We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the resilience, strength and successes of Indigenous Peoples. Despite the successes to date, current world and national events are showing that there is still far to go. It is especially important that all of us, including the legal profession, take steps to contribute to meaningful reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and governments, businesses and other organizations.

Our firm is proud to contribute towards progress by facilitating sustainable Indigenous economic development in our western provinces. We provide advice to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients seeking to create opportunities for sustainable economic development, promote capacity-building, enhance and expand self-governance and create prosperity for Indigenous Nations across the western provinces. Among those who provide such advice, our Indigenous Law practice group, established in 2017, includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous lawyers who have strong community ties and extensive experience, and are dedicated to developing practical solutions in the Indigenous context.

At Clark Wilson, we understand that our firm has a responsibility to play a role in the reconciliation process. Last year Clark Wilson became the first regional law firm in British Columbia to complete firm-wide Indigenous Cultural Competency Training for all of its lawyers and staff. Our learning will be ongoing, and we look forward to further incorporating recognition and reconciliation into our practice and our communities.

We also take this opportunity to congratulate Steven Lewis Point, former Judge of the Provincial Court of BC, former Chief of the Skowale First Nation, former Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia and former Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission, who has been appointed the next Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. We wish Chancellor Point every success in this esteemed role.