Research and Education

The research for this White Paper, prepared for the Association of Canadian Court Administrators, has revealed an important service gap that exists in the Canadian justice system in terms of what self-represented litigants (SRLs) need and what is currently being provided. While the entire justice system has a role to play in understanding and addressing this question, the primary focus of this White Paper is on courts and court administrators (and related services) and their specific approach to SRLs and their legal needs. The report makes eight recommendations.

The Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre is a Canadian non-governmental, non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Calgary which undertakes research on contemporary civil liberties and human rights issues that are of concern to Albertans. The projects are diverse – from proposals for reform of human rights legislation, to a report on citizen complaints about police conduct, to a manual for lawyers who represent mentally disabled clients. Staff and volunteers make presentations on a wide range of civil liberties and human rights topics.

The Alberta Gambling Research Institute is a consortium of the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge. Its primary purpose is to support and promote research into gambling in the province. The Institute aims to achieve international recognition in gambling-related research.

The Alberta Gaming Research Institute is a consortium arrangement of the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge. Its primary purpose is to support and promote research into gaming and gambling in the province. The identified research domains include bio-psychological and health care, socio-cultural, economic, and government and industry policy and practice. The Institute aims to achieve international recognition in gaming-related research.

A searchable database of Alberta judgments can be found on CanLii. For official versions of judgments, copies of the original court files may be obtained through the Alberta Courts. For more information, see the appropriate level of court:

Court of Appeal judgments;
Court of King’s Bench judgments;
Alberta Court of Justice judgments

Part of the Alberta Court Services is access to the Alberta Law Libraries. The primary mission of Alberta Law Libraries is to facilitate access to legal information for the Alberta community, including its judiciary, lawyers, citizens, libraries and government agencies. Alberta Law Libraries (ALL) were formed in 2009 when Alberta Court Libraries and Alberta Law Society Libraries were amalgamated. ALL has served the legal community in Alberta since 1885 and use of our collections is free to all who visit our libraries.

This resource is provided by Alberta Law Libraries. Provides information on finding provincial, federal, and international cases.

Part of the Alberta Court Services is access to the Alberta Law Libraries. The primary mission of Alberta Law Libraries is to facilitate access to legal information for the Alberta community, including its judiciary, lawyers, citizens, libraries and government agencies. Alberta Law Libraries (ALL) were formed in 2009 when Alberta Court Libraries and Alberta Law Society Libraries were amalgamated. ALL has served the legal community in Alberta since 1885 and use of our collections is free to all who visit our libraries.

The Centre provides worker-focused resources about:

• Health hazards on the job
• Legislation and legal rights for a healthy and safe workplace
• Research on health and safety issues and trends affecting workers

They also offer courses that are designed to give workers a better understanding of their Health and Safety rights and responsibilities, and provides tools for making the workplace safer.

Apathy is Boring is a national non-partisan project that uses art, media and technology to encourage active citizenry, outreaching to a broad demographic of youth about how to be more involved in their communities and the democratic process.

This webpage describes the types of information that can be provided and offers a web form for submitting a question.

The BearPaw Legal Education & Resource Centre (BearPaw Education) is a program offered by Native Counselling Services of Alberta and funded by the Alberta Law Foundation aimed at helping Aboriginal people navigate the legal system and gain awareness of their legal rights. The BearPaw Education’s mandate is to promote awareness of the legal rights and obligations of Aboriginal people living in Alberta and to enhance Aboriginal peoples’ connection and access to justice. 

The University of Calgary Law Library is open to any person with an interest in using its collections or services. The link above goes directly to the University of Calgary’s Virtual Law Library, which includes information about: Legislation; Courts; Legal Databases; Legal Periodicals; Aboriginal Law; Human Rights; International Law; Natural Resources, Energy & the Environment; Trade and Commerce; Government Bodies; Law Reform Commissions; Reference Sources; Research Guides; Selected Websites; Legal Profession; Law for the Layperson; Law Libraries; and Law Publishers.

