer volunteers.

About 200 volunteer lawyers are integral to the success of the evening clinics which provide summary legal advice. The Board recognizes that there is an ongoing need for volunteer lawyers to provide free advice at these evening clinics and volunteer recruitment will be a focus in 2019.

The ECLC Board bid farewell in 2018 to long-serving member Jim Neilson, who was appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench. Jim, formerly with Parlee McLaws LLP served for six years as ECLC’s treasurer with unflagging grace and good humour.

2018 also saw the departure of Robert Philp, a former Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission who brought his energy and passion for justice to the Board.

We also celebrated the arrival of three new Board members in 2018, Averie McNary Q.C., Beverly Allard, Senior Indigenous Liaison with Homeward Trust, and Bill Ostapek, Secretary and General Counsel at the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Margaret is 70 and lives on a modest fixed retirement income. She came to our office for help to make a simple will. In addition to her pension and CPP, she owns a mortgage-free condo. Margaret met with a lawyer through our Wills Roster, and now has a properly written will, obtained at a reduced fee.

154 clients were referred to Wills Roster lawyers in 2018.

Our Community and Student VolunteersBeverly AllardZamir AliRyan AmaralSean AnnisAimee AresMikolai AnselmiSunny AnuebunwaGraham AxfordJoshua BaduraNavya BaradiNazanin BarhematNene Fatoumata BarryLeonora BasterashIrvin BautistaNoreen BerkesLaurence Braun WoodburyTalia BrownJorge BuchCindy CasemoreMegan CharronChelsey ChenKlara CicovskaPatrick CoonesClive DavidViviane DjokoElizabeth DukeLa Salette EncarnacionJennifer EsenwaJames EwasiukPeter Faid (10)Thomas FethAnita Fung

Taranjot GarchaJasmin GerwienKim GosalBecky HannaTara HansenSierra HardyShabo HochiJostina JohannesAmogh KadheHarman KangIrina KelbertLaraib KhaliqdinaCherisse Killick-DzenickMeara KirwinLorretta KleinAnisha KariaHarnoon KocharLauren KubicaAlex KubishAkshata KulkarniHannah LambAnna LawRukaiyat LawalMatthew LewansRyan MaghOlivia ManzerJustine MayanAlex McPhailKatia MichelOnosen Mike-IfetaAislinn McVittieDulu ModiSylvia NichollesVicky NyoikeChris Obiorah

Karina OmelchenkoArunpreet PannuShridhar PatelAyana PennantIvie Philips EragaJoanne PawlukChuck PolanskiTor PotterSheila RaffrayVelthus Ann RangaJessica ReidStephanie RimmerMeghan RussChris RyanAnastasiya SadovskaRupak SarmaMichelle SchultzJennie ShenShauna SingletonHarsh SisodiaChenoa SlyKevin SungRuth ThangiahNgan TranLauren TurnerIshani VashishtKatarina WasiliewskiTamara WellsAlisha WhisselChris WiebeTorri WoodsElise WoutersDilara YeganiCarmen ZhangXiaoyan Zhang

Kwame AbrefahBarbara Acton (5)Sanjana Ahmed (5)Ahmad Al-HimyaryPaul AlpernMichelle AndresenBonnie AndrichukTarim AnsariCarl ArgoChristine AshcroftYoko AzumayaChelsey BaileyRachel BailieHailee BarberDavid Barker (10)Allison BarkwellColin BasarabaMichael BattistaCeline BeginAngela BeierbachElen Bereket (5)Elizabeth BergDean BergsmaErin BerneyHeidi BesuijenPatrick BiggJasmine BillingJessie BlackMichaela BlahutovaMiranda BokenfohrJeff BoneVioleta BoquirenManpreet BrarMatt Brockman (5)Tracy Brown (5)Craig BrusnykLaura BruyerJessica BuckwoldJessica BuhlerKirsten BurrowsErin BurtonJenelle Butler

