Ian Levine, Antree Demakos and Andreas Levine
Antree’s 5 minute acceptance speech
On February 28, Treasurer Paul Schabas of The Law Society of Ontario announced that Antree Demakos had won the 2018 John Shirley Denison Award for her role as Founder and Chief Information Officer for Legal Line, which is responsible for helping 3 million Canadians a year with Free Legal Help.
Antree has had the support of Law Society Treasurers, including Harvey Strosberg (who at their delightful boardroom meeting applauded the Legal Line services and gave permission for the Law Society logo to be used on Legal Line’s free telephone hot-line poster), Vern Krishna (who met with Antree on several occasions providing his sage guidance), Thomas Conway (who included Legal Line in the Law Society’s Access to Justice brochure), Janet Minor (who was grateful for all the statistics that Legal Line provided to the LSO to help further its public resource initiatives), and of course Paul Schabas (who honoured her with the Shirley Denison Award).
In addition to answering 31,000 enquiries every day, we also refer our Users to lawyers and other professionals when needed.
The Award Ceremony is set to take place at The Law Society on May 23, 2018.
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) building, formerly known as The Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC), 1797-2018
John Shirley Denison
Born in Montréal in 1870, Denison attended Upper Canada College in Toronto, and then Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1892 and was made King’s Counsel in 1910, under George V. He was elected a bencher of the Law Society in 1931, and was re-elected in 1936, ‘41 and ‘46. Denison served as chairman of the Legal Education Committee from 1936 until 1944, after which he was elected Treasurer.
By naming an award in his honour the importance of his legacy will be recognized and celebrated each year, as will the activities of Antree C. Demakos, Founder of Legal Line, in making a significant contribution in the area of access to justice.
OUR HISTORY WITH THE LAW SOCIETY
and
LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CANADA
With only 45 answers and an antiquated telecommunications system, the Law Society decided to cancel its failing Dial-a-law system. To fill the gap left by the cancellation of Dial-a-law, Gemma Zecchini of the Law Society worked closely with Antree Demakos of Legal Line. The Law Society provided Legal Line with information its users experience and its telephone service statistics to allow Legal Line to better address the questions most frequently asked by the public.
“As a former practicing lawyer and retired Executive Director of The Manitoba Law Foundation, I have watched the development of public legal information systems across Canada for the past 13 years. After completing an in-depth analysis, I report that the telephone and internet systems designed and implemented by Legal Line is the most sophisticated electronic retrieval method I have ever encountered. The Directors of Legal Line have spent all of the time necessary to develop systems of the best possible quality, and they have obtained the cooperation of hundreds of lawyers with the finest of reputations.”
William K. Greenaway, Ph.D., LL.B.
Doctorate in Law / Consultant to the LFO
Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO)
At the request of Kathryn Noxon, Legal Line flyers were requested and delivered to the Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS).
Working with Marisha Roman, Aboriginal Initiatives and Policy Counsel, the Law Society approved Legal Line flyers and guides to be distributed with the Law Society’s Brochure. The Legal Line postcard design with the Law Society logo was also approved.
The Law Society connected its users to Legal Line from 1999-2022.
The Law Society’s Lawyer Referral Service counsellors used Legal Line posters to direct callers looking for information to the free Legal Line telephone hot-line.
Including Legal Line with a group initiative with Legal Aid Ontario, Pro Bono Law Ontario, and The Law Foundation of Ontario in a publication for mass distribution through The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Toronto Life magazine, and to over 2,000 legal help office across Ontario, The Law Society Treasurer Thomas Conway says…
“At The Law Society, we are committed to improving access to justice for all Ontarians. The right information can help you make good choices if you are dealing with a legal problem.”
Thomas G. Conway
Treasurer (2012-2014)
The Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC)
“Legal Line is an important resource for the members of Ontario. We have created a special link direct to Legal Line.”
James Truman
Project Coordinator
Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG)
“Legal Line has taken all the necessary steps to present easily accessible legal information to the public. I am proud to have been contributing to Legal Line for over 20 years as a volunteer by reviewing areas of law for which I am experienced.”
The Honourable Mr. Justice Marvin A. Zuker
Family Court Judge (22 yrs.), Small Claims Court Judge (12 yrs.), Criminal Court Judge (current)
Ontario Court of Justice
“Congratulations Legal Line for winning by unanimous vote, the City of Toronto’s most prestigious Award for Access, Equity and Human Rights. Antree deserves to be celebrated for helping to build a stronger, more equitable society for all Torontonians.”
John Tory, Mayor of Toronto
City of Toronto
Government of Ontario
“I would like to order an additional 1,000 Legal Line Guides. Your guides are available at the Registry of the Supreme Court of Canada to members of the public who need legal help. Your service is a great initiative for the community.”
Nadia Loreti
Acting Director, Registry Branch
The Supreme Court of Canada
It is my honor to share the stage with you this evening. Congratulations to you (Antree Demakos) for creating Legal Line and winning the 2017 LEXPERT Award.
Supreme Court Judge
The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella
The Supreme Court Of Canada
Special Thanks to:
Grant Wedge, Executive Director of The Law Society, Policy, Equity & Public Affairs who worked with Legal Line in 2012 when we undertook the mammoth task to distribute 90,000 copies of The Law Society pamphlet entitled “Handling everyday legal problems – Information to help you make good choices” to our 8,000 Legal Line Community Partners.
This Law Society pamphlet promotes and endorses Legal Line as a valuable information resource, along with the services of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) and Your Legal Rights.
Return to Legal Line Awards & Milestones