A comic book produced by the BearPaw Education (NCSA), Breach is an entertaining look at a serious topic – breach charges and administration of justice. This youth-oriented resource aims to reinforce the importance of following court orders by explaining the consequences of breaching such orders as well as the benefits of following them.

The Calgary Domestic Violence Collective’s  purpose is threefold: to develop capacity to address domestic violence for professionals and allied professionals; to inform and influence decision makers around a framework for ending domestic violence; to ensure a collaborative and coordinated community response to domestic violence in Calgary and Area. Their website includes research reports on a variety of aspects of domestic violence. (Former name: Alliance to End Violence)

Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal advice for individuals with low income. If you need legal information and advice on: Family issues; Criminal issues; Civil issues; Restraining Orders; Emergency Protection Orders etc; Social Benefit issues; and; an evening course on Do Your Own Divorce.

Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal advice for individuals with low income. If you need legal information and advice on: Family issues; Criminal issues; Civil issues; Restraining Orders; Emergency Protection Orders etc; Social Benefit issues; and; an evening course on Do Your Own Divorce.

Calgary Legal Guidance runs many workshops and presentations in the community on a variety of legal topics such as:

• Family Law
• Wills & Estates
• Landlord & Tenant

If you are an organization or agency that would like a presentation on a legal topic please contact Kim Feodoroff at  403.716.6476.

This site is about the history of Canada through the words of the men and women who shaped the nation. Built around the Government Documents collection of the Early Canadiana Online collection, it integrates narrative text with links to primary source texts. The site has been designed for students and teachers of Canadian studies, history and law, but will also be useful to researchers and anyone else interested in Canada’s past.

From the Great Library of the Law Society of Upper Canada, this web page provides annotated links to case law as well as case-related services and information available mainly on the websites of Alberta courts and administrative tribunals.

This Portal is designed to provide child welfare professionals, researchers, and the general public with a single point of access to Canadian child welfare research. The Portal includes a searchable data base of Canadian research publications, a data base of Canadian researchers, and information and statistics about provincial, territorial, aboriginal and national child welfare policies, legislation and programs.

The Canadian Council for Refugees is a non-profit umbrella organization committed to the rights and protection of refugees in Canada and around the world and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada. The membership is made up of organizations involved in the settlement, sponsorship and protection of refugees and immigrants. The CCR site provides basic information about immigration and refugee issues, policy documents, public education materials about refugees and immigrants, as well as statistics and links to other sources of statistics.

The Canadian Institute of Resources Law is a national centre of expertise on legal and policy issues relating to Canada’s natural resources. Since its establishment in 1979, the Institute has pursued a three-fold mandate of research, education and publication. The Institute initiates projects and responds to requests from the public and private sectors and from non-governmental organizations. The Institute publishes the results of its research and the proceedings of conferences which it sponsors as monographs and occasional papers. It also sponsors the publication of manuscripts on issues within its mandate.

The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) was established at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law in the fall of 2003. Through student-centered research and advocacy, the clinic represents consumer and other public interests in such areas as intellectual property, consumer protection in e-commerce, domain name governance, personal information protection and privacy.

This online resource is written and maintained by Catherine Best, a research lawyer with Boughton Law Corporation in Vancouver, British Columbia, and former Director of Legal Research and Writing at the UBC Faculty of Law. It features information on research essentials (strategy, methods and writing), electronic research (using free and commercial services), and statutory and jurisdiction research.

A collaborative dictionary comprised, initially, of terms defined in glossaries of Canadian law books published by Irwin Law. The dictionary is maintained by an Irwin Law editor.

Founded in 1978, the Canadian Study of Parliament Group (CSPG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that brings together parliamentary experts, academics, and public servants with an interest in the role, function and reform of parliamentary institutions. The CSPG organizes and undertakes various events and research publications that foster discussion and enhance knowledge of parliamentary government.

CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) is a free, non-profit online database that makes Canadian law publicly accessible. For Alberta specifically, the site provides free access to Alberta’s consolidated statutes and regulations, court decisions from all three levels of Alberta courts (Provincial Court, Court of King’s Bench, and Court of Appeal), and decisions from provincial tribunals — all searchable and up to date.

The Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) is a not-for-profit organization initiated by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. CanLII’s goal is to make primary sources of Canadian law accessible for free on the Internet. CanLII seeks to gather legislative and judicial texts, as well as legal commentaries, from federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions on a single Web site.

The goal of this document is to help self-represented litigants (SRLs) navigate CanLll in order to prepare for the presentation of their cases – in court, in chambers, or as part of a negotiation or mediation

The Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System (formerly the London Family Court Clinic) is a non-profit social service agency helping children and families involved with the justice system as victims of crime, witnesses of crime, parties in custody disputes, subjects of child protection proceedings, litigants in civil suits for compensation, teenagers in therapeutic care settings, or youthful offenders. They are known especially for their grounded approach to understanding and helping children exposed to domestic violence. The Centre strives to advance understanding through research that identifies the needs of children and families and the effectiveness of interventions.

A multipurpose website operated by the Youth Engagement Section of the RCMP. Discusses many youth-related topics including diversity, drugs, violence, health & safety, and internet safety. Includes a section for educators, parents, and adults who work with youth.

Through the Criminology Information Service (CIS), the Centre provides professional and innovative solutions to criminal justice communities worldwide. The CIS houses the leading Canadian research collection of criminological material, consisting of more than 25.000 books, journals, government reports, statistics and other documents, which can be accessed in person or electronically via the World Wide Web. The information covers a wide range of subject areas, including public and private policing; violence deviance and social control; young offenders; criminology, and criminal law.

Classroom Connections is a non-profit organization which produces educational materials which are innovative in content and pedagogy and designed to engage and motivate youth. Many of their resources deal with citizenship and diversity.

Community Legal Education Association (CLEA) is a not-for-profit organization, which provides Manitobans with information about the law. CLEA has existed since 1984. The Association operates the Law Phone-In & Lawyer Referral Program, a variety of community programs (Speakers Bureau, Community Legal Intermediary Training Course, annual law conference), and School’s Program (Speakers in the Classroom, Youth Criminal Justice Act Teaching Kit and Mock Trial Kits). Pamphlets, booklets, and education kits are available to order or download. The Association’s website also includes over 300 Frequently Asked Questions on a variety of legal topics.

This booklet gives teachers user-friendly information on copyright law, combining items from the Canadian Copyright Act and its regulations, contractual and tariff arrangements with copyright collectives, and court decisions. Much of the information would also be of interest to general audiences. [2005, pdf – 25 pages]

The Cornell Death Penalty Project is an undertaking of the Cornell Law School. The Project sponsors two clinics that provide students with the opportunity to assist in the representation of capital defendants, both at trial and at various stages of the appeals process. The Project also sponsors periodic symposia related to capital punishment, and in addition, conducts empirical research on jury decision making in capital cases.

The report was published by the Department of Justice Canada in 2003. It provides information on the extent of self-representation, the impacts on the accused, and means of improving the access to information for self-represented litigants. Data collected from 9 court sites, including Edmonton (PDF – 51 pages).

A website of King’s University Library.

Ted Tjaden is a lawyer/law librarian working as the Coordinator, Information Services at the Bora Laskin Law Library at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, where he teaches legal research and writing to law students. His online guide provides information and links to print and online resources about the Canadian legal system, primary and secondary legal resources, legal organizations and publishers, and offers a section categorized by legal topic.

