“Our three award recipients have demonstrated many years of dedication to advance their causes and a willingness to lend a helping hand to those who need it most. We celebrate and honour their leadership and selflessness,” said CBABC president Lee Nevens.
According to an announcement from the association, the winners include:
Hasan Alam of the B.C. General Employees’ Union. Alam was presented with the Equality & Diversity Award, which celebrates CBABC members who have successfully advanced equality in the legal profession or generally in British Columbia.
Alam chairs the Provincial Committee on Anti-Racism in British Columbia. As a former president of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers B.C., he led efforts against rising anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. He co-founded the Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline and contributed to the development of the Anti-Racism Act and Anti-Racism Data Act through his role at the Multicultural Advisory Council of B.C.
Gurminder Sandhu, K.C., of Hamilton Duncan. Sandhu was presented with the Harry Rankin, Q.C. Pro Bono Award, which recognizes a CBABC member’s outstanding contributions in pro bono service.
Sandhu has dedicated nearly three decades to pro bono service, volunteering with Access Pro Bono, Amici Curiae Friends of Court, Salvation Army and the UBC Law Students Legal Advice Program. As an active CBABC member, he has served on the Provincial Council, speaks at schools about his professional experiences and mentors other lawyers. He is an elected law society bencher for Westminster County and spent a decade on the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for B.C.
barbara findlay, K.C. findlay was awarded the President’s Medal, which recognizes an individual for their significant contribution to the profession, legal academic proficiency or outstanding works of legal scholarship.
findlay has been an advocate for queer and trans rights for over four decades, defending 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in landmark cases and working to enhance their visibility and safety. She is a founding member of the December 9 Coalition and the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance. Although retired, she remains involved in groundbreaking litigation, opposes the use of the notwithstanding clause to erode rights, founded Lawyers Against Transphobia and mentors 2SLGBTQIA+ lawyers nationwide.