Kirsten McCann

2021 - Fall Term

Kirsten is a second-year student at the University of Ottawa in the Faculty of English Common Law. Passionate about the intersections between gender, Indigenous rights, climate change policy, technology, and equality, Kirsten hopes to one day practice law in a relating field. She is also a fierce advocate for sexual violence prevention and is currently a workshop coordinator for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund’s “Only Yes Means Yes” consent workshops for Ottawa high school students. She spent this past summer working at the Law Commission of Ontario researching environmental rights, and her first year working as a bilingual assistant editor at the Ottawa Law Review and research assistant at the Centre for Law, Technology and Public Policy.

Before law school, Kirsten completed an Honours Specialization Degree in Political Science at Western University. Outside school, you can find Kirsten skiing every chance she can get and striking out more often than she would like to admit on her school’s amateur softball team. She hopes to graduate law school in the Spring of 2023.

Wafa Khan

2021 - Fall Term

Wafa is a third-year student in the English Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa. Prior to law school, she graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Wafa is passionate about giving back to marginalized communities and has done so through her work with various organizations like Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights Ottawa, The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the NORTH Clinic. Wafa anticipates being called to the Manitoba Bar in 2023 where she hopes to continue working between the intersection of health, law, and policy reform.

Chesa Abma-Slade

Chésa Abma-Slade, Xwsepsum (Esquimalt Nation) member, believes in the importance of representing the diverse perspectives of Indigenous peoples’ (especially Indigenous children and youth) in movements for change. Currently, she is studying law in a joint degree program in Canadian common law and Indigenous legal orders. Chésa’s work experience includes education, research, and communication within schools, First Nation communities, NGOs, and government organizations.

Excitingly, Chésa's outstanding community work saw her present at a Generation Equality Event, "Feminist Youth Will Not be Left Behind." You can watch the video on youtube, where she speaks at the 15-minute mark. https://youtu.be/gedDQOwlJEw?t=946

Ariane Lefebvre

2021 - Spring Term

Ariane is a second-year student in the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa who will be graduating in 2022. Prior to her studies in law, she completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa. Her studies continue to fuel her passion and interest in the intersectionality between health and the law.

She is beyond excited to have the opportunity to witness the development of the law and to work alongside Senator Boyer, an expert in the field of Indigenous health law in Canada. Ariane is currently the French Common Law Representative for the Health Law Students’ Association and the Undergraduate Student Member for the University of Ottawa’s Senate Appeals Committee. Outside of her studies and extracurricular commitments, Ariane can be found practicing yoga, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors in northern Ontario.

Tara Rose McDonald

2021 - Spring Term

Tara Rose McDonald is in her final year of law school at the University of Ottawa in the Common Law English Program. Previously, she was a Chancellor’s Scholar at Queen’s University where she graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours, and where she majored in Global Development Studies and minored in Political Science.

Ms McDonald currently works at both the Department of Justice Canada in the Criminal Conviction Review Group and at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law as the Indigenous Learner Academic Mentor. She is extremely passionate about Indigenous rights, women’s health, and criminal justice reform. Ms McDonald is very excited to employ her experience as a student of law, researcher, and community legal advocate as she works with the Honourable Senator Boyer to improve the health and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples across Canada.

In the summer of 2021, Ms. McDonald will begin clerking for the Honourable Justice Paul Favel at the Federal Court of Canada.

Alexandra George

2020

Alexandra is a second-year student in the French Common Law Program (JD) at the University of Ottawa. Prior to entering law school, she studied 4 years at the University of Windsor with a double major in French Studies and Criminology. Alexandra expects to complete law school by 2022 and expects to be called to the bar in 2023. Alexandra also completed her internship with the offices of Senator Boyer and Senator Hartling.

Blossom Malhan

2020

Blossom Malhan is a resident of British Columbia who is passionate about electoral reform and International Relations. She is committed to the process of self-education in order to better listen and serve as an ally to fellow Canadians facing inequality and discrimination. Blossom is currently attending law school at the University of Ottawa and is expected to be called to the Bar in 2022.

Emily Kim

2020

Emily Kim is a fiercely active uOttawa student whose enthusiasm for extracurricular’s and public service knows no bounds. She assisted lawyers who represent underrepresented parties as a triage coordinator for Law Help Ontario. She has also served as an executive committee member, events coordinator, and graphic designer for several community serving organizations including, Pro Bono Students Canada Executive at University of Ottawa and HanVoice Ottawa Chapter. Emily’s burgeoning legal career will benefit greatly from her time under the mentorship of Justice Peter Doody at the Ottawa Courthouse and as a student working for Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City (CLASSIC).

Emily Kim expects to graduate the JD program in Common Law at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 2021 and to be called to the bar in the year 2022.

Jennifer Linde

2020

Jennifer is a second-year student in the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa who will be graduating in 2022. Originally from Vancouver, she chose to pursue her law degree in the nation’s capital in order to study in French and pursue her interests in public and constitutional law. With her keen interest in legislative development, Jennifer is absolutely thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work as an intern for Senator Boyer.

Jennifer serves as Vice-President (Internal) of the Regroupement étudiant de common law en français (RÉCLEF) and as Associate Editor for the Ottawa Law Review. Passionate about human rights, she has volunteered with a number of organizations centered around equity initiatives, including Reach Canada and the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective. Jennifer is also a host for The Law School Show podcast, where she seeks to highlight the work of women in the legal profession as well as the work of those fighting to improve access to justice.