Edmonton John Howard Society is a not-for-profit, community-based crime prevention agency. They provide assistance to people in conflict with the law, their families, those who have the potential to be in conflict with the law, and victims of crime. Their work to eradicate the root causes of crime helps build safety and harmony in communities. The Edmonton John Howard Society works to promote a better understanding of the Criminal Justice System and the consequences of breaking the law.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is Canada’s law that applies to youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who have come into conflict with the law. This section includes information and resources to help you better understand the Act and the youth justice system.

Generally, employment refers to work in non-unionized work settings. Employment standards are the minimum standards established by law that define and guarantee rights in the workplace. Each province and territory has its own legislation. This research guide is provided by Alberta Law Libraries.

Related topics include:

• wrongful dismissal
• human rights in the workplace
• privacy
• workplace health and safety
• worker’s compensation
• unemployment insurance

Energy Probe Research Foundation is an environmental and public policy research institute which has four main goals: to provide the public, media, business, and government with information on resource-related issues; to promote sustainable resource use; to encourage individual responsibility and accountability; to help Canada contribute to global justice and prosperity.

The Environmental Law Centre (Alberta) Society (“ELC”) is a registered charitable organization incorporated in Alberta in 1982 to provide Albertans with an objective source of information about environmental and natural resources law. The ELC website includes fact sheets, downloadable publications and a frequently asked questions section. The ELC library is accessible to the public; the catalogue can be accessed on their website. As well, any person can contact the ELC and receive information on environmental law.

Every Living Thing is the Alberta SPCA’s humane education website for teachers who aim to inspire compassion for animals, people and the environment – every living thing! The Alberta SPCA believes people have a duty to accept responsibility for the welfare of animals. The SPCA hopes to nurture a humane attitude toward animals through a humane education program.

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is a resource pack for teachers to introduce students aged 13 to 18 to the basic rules of international humanitarian law. It was designed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR). The learning materials, which provide 36 hours of activities, are based on real-life situations and show how IHL aims to protect life and human dignity during armed conflict and prevent and reduce the suffering and devastation caused by war.

FIRA is a pan-Canadian alliance of individuals, organizations and institutions dedicated to the development and sharing of knowledge focusing on father involvement, and the building of a community-university research alliance supporting this work. Website features research clusters that provide information on and for immigrant fathers, separated and divorced fathers, gay/bi/queer fathers, indigenous fathers, fathers of children with special needs and young fathers.

The Privy Council Office has created an online database that allows users to search for federal Orders in Council (OICs) made between 1990 and the present. Check it out here if you are looking for a Federal Order in Council.

FLARE is a collaboration between the major libraries collecting law in the United Kingdom: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Bodleian Law Library, Squire Law Library, British Library, and School of Oriental and African Studies. It is working to improve the coverage and accessibility of foreign legal materials at the national level and to raise expertise in their use.

The FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children is a joint collaboration between academics at Simon Fraser University and community and women’s organizations working at the grass-roots level. The FREDA Centre is committed to participatory action research, focused specifically on violence against women and children, and works in the interests of the community to end this violence.

This Glossary of Parliamentary Procedure is produced by Procedural Services of the House of Commons for the information of the general public.

A glossary of terms created by the Supreme Court of Canada as part of their Resources for Self-Represented Litigants website resource.

The Great Library serves the legal information needs of Law Society members and other legal researchers by facilitating access to an extensive collection of print and electronic resources, and by providing legal research assistance and instruction.

The Guide is meant to act as a resource for lawyers to learn about historical and cultural elements that provide context for the professional relationship between an Indigenous person and their lawyer. It also provides tools to help lawyers represent Indigenous clients as effectively as possible, and a number of resources to encourage lawyers to continue their education. The Advocates’ Society, in partnership with the Indigenous Bar Association and the Law Society of Ontario, developed the Guide for Lawyers Working with Indigenous Peoples.

