In the Community

Like many of our clients, we believe that the law is but one of many tools to achieve social justice. As a result, our commitment to social justice does not end at the courtroom door, but extends into the community.

In addition to our pro bono work, Goldblatt Partners has, as a firm, supported a number of community organizations that reflect and promote the progressive ideals we share with our clients. We have donated funds, time and energy to such causes as:

• The 519 Community Centre’s Employment Law Legal Clinic for LGBTQ2S Communities
• The Stephen Lewis Foundation (supports grassroots organizations fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa)
• Lawyers Feed the Hungry (provides meals to the hungry and financial support to other organizations that help with hunger relief)
  

  The Africa Rocks Bonspiel

• Africa Rocks (raises money for Farm Radio, which provides resources to rural farmers in Africa)
• Harry’s Spring Run-Off (raises money for prostate cancer research)
• The Workers’ Action Centre and its annual Workers’ Bowl (worker-based organization committed to improving the lives and working conditions of people in low-wage and unstable employment)
• Partners in the Horn of Africa (organization working to improve the lives of people in Ethiopia)
• Toronto Educational Opportunity Fund (raises funds to provide lunch and snacks to Inner City kindergarten students)
• Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto Diversity Scholarship Program; (provides scholarships to young people living in CHFT member housing co–operatives)
• Egale Canada (advances equality and justice for LGBTQ people and their families across Canada)
• Amnesty International
  

  We participate in Amnesty International’s annual Write For Rights

• Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (organization dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and exonerating individuals convicted of crimes they did not commit)
• People for Education (independent organization working to support public education in Ontario schools)
• Food Banks Canada (national organization representing and supporting the food bank community across Canada)
• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (legal clinic dedicated to providing access to justice and support for women who have experienced violence)
• Option Bytown (Ottawa-based social housing organization)

• Toronto Environmental Alliance (organization that advocates for a green, healthy and equitable city)
  

  The Workers’ Bowl!

• Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts (multi-disciplinary arts festival that celebrates working class culture)
• Canadian Women’s Foundation (organization that empowers women and girls in Canada to move out of violence, out of poverty and into confidence)
• Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF works to ensure Canadian courts provide the equality rights guaranteed to women and girls by s. 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)

In 1994, several of our lawyers provided information regarding Canada’s Constitution and constitutional law to South African lawyers who were helping to draft that country’s first democratic constitution. A few months later, we received a copy of the new South African Constitution with a personalized message from Nelson Mandela.

As individuals, our lawyers have dedicated time and energy in support of a diverse array of important causes. Over the years, our lawyers have been actively involved, frequently as members and/or directors of boards or special committees, in organizations such as:

• Amnesty International
• Canadian Civil Liberties Association
• Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
• West Coast Environmental Law Association
• ARC International (advances LGBT equality at an international level)
• United Way Allocation Committee
• Homestarts Incorporated
• Homes First Society
• Law Help Ontario
• Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers
• Pathways to Education
• Supporting our Youth (organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ youth in Toronto)
• Friends’ Daycare
• ProArte Danza
• Riverdale Housing Action Group
• ARC (Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists)
• Toronto Cycling Committee
• Pleaides Theatre
• Poculi Ludique Societas (dedicated to preserving and performing medieval dramatic works)
• Law Union of Ontario (coalition of progressive lawyers, law students and legal workers that strives to develop collective approaches to bring about social justice)
• HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario)