ONLINE MEETING | Centering Children’s Voices: The Role of Children’s Counsel and Other Options
This meeting is being hosted by the Family Law - Vancouver Section.
| Speakers: |
Michael Zimmerman, Associate Counsel, Lindsay Kenney LLP
Catherine Wong, Lawyer and Mediator, Daykin Walker Kaderly Wahid LLP |
| Time: |
Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 12:45pm - 1:45pm (PT) |
| Fee: |
CBA Member: Free!
Non-CBA Member: $70 (+ GST)
Don't have a CBA account? Create a non-member account to register! |
| CPD Hours: |
1.00 hour |
Children navigating their parents' separation have perspectives that courts are increasingly expected to consider, but accessing those perspectives is more difficult than it might appear. Section 203 of the Family Law Act permits courts to appoint independent legal counsel for a child, creating an advocate who represents the child's interests alone. The provision, however, carries a notably high threshold: BC remains the only Canadian jurisdiction where appointment requires a level of parental conflict so severe it significantly impairs both parties' ability to act in the child's best interests and it is necessary to protect the best interests of the child. Michael Zimmerman and Catherine Wong discuss when to use s. 203 (and not), where it creates practical barriers, and what other approaches to centering children's voices might look like.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event will be broadcast from the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam First Nations. We encourage members to explore the rich history and knowledge of Indigenous people, and to continue learning about their experience in Canada past and present.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
This meeting is for lawyers, judges, articling students & law students only.
If you are a non-lawyer working in a field related to this meeting, please contact sections@cbabc.org to request attendance. Attendance is granted to non-lawyers on a case by case basis.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please request any accommodations needed in the "Notes" area upon registering. Live captions and transcripts are available for attendees upon request.
We welcome suggestions for enhancing the inclusiveness of our activities. Please contact if you have any questions or recommendations.
LOG-IN INSTRUCTIONS
Webinar instructions will be sent 24 hours prior to this meeting date. If you have not received instructions by the morning of the meeting, please email sections@cbabc.org.
If you need assistance with the logistics of logging in to our meetings, please contact sections@cbabc.org.