Canada’s parliamentary system is open and democratic. It offers the opportunity for people to give their input and it is designed to make sure proposals for laws are carefully considered. Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts: the King, the Senate and the House of Commons. They work together to make the laws for our country. This guide provides an overview of the following topics: The Canadian Parliament, Who’s Who in the House, A Working Day in the Commons Chamber, Parliamentary Highlights, Making Canada’s Laws,The Role of a Member of Parliament, and Being Part of Parliament.

These guidelines support the creation of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that foster diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self . Their purpose is to enable school authorities to use best practices in creating and supporting learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. (January 2016)

The Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law began as a resource center, evolving into an international center for health law, and home to several leading health scholars. The goals of the HLI are to conduct health law and science policy research, disseminate scholarly outputs and policy work to a broad interdisciplinary community, and facilitate collaborative opportunities with national and internationally based researchers and organizations.

One of the most famous cases in Canadian legal history–the Persons Case–was brought by five Alberta women–Emily Murphy (Herstory 1974), Nellie McClung (Herstory 1974), Irene Parlby (Herstory 1975), Henrietta Muir Edwards (Herstory 1976), and Louise McKinney (Herstory 1981). They asked the Supreme Court of Canada to declare that women were persons under the meaning of the British North America Act and therefore eligible to be appointed to the Senate.

The Homeless Hub is a web-based research library and information center where community services providers, researchers, government representatives, and the general public can access and share research, stories, and best practices associated with alleviating homelessness and housing instability.

The following guide will explain the process by which a typical government initiated bill becomes law. This guide provides an overview of the Federal Legislative Process. To become law, a bill must first be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Commons. It must then pass through various stages in each House: first, second and third reading. Then it must receive Royal Assent.

Acts are passed by members of the legislative assembly (MLAs). They are introduced as bills, and debated in the Legislature before being put to a vote. If the assembly passes a bill, it receives royal assent from the Lieutenant Governor, at which point it becomes law.

For further information on this process, see the Citizen’s Guide to the Alberta Legislature.

For information on Alberta’s published statutes and regulations, see Finding Alberta Legislation

In Canada’s Parliament, bills may originate in either of its two houses – the Senate and the House of Commons. Most legislation begins in the House of Commons. Regardless of where a bill originates, it must be passed by both houses in identical form before it can receive Royal Assent and become law. This guide provides an overview of the process of how a Senate Bill goes through Parliament.

This project of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre provides teacher’s guides, student materials, videos and a bibliography of online resources to help students and teachers in junior and senior high schools to explore the topics of discrimination, sexual harassment and human rights.

The International Association of Law Libraries (IALL) is a worldwide, cooperative non-profit organization of librarians, libraries, and other persons and institutions concerned with the acquisition, dissemination and use of legal information from sources other than their own jurisdictions. Founded in 1959, the IALL has over 600 members in more than 50 countries on five continents. The members represent all types and sizes of legal collections ranging from academic law libraries to corporate libraries, and from national and parliamentary libraries to administrative agency and court libraries.

The ICRC, established in 1863, works worldwide to provide humanitarian help for people affected by conflict and armed violence and to promote the laws that protect victims of war. This website provides a wide range of resources on international humanitarian law including online publications, library and research services and access to databases.

Media Smarts offers a range of media education and Internet literacy resources.

A collaborative dictionary comprised, initially, of terms defined in glossaries of Canadian law books published by Irwin Law. The dictionary will be maintained by an Irwin Law editor. Members of the public are invited to submit new defined terms, edit existing terms and supply citations, sources and related terms.

The John Howard Society of Alberta is a non-profit agency concerned with the problem of crime and its prevention. The organization takes its name and spirit from the 18th century humanitarian John Howard, whose name has become a symbol of humane consideration for prisoners. It was incorporated in 1949, and today the organization consists of six separately incorporated districts along with the Provincial Office. The website provides information about the services available in each of these districts.

Kids in the Know is the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s interactive safety education program designed for students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. The purpose of the program is to help educators teach children and youth effective personal safety strategies in an engaging, age-appropriate and interactive way that builds resiliency skills and reduces their likelihood of victimization in the online and offline world.