Maya GordonMikhial CarterClara CerminaraAndrew ChaiCharlotte ChanCory ChanNicholas ChanDarcie CharltonAlbert ChiuFrances ChiuBarrie ChiversJoe ChiversJasmine ChuChristian CormierDushan CoulsonDavid Cowley-SalegioSarah CrummyAllison CrumptonSean CurranRebecca Cuthbertson Hulst (5)Sarah Dargatz (5)Clive DavidEdward DaviesChristopher DawsonMegan Dawson (5)Manorama DeccanJose Delgado (10)Allan DelgadoMark DemasRaj DeolMichael DeRosenrollJanine DhaibiCynthia DickinsJody DittrichKathy Drouin-CareyJordyn DrydenEvan DuffyPeter EdelmannAlana ElliotKate EngelHeidi Engler (5)

Laura FeehanChristopher FellingBenjamin FerlandKanchana FernandoNigel Forster (10)John FrameTami FriesenRenee GagnonPatricia GayPeter GibsonRobert GilroyMichael GoodMarie GordonRonda GouldenPaul GovenlockVani GovindarajanRobyn Graham (5)Tessa GregsonChelsey GrueAdam HallidayJenna HandfordIan Hanson (5)Stephen HarfieldAmanda Hart-Dowhun (5)Sean HartfordDenise HarwardtGerald HawranikRobyn High KlapatiukKimberley HirschEmily HoleSarah HughesMichael HughesJanet HutchisonAlly IsmailBarbara Jackman Christopher JacksonStephanie JansenJayne Janzen (5)Allyson JeffsLori JohnsonMonica Johnson (5)

Gabriel Joshee-ArnalMichelle KarasinskiAnisha KariaBrian Kash (5)Katie KennyKimberley KetsaAmjad KhadhairAzhar KhanCathy Jo KickhamKris KinashMandy KinzelDanielle KlemenDale KniselyTrafton Koenig (5)Paul KolidaRebecca KosAngela KosNadia KoziakMichael KrausJessica KuDayna KwasneyEric LamChristian LarsenKathryn LaurieAndrew LawrenceBruce LaycockMichael LazarukRebecca Lee (10)Jordan Lefaivre (5)Denis LefebvreKurtis LetwinKyra LeuschenLinda Lim (5)Jessilyn LiuAnna LundTyler Lypkie Kirby MackLaura MacLellandCraig MadillIan MahoodEric MahoodNatalia Makuch (5)

Timothy MallettLina MarrazzoLisa MartensScott MathesonGordon MaynardDarcy McAllisterMargaret McCabeSharisse McCallaLance McCleanKaren McDougall (5)Krista McfadyenCaitlin McKallVida McLeodBeverley McNallyAverie McNaryKathryn McNeilDebra MeakinsDamien MeardiValerie Meier (5)Naz Mellick (10)Mark MielkeKevin MitchellFauza MohamedVeronica MonteiroAnthony MorrishAlexander MosaicoOrlando MunozMichelle Murphy (5)Lovin NarulaSoni NayakJim NeilsonYasmeen NizamAllison NuttingRhyannon O’HeronIdowu OhiozeNnam OkuyeBill OstapekDon PadgetLynn ParishBonnie Parker (5)Adam PasichnykAndrew Paterson

Dan PeskettNicole PfeiferWendy Phillips-BerardRobert PhilpMichelle PidhirneyScott PoitrasChristine PrattKen ProudmanMichael PucyloAllison Purdon (5)Anthony PurgasLeela RamaswamyNing RamosWill RandallSai RavikumarSusan RawlingsDave RechloBruce Reid (5)Sarah RossmanErin RothAminollah SabzevariSangin SafiSarah SagerSandeep SandhuGurpiyar SandhuJulian SavarynJacob SchwedaAlexandra SeamanGary SegalBenjamin Seigel Imane SemaineMichael SestitoFarrel ShadlynTania ShapkaPaul ShenherAndrea Simmonds (10)Sherry SimonsRandy SimpsonLeticia SiuRobyn SmedstadNicholas Smith (5)Bradley Smith