In her spare time, you can find Jennifer running along the Rideau Canal, snowshoeing in Gatineau Park, or cozying up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Kallisti Sipidias

2020

Kallisti Sipidias is completing a Juris Doctor degree in common law at the University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law. She is currently a second-year student and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2022. Prior to law school, she completed a double major in Political Science and Sociology and received an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. Kallisti completed her internship with Senator Boyer and Senator Boniface's offices.

Kallisti’s genuine curiosity, quest for knowledge, and desire for developing a deeper understanding of the world lead her to pursue a career in law. She is interested in applying her legal knowledge and practical approach to help people and businesses solve complex legal problems. Kallisti’s passion for law is rivaled only by her love for fitness, cooking, traveling, reading, and collecting antique jewelry.

Lauren Thompson

2020

Lauren Thompson joined Senator Boyer’s team before entering her third year of law school. She anticipates being called to the bar in 2022 and is expected to complete her University of Ottawa Juris Doctor in June 2021. Lauren was previously a medical responder before changing careers into law. She worked with Senator Boyer in helping to gain insight on the resources available to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lauren is currently a Dean’s Technology Fellow with the University of Ottawa, and a Hyman Soloway Fellow in the application of Artificial Intelligence in law with Global Affairs Canada. She is also currently working in a Department of Justice practicum and in the Ottawa Community Legal Clinic/Legal Aid Ontario. When not working, Lauren enjoys camping with family and friends, and is a competing equestrian.

Taryn Michel

2020

Taryn Michel is First Nations from Michipicoten located on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. She is from the Martin Clan and her spirit name is GINEW KWE which means Golden Eagle Woman. Taryn is happily married to her husband and is blessed with two beautiful children in Alexander and Reese where they live in Sudbury, Ontario.

Following the traits of her spirit name, Taryn has both powerful, long-seeing vision and a majestic spirit. She chose to pursue a career in legal advocacy to honour her name and the skills she has been gifted. Taryn employs these skills well as the Vice President for the Indigenous Law Students Association at the UOttawa Faculty of Law and ass the National 1L Rep for the National Indigenous Law students association. She is currently entering her second year of law school and is a 2022 JD candidate at UOttawa.

Alexander Baxter Healy

2019

Alexander Baxter Healy completed his Senate internship working with the offices of both Senator Boyer and Senator Boniface. His work primarily focused on bills under consideration by the Senate committees on Human Rights and National Security and Defence.

Alex currently holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa (2019) as well as a Bachelor of Commerce with a minor in Economics from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick (2014). His studies at uOttawa concentrated in public and national security law, which led him to be selected to compete for Team Canada in the International Crisis Law Simulation held at Georgetown University, in Washington DC. While completing his BCOMM in New Brunswick, Alex was a starting offensive lineman and captain for the Mounties varsity football team and was selected to play in the CIS East-West all-star competition in 2012.

Ally Memedovich

2019

Before law school, Ally obtained her BHSc in Public Health with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Calgary. She is particularly interested in how health policy and other government policies impact people’s everyday lives. After law school, she is hoping to work in the public sector or alongside marginalized persons. When not reading for law school, Ally enjoys reading books for her book blog.

Ally expects to graduate law school in 2021 and expects to be called to the bar in 2022.

Courtney Wilbur

2019

Courtney Wilber is a status member of the Northern Tutchone community belonging to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation in the Yukon Territory. In August 2017, Courtney was gifted her Grandmother’s Traditional name Nän Chié á which means “coming from the ground.”

Courtney has accepted the tremendous responsibility that comes with accepting a traditional name and with both the help of her Grandmother’s teachings and a legal education she is preparing to honourably protect the rights of her home community. Courtney knows too well the effect that Residential Schools had on both her community and family members and uses this knowledge to drive her focus in Indigenous rights as a prospective legal advocate. Courtney expects to graduate the uOttawa J.D common law program in 2021 and expects to be called to the bar in 2022.

Connor Scott

2018

Connor Scott received his Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law in 2019. Prior to that, he graduated with distinction from Western University as a Western Scholar with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree, specializing in Political Science. Connor believes deeply in the importance of public service. It is this conviction which has motivated him to pursue a public law practice, specializing in health law, and secure internship opportunities with the Hospital for Sick Children, Senate of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health. In August 2020, Connor began articling with the Legal Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care.

He expects to have fulfilled all of the licensing requirements to be eligible to be called to the Bar of Ontario in June 2021.

Kelly Duquette

2018

Kelly Duquette is Métis artist and lawyer, practicing Municipal and Aboriginal business law in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office. She has a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) and a Juris Doctorate Degree (JD) from the University of Ottawa.

Kelly specialized in Indigenous law throughout her University career and has participated in a number of Indigenous-focused internship opportunities. One of these internship opportunities included the legislative development internship in the Senate alongside Honourable Senator Yvonne Boyer. During this internship, Kelly attended bi-weekly Aboriginal People’s Senate Committee meetings and prepared briefs of the meetings. Further, she assisted and informed Senator Boyer through the completion of various research projects and senate speeches, and responded to questions from the community.