This page will connect you to public legal information materials produced by Legal Aid BC. Most publications are available as PDFs or print copies may be ordered. Some are available in other languages.

A dictionary of legal terms offered by the Justice Education Society of British Columbia.

Learn the importance of developing a good search strategy in order to quickly and effectively answer legal questions. This web page is the starting point for the University of Ottawa learning modules about legal research. Topics include: searching using keywords and Boolean logic, secondary sources, legal journals, case law, using CanLII, federal legislation, and legal citations.
University of Ottawa.

These online research guides are provided by the University of Calgary and include: University of Calgary Law Library Research Guides; Other Canadian Research Guides; Non-Canadian Legal Research Guides; Internet Research Guides; Abbreviations; and Legal Citation guides.

Nothing can replace the experience a student will have when they come face to face with the faded parchment and King Edward’s ancient royal seal of Durham Cathedral’s Magna Carta. This feature article found in the Nov/Dec 2015 issue of LawNow magazine was written as a guide to Magna Carta for Alberta teachers

Vancouver Community College has created this glossary of 5000 Canadian legal and court-related terms in English Plain Language, and their equivalents in six other languages (Chinese, Farsi, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese). The glossary is intended not only for court interpreters, but for everyone participating in court or legal processes.

The Municipal Profiles are from Alberta Municipal Affairs and contain a compilation of statistical, financial, and other information about municipalities in the Province of Alberta. The information is based on data made available to and reports submitted to Alberta Municipal Affairs. The Ministry is not responsible for the accuracy of the information. Users are encouraged to verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Municipal Profiles before relying on it. Select a municipality from the list and then click on the “Contacts” icon to get access to that municipality’s website.

The National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) is committed to advancing understanding of the challenges and hard choices facing the very large numbers of Canadians who come to court without counsel. The Project works to promote dialogue and collaboration among all those affected by the self-represented litigant phenomenon, both justice system professionals and litigants themselves. They publish resources designed specifically for SRLs, as well as research reports that examine the implications for the justice system.

The Nature’s Laws Project was developed in a partnership involving the Heritage Community Foundation and representatives of First Nations from Treaty 6, 7 and 8. The project is a study of the legal codes and traditional governance of Alberta’s First Nations in the areas covered by Treaties 6, 7 and 8. It was structured as having research and public education components and involved Elders, academics and legal historians. The material examined was evidence found in oral histories, as well as case law, and the scholarly literature relating to Aboriginal People.

Provides legal information on a variety of topics in plain language to the people of British Columbia. Publications can be accessed in a variety of formats, including videos, online wikibooks, and downloadable epubs and PDFs. Print copies may be ordered. Many are available in other languages.

Pivot’s mandate is to use the law to address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion. Pivot carries out its work through legal campaigns around policing, housing, and sex work that would result in meaningful positive change for people living in poverty.

The Portage College Public Legal Education Program is a public service initiative offered in partnership with the Alberta Law Foundation. The program offers learning opportunities to individuals, families, and communities throughout North Eastern Alberta through the provision of information, resources, and education on a variety of legal topics. All requests for information are confidential. The program also offers legal education presentations and seminars throughout North Eastern Alberta in communities, agencies, and schools. For program updates and workshops see: https://mailchi.mp/db001ef43930/portage-college-public-legal-education-newsletter-2543565

Prairieaction Foundation raises and grants funds: To sustain a prairie research network that seeks Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse (RESOLVE) and to support national community partnerships pursuing the same goal.

Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes access to justice in Alberta by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means. PBLA does not provide direct support to members of the public; their website lists clinics and projects that may be helpful to individuals.

This resource was designed to help teachers and educators promote active citizenship and encourage youth to explore their rights and responsibilities in building inclusive communities based on understanding and respect. The four themes in this resource offer methods for raising awareness of human rights, understanding the role of stereotypes and prejudices in promoting discrimination, and exploring how racism and other injustices are manifested in our schools, communities, and society.

