BCLI

THE MiX Meet Karen Campbell Executive Director, BC Law Institute

The importance of law reform as a tool to adapt to changing societal needs is more crucial than ever.

As a lawyer who has practised law in the public interest for more than 20 years in British Columbia, I was delighted to join the British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI), as the new Executive Director last September. Joining BCLI is a wonderful opportunity to further my passion of working toward clear and just legal frameworks for people and lands in British Columbia.

The year 2020 has been like no other; we are seeing profound shifts in the way our world functions. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated swift changes to the operations of our justice system and is adding new dimensions to the many areas where BCLI and its division, the Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL), already make important contributions. BCLI has produced excellent legal research for decades; my goals include building our presence and continuing to get broad recognition for and implementation of our work.

Among the considerations immediately ahead is access to justice. Last year, BCLI joined 50 justice organizations to sign onto the Access to Justice BC Triple Aim that seeks to improve the experience of British Columbians with the justice system. Working to recommend changes to outdated laws that no longer align with the lives of British Columbians or address their needs is an important part of improving access to justice for all, one that BCLI Is uniquely poised to fulfill.

Systemic racism is another cornerstone justice issue. Racism toward Indigenous, black, and people of colour in our communities needs to be better addressed and requires law reform to respond to societal root causes. BC’s recent passage of framework legislation to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples means that Indigenous perspectives and considerations will need to factor directly into future law reform initiatives in BC.

Karen Campbell

Having worked with settler and Indigenous communities all over the province, I have developed a deep commitment to supporting the health and well-being of BC communities. Over the course of my career and practice, I have consistently worked to strengthen and modernize BC laws in the public interest, primarily from a resource and environmental law perspective. BCLI’s independence, rigour, and research are core strengths. Our ability to convene practitioners to develop expert reform proposals has been key to our success. There is so much BCLI can do in these dynamic times.

Key to our work is the deep commitment of legal professionals, academics, and community partners to support our mission— whether through engagement in our law reform project committees, responding to consultation requests, or by contributing to our Board and governance. We look forward to engaging current and new partners, our funders, and government agencies to expand our reach and impact as an organization.

Planned or not, 2020 was a time of rethinking and renewal. We are thankful to former BCLI Executive Director Kathleen Cunningham, who spent well over a decade with the organization, on project committees, on the Board, and as my predecessor. As 2021 begins, we are eager to develop new projects and dig into new areas that will contribute to equitable and innovative approaches to modernize laws for the benefit of people throughout British Columbia. About BCLI and CCEL The British Columbia Law Institute was created in 1997 by incorporation under the provincial Society Act. Its purposes are to • clarify and simplify the law; • adapt the law to meet modern social needs; • improve the administration of justice and respect for the rule of law; and promote and carry out scholarly legal research. Its division, the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, explores the particular legal issues affecting older Canadians. CCEL is dedicated to improving the lives of older adults in their relationship to the law. s