Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
For his long-term work defending human rights, equality and social justice, bencher Paul Copeland was honoured by a special tribute at a reception held in honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 28, 2007.
"Tonight, the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee would like to take the opportunity presented by this special occasion to honour Paul Copeland for his exceptional commitment and support of human rights causes here in Canada, and internationally," Treasurer Gavin MacKenzie said. He noted that Paul has most recently been defending people charged under the Canadian anti-terrorism law and subjected to the national security process.
As a large screen beside the podium showed photos of Paul at various stages of his life, Paul's friends and colleagues reflected on his achievements and contributions. Speakers included bencher Carole Curtis; the Honourable Mr. Justice Melvyn Green, of the Ontario Court of Justice; Bush Gulati, of the Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma; and Timothy Zaw Zaw, of the Toronto Burma Roundtable. Bencher Joanne St. Lewis topped off the tribute with a rendition of Mahalia Jackson's "I Live the Life I Sing About in my Song," which she chose after learning it has long been a source of inspiration to Paul.
"Paul inspires me to be a better lawyer every day," Carole Curtis said in her tribute.
In describing his longtime friend, Justice Green said, "Paul's enemies have always been the same: Injustice; Inequity; Tyranny; Bigotry; Oppression; Official Hypocrisy; and, of course, just plain Stupidity."
Bush Gulati from the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma spoke about the many years of passionate volunteer work Paul has done to help Burmese refugees and to support the Burmese community in Canada. "If we need him, Paul always responds; he is literally a phone call or fax away."
Timothy Zaw Zaw, who came to Toronto in 1998 as a Burmese political refugee, said, "I too thank Paul for all his good work for us. We, the Burmese community, need more people like Paul to work to achieve democracy in Burma."
Paul spoke after hearing his friends' and colleagues' remarks. "I'm honoured, humbled and also stunned," he said, before speaking briefly about legal activism, the topic of the day. "Thank you to everyone for being here and to the Law Society for organizing this wonderful evening."
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/latest-news/b/archives/index.cfm?c=1029&i=11693
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