Innocence Canada & IWCD Committee Are Hosting a Gala Event to acknowledge our 10th Anniversary
INNOCENCE CANADA & INTERNATIONAL WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY COMMITTEE
Innocence Canada & IWCD Committee Are Hosting a Gala Event to acknowledge the 10th Anniversary of IWCD.
October 2, 2024, Innocence Canada and other innocence, and social justice groups worldwide will join together in our shared goal of spreading awareness about wrongful convictions.
International Wrongful Conviction Day (IWCD) was launched by Innocence Canada on October 2, 2014.
The 10th Anniversary IWCD Gala Event is drawing pan-Canadian interest, with exonerated individuals from all regions of the country confirmed to attend.
Organizers are anticipating a full house, reflecting widespread support and engagement in the cause of wrongful conviction awareness. In recognition of this special milestone year, Innocence Canada, and the International Wrongful Conviction Day Committee (IWCDC) are hosting a IWCD 10th Anniversary Gala Event.
This night provides us all the opportunity to recognize, acknowledge, and honour the wrongly convicted, their families, advocates, supporters, and sponsors of this important and must not miss important event.
Event: 10th Anniversary of IWCD
Where: Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Grand Salon
20 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario.
Time: Reception: 5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. followed by the evening’s programme!
Amongst the exonerees in attendance will be A.J. Woodhouse and Brian Anderson (Manitoba) who were exonerated on July 18, 2023, almost fifty years after they were wrongly convicted and incarcerated. Amongst our special guests will be retired Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Harry LaForme who will be addressing the attendees, Julian Sher formerly of the Fifth Estate and author of Until You are Dead a book about the Steven Truscott case, Jill Makepeace, Vice President of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Jonathan Rosenthal of the Law Society.
Exonerees will be participating in the evening’s programme.
During the programme there will be a presentation of the annual Rubin Hurricane Carter Champion of Justice Award, the Tracey Tyler Award, which is given to an individual or group who through the news media, documentary, or film, book, or podcast has helped to expose a wrongful conviction or raise awareness of the issue. The third award being presented is the Donald Marshall Jr. Award named after Canada’s first recognized wrongly convicted person. Some of our special guests will be previous award recipients who members of the Fifth Estate, Susan Milgaard representing her mother, the late Joyce Milgaard, Avery Haines &Madeline McNair of W-Five and Marie Coffin Stewart whose brother Wilbert Coffin was hanged in Quebec in 1956. Jimmy Coffin who was eight years old at the time of his death will be attending with his son.
A recorded message from Justice Minister Arif Virani will be played.
“Frank and open discussion about the causes of wrongful convictions can lead to positive change in our criminal justice systems and help reduce future wrongful convictions and avoid the immeasurable suffering of innocent people and their families globally”, said Innocence Canada co-president and exoneree Ron Dalton.
Innocence Canada and the IWCDC are reaching out to communities across Canada to sign proclamations observing October as IWCD in their cities and towns. On this day landmarks buildings, stadiums and bridges will be illuminating to acknowledge the wrongly convicted.
Innocence Canada and the IWCDC encourages the participation and support of individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, schools, churches and ask them to set aside time to focus on wrongful convictions, which can happen to anyone at any time despite social, ethic, education, or religious backgrounds.
Awareness can be achieved through media releases, book signings, magazine articles, opinion pieces for daily newspapers, interviews, phone-in talk shows, educational forums, presentations by exonerees, vigils, film festivals, podcasts, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube videos.
Background on Innocence Movement
Since its inception in 1993, Innocence Canada has helped in the exonerations of 29 Canadians from across the country. These innocent individuals combined spent more than 250 years in prison. Innocence Canada is currently reviewing over 100 cases of possible wrongful convictions.
For more information and interview requests for exonerees and Innocence Canada representatives please contact:
Innocence Canada and IWCD is supported and sponsored by the Law Foundation of Ontario, Criminal Lawyers Association, the Law Society of Ontario, numerous law offices, educational institutions, individuals, and organizations across Canada.
Learn more about Innocence Canada and IWCD:
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnocenceCanada
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innocencecanada/
STEPHEN WEIR
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
109 Castlefield Avenue, Toronto, ON
CANADA. M4R 1G5
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com twitter: sweirsweir
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