The goal of Reading and Understanding Case Reports is to equip self represented litigants with the necessary understanding to read a reported court decision – a “case report” – when conducting legal research and preparing to present your own case to a court.

A glossary of terms that may be encountered when dealing in real estate.

This guide, prepared by the Bora Laskin Law Library, explains how to conduct legal research in Canada. It is aimed at the first-time legal researcher and will be most useful if the steps and sources in the guide are followed in the order given. The “Where to Go” section is specific to Ontario, but the rest of the guide is appropriate for any jurisdiction.

This Library is housed in the offices of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) in Toronto. The website contains the catalogue of the collection database, including numerous topical research files. The collection reflects the multidisciplinary nature of many environmental issues with a focus on environmental law and policy and includes access to the publications of the former Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy.

Created and maintained by the University of Toronto Centre of Criminology Library, this database includes citations to academic and practitioner literature from 1970 to the present. It is updated and maintained on a regular basis and presently includes more than 1,400 records.

This manual published by RESOLVE Alberta provides an inventory and evaluation of violence prevention programs designed for schools. Sections include:  bullying and conflict resolution; sexual harassment; child sexual abuse; child abuse; sexual exploitation; dating violence; and sexual assault. It also looks at special programs for children with disabilities and aboriginal children. Although it is somewhat dated, the text provides valuable background on violence and violence prevention programming. (PDF – 313 pages, 2005)

This activity sheet is a twist on the classic children’s game that helps players learn how to make smart privacy choices by climbing up a ladder when they make a good decision or sliding down a snake because they have shared a password with a friend, for example.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has created this graphic novel to help young Canadians to better understand and navigate privacy issues in the online world. The 12-page graphic novel– is designed to appeal to tweens and younger teens. The novel was developed with feedback from young people, it tells the story of a brother and sister who learn (sometimes the hard way) about the privacy risks related to social networking, mobile devices and texting, and online gaming.To accompany the graphic novel, they have also developed a discussion guide that educators can use to generate further discussion and learning.

The Student Legal Services Legal Education Project (Edmonton, AB) manifests itself in three main ways: lectures, mock trials, and summer law camps. Presentations to school classes can be scheduled to fit class time, upon discussion between the teacher and the Student Legal Services coordinator. For more information on the opportunities offered by the Project check out their website.

The mock trial program is intended to provide a simulation of a real courtroom experience. During the trial, students take on the roles of lawyers, court clerks, witnesses, and jury members. Resource materials are provided to teachers to help them support their students in preparing for their mock trial experience. Contains “teacher only” information as well as student handouts. Mock trials currently available for junior and senior high classes.

Student Legal Services of Edmonton (SLS) is a student-managed, non-profit society dedicated to helping low-income individuals in Edmonton and area understand their legal issues and solve their legal problems.

Student Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working with educators to engage young Canadians in the democratic process. Student Vote election and non-election initiatives aim to begin a habit of democratic participation that will last a lifetime.
Related keywords: Classroom materials (72)

An online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. Learn about and become involved in issues related to Social justice and human rights, Poverty and globalization, Peace and conflict, Environment, Cultural diversity and equity, Education, Health and wellness. The site also includes a special section for educators.

Talk Rights is a new online space for the Canadian public to learn about their rights and freedoms. Explore their collection of resources, and you can contribute your own ideas, stories and priorities to the conversation. Teachers check out their resources for elementary and secondary students.

LawNow magazine is an incredible resource for teachers. Each issue offers engaging articles about law in language suitable for students. Teachers Talk LawNow is a series of lesson plans for teachers based on these articles. Topics covered include: social studies, legal studies, science, health, and CALM.

Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust (CCLET) is a non-profit research and educational organization created by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. CCLET’s function is to introduce Canadians to the exploration of civil liberties and to help in the development of democratic habits. Website includes a section of resources for teachers.

