President’s Award

2025 RECIPIENT | ABOUT THE AWARD | PROCESS | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

2025 PRESIDENT’S AWARD

The Honourable Justice Julie Dutil (right in the photo) presented the 2025 President’s Award to The Honourable Justice Georgina Jackson of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (left in the photo) — in recognition of her outstanding service and extraordinary contributions to justice in Canada.

About The Honourable Justice Georgina Jackson:

Appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1991, she was one of the youngest women ever to be named to an appellate court in Canada — and since then, she has continued to lead with clarity, compassion, and an unshakeable commitment to justice.

Her impact extends far beyond the bench. Justice Jackson has been a powerful advocate for judicial education and legal scholarship across Canada. Her work with organizations like the Canadian Judicial Council, the National Judicial Institute, and her role as president of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice from 2015 to 2017, has shaped generations of judges and legal professionals.

ABOUT THE AWARD

In 2016, CIAJ established the President’s Award to highlight the exceptional contribution of one of its volunteers. The work of CIAJ volunteers is essential to achieve CIAJ’s mission and reach its objectives. The Award will be given every other year, alternately with the Justice Medal. The first President’s Award was presented at CIAJ’s Annual Conference held in October 2016, in Ottawa.

The Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice establishes the President’s Award and names a first recipient
Read the press release – Read our blog post

Montreal, October 13, 2016 – The Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) establishes the President’s Award to highlight the exceptional contribution of one of its volunteers. The Award was given for the first time at CIAJ’s Annual Conference, which took place in Ottawa from October 5 to 7, to Mr. John Mark Keyes. “John Mark is a natural leader. He is prepared to debate each issue of importance to make sure we get it right. […] He is a worthy recipient of the first President’s Award!” said the Honourable Justice Georgina R. Jackson, from the Court of appeal for Saskatchewan and President of CIAJ.

PROCESS

Eligibility

Only current CIAJ members are eligible;
Members of CIAJ’s Executive Committee and CIAJ employees are not eligible;
Groups are not eligible;
There are no posthumous awards.

Nomination Procedure

CIAJ’s Executive Committee may suggest names of candidates directly and/or ask members of CIAJ’s Board of Directors, members of CIAJ’s Committees or CIAJ’s Executive Director.

Selection Process

CIAJ’s Executive Committee selects the recipient. The Committee reserves the right not to confer the President’s Award.

RECIPIENTS

	2025 President’s Award Recipient: The Honourable Justice Georgina Jackson Presented by: The Honourable Justice Julie Dutil (CIAJ President) Award ceremony: 49^th Annual Conference on Environment and the Law: Protect or Develop—Is There a Choice? (October 28-30, 2025 – Vancouver) About the Honourable Justice Georgina Jackson Justice Jackson has been a trailblazer throughout her distinguished career. Appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1991, she was one of the youngest women ever to be named to an appellate court in Canada — and since then, she has continued to lead with clarity, compassion, and an unshakeable commitment to justice. But her impact extends far beyond the bench. Justice Jackson has been a powerful advocate for judicial education and legal scholarship across Canada.
	2023 President’s Award Recipient: The Honourable Justice James W. O’Reilly Presented by: The Honourable Justice P. Colleen Suche (CIAJ President) Award ceremony: 47^th Annual Conference on The Law of Borders (October 25-27, 2023 – Ottawa) About the Honourable Justice James W. O’Reilly Justice James O’Reilly was appointed to the Federal Court in 2002 and to the Court Martial Appeal Court in 2003. He has been a member of the Board of CIAJ since 2012 and was CIAJ’s President from 2019 to 2021. Portrait (2021).
	2021 President’s Award Recipient: Mark Benton, K.C. Presented by: The Honourable Justice P. Colleen Suche (CIAJ President) & The Honourable Justice James W. O’Reilly (CIAJ Past President) Award ceremony: 45^th Annual Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law (November 17-19, 2021 – Vancouver) About Mark Benton, K.C. Mark has been a lawyer since 1980 and has served as the CEO of Legal Aid BC since 2002. He was a very active, efficient and much appreciated Board Member for three terms, from 2015 to 2021. Portrait (2021).
	2018 President’s Award Recipient: Michael Gottheil Presented by: Patrick A. Molinari, A.d. E., FRSC (CIAJ President) Award ceremony: 43^thAnnual Conference on Justice and Mental Health (October 17-19, 2028 – Ottawa)
	2016 President’s Award: First Recipient Recipient: John Mark Keyes Presented by: The Honourable Justice Georgina R. Jackson (CIAJ President) Award ceremony: 41^th Annual Conference on Civil Justice and Economics: A Matter of Value (October 5-7, 2016 – Ottawa) About John Mark Keyes John Mark Keyes is a sessional professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa – Common Law Section, teaching mainly in the field of public law and legislation. He is also an instructor with Athabasca University in its Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Legislative Drafting Program. He was employed in the Department of Justice (Canada), first in the Privy Council Office Section examining draft regulations, then moving to the Legislation Section to draft government bills. From 1999, he worked in various managerial positions in the Legislative Services Branch and was the Chief Legislative Counsel (Assistant Deputy Minister Responsible for Legislative Services) from 2005 until 2013.