Tim SmytheMary Softley (5)Jonathan SongClaire SpicerTracy SpildeTiffany Stokes (10)Matt StoreyBrian SummersJeff SurteesAndrew TarverJim TaylorHarkirat TejaMichael TilleardNancy TranRandy TrombleyMegan TupperElizabeth TurnerWinston TuttleNatalie Tymchuk (5)Christopher ValiantYolanda Van WachemMichele VincentJenna VivianMaryna VysotskiRyan WalterTaylor WattsRichard WazanaBrittany WeikumShaun Wetmore (5)Ian WiebeCarly WilliamsRuth WilliamsChristine WilsonMichael WongSusan WoodKaren WunHana YamamotoNerissa YoungChris YoungBenjamin YoungSimon YuAdam Zibdawi

Our Volunteer Lawyers

Special thanks to our five and ten year volunteers!

Statement of Financial Position Statement of OperationsYear ended December 31, 2018 Year ended December 31, 2018

Assets

CurrentTangible Capital Assets

Liabilities

CurrentDeferred Capital Contributions

Net Assets

UnrestrictedInternally Restricted Funds

2018

460,962142,367

198,166140,727

157,768106,668

2017

441,257118,241

185,952113,346

147,690112,510

603,329 559,498

338,893 299,298

264,436 260,200

603,329 559,498

RevenueAlberta Law FoundationDonationsOther GrantsAmortizationCasinoLaw Foundation of OntarioInterest and Other

ExpensesPersonnelProgramPremisesAmortizationBoard

2018 Budget1,916,708

123,57859,000

40,000

1,862,506164,347102,933

9,500

20181,908,383

149,51847,90946,93740,408

5,5133,806

1,871,206172,127

92,70241,413

9,423

2,139,286 2,202,474

2,139,286 2,186,871

Excess of Revenue Over ExpensesFrom OperationsOther Income (Expenses)

Excess of Revenue over Expenses

15,603

(11,367)

4,236

20171,964,834

123,9936213231,99834,609

4,017

1,715,321179,993291,144

42,8889,696

2,221,583

2,239,042

(17,459)

413

(17,046)

Our Mission

#200, 10020 - 100 StreetEdmonton, Alberta T5J 0N3

P: 780.702.1725F: 780.702.1726

The Edmonton Community Legal Centre provides effective advocacy and access to justice in a supportive environment to persons living with low income.

Our Office

www.eclc.ca

@ECLCLaw

Our Staff

Edmonton CommunityLegal Centre

Administrative CoordinatorEugenija Stankaityte

Administrative AssistantsMaddison CrodenRuth Thangiah

Articling StudentsColin BasarabaChristian CormierJordyn DrydenChelsey GrueKrista McFaydenKristin PlesterSarah SagerImasha Thia

Director of OperationsJennifer Smyth

Family Law Client LiaisonKeltie Winters

Finance CoordinatorFernande Nowlan

Immigration Services ManagerRobyn Thomas-Heule

Legal AssistantsSheila BuckleHayley HobbsTammey Kezhis

Legal Services CoordinatorsSelena ArcovioArlene LamBecky Hanna

Program Coordinator(Grande Prairie) Tanya Ruigrok

Program Assistant(Grande Prairie) Ginette Gagnon

Social Benefits AdvocateLucas Porciello

Staff LawyersSarah EadieAnna KuranichevaTim PattersonKristin PlesterMichael PowerEman SajAshley Taunton

Summer Law ClerksMikolai AnselmiBrittany GoughAlex KubishIsabelle LamArden MathiesonTor PotterSheila Raffray

Volunteer andCommunications CoordinatorGiselle General

Executive DirectorDebbie Klein