This online resource is an article written for the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice Summer 2003 newsletter by Lois E. Gander LLM, Legal Resource Centre. (newsletter PDF – 24 p.)

Where did builders find the marble for the Legislature Building? How is an American state Legislature different from our provincial Legislature? What happens during a typical legislative session? This booklet is designed to address these and many other questions related to the history, traditions and procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. It also contains review questions and answers as well as a glossary of parliamentary terminology.

The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is a centre within the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law devoted to advocacy, research and education in the areas of constitutional rights in Canada. The Centre aims to play a vital role in articulating Canada’s constitutional vision to the broader world. The cornerstone of the Centre is a legal clinic that brings together students, faculty and members of the bar to work on significant constitutional cases and advocacy initiatives

This website from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been created to provide you with a one-stop-shop on all things related to Internet safety. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is committed to helping parents, teachers, and anyone else who would like to better understand the good, bad, and ugly about the web.

The federal and provincial and territorial governments are all responsible for the judicial system in Canada. Only the federal government can appoint and pay judges of the superior, or upper-level, courts in the provinces. Parliament can also establish a general court of appeal and other courts. It has created the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, as well as the Tax Court. This Justice Canada webpage provides an outline of Canada’s court system.

This online resource is from the Heritage Community Foundation and is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada. The Making of Treaty #8 in Canada’s Northwest, commemorates a historic event of enormous importance to Alberta’s northern First Nations.

Each year, UNICEF’s flagship publication, The State of the World’s Children, closely examines a key issue affecting children. The report includes supporting data and statistics and is available in French and Spanish language versions.

This website is dedicated to the development of the theory and practice of public legal education in Canada. It not only draws together physical and electronic resources dealing with PLE, it also provides a virtual space in which PLE providers can generate, articulate, share, and manage knowledge about public legal education.

The Treaty Making in Canada section of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) website includes resources on over 70 historical treaties negotiated with First Nations between 1701 and 1923, including historical research reports, images, maps, and bibliographies.

The site is the first Canadian student program to be conceived, designed and produced by judges. It is a multimedia educational program designed for integration into high school social studies, civics and law courses. It introduces students to the role of judges within our judicial system, and encourages exploration of important concepts such as the rule of law, judicial independence and judicial impartiality. The site is made up of three components – a teacher’s guide, a resource website for teachers and an online interactive program for students.

The University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB) is a partnership between the University of Toronto and affiliated healthcare organizations. The JCB,  a network of over 180 multidisciplinary professionals, studies important ethical, health-related topics through research and clinical activities. Our mission is to provide leadership in bioethics research, education, practice and public engagement.

British Columbia Courthouse Library Society have some new video tutorials, which demonstrate research techniques. Learn how to trace federal legislation back in time, note up legislation, and research legislative intent.

Courts Virtual Tour uses surround video to give a 360 degree view and navigation of Alberta Courtrooms. Virtual tours offer navigational links that allow you to move throughout the courtroom, tours include the: Court of Appeal; Queen’s Bench Courtroom; Provincial Court; and a Large Trial Courtroom.

The WRC helps Alberta workers through advocacy, a Casework Program, and Public Legal Education. If you need help with an employment issue, the WRC is ready to help.

This page points to resources about copyright and patents across the WIPO website, which may be of particular interest to students ranging from upper elementary to university. Resources for younger students include a set of comic books.

Produced by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, this guide uses easy-reference language yet provides detailed explanations. It is suitable for students from Grade 7-12 and for newcomers wishing to learn more about the Charter. Available in English or French. (free download via Scribd, 48 pages)

The youth justice system affects individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 who get into trouble with the law. The goal of the Department of Justice is to ensure a fair and effective youth justice system. This website provides information on the Youth Criminal Justice Act and links to tools and resources for the classroom.