SR Vol 27 No 4, October 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

More documents

Recommendations

Info

kudosCpl. Craig Marshall SmithRCMP Diversity Policing AnalystPhilip Star QCPink Star Murphy Barro, YarmouthAs a criminal defencelawyer, I have comeinto contact withmany RCMP officers.None of them would be held in higher esteem by me than Cpl. CraigMarshall Smith. Although he is no longer “walking the beat” inYarmouth, I have continued to follow his career.It is truly fitting that Cpl. Smith would end up as the Diversity PolicingAnalyst for the RCMP in H Division (Nova Scotia), as diversitymay best describe the life of this Nova Scotian. Youth worker, busdriver, father, YMCA Director, policeman, educator and author—those are the types of experiences and the knowledge he brings to hiscareer with the RCMP.The range of Craig’s life experiences prior to joining the RCMP, whichdirectly impacts his position, includes much community developmentand serving on the Halifax Regional Police & Black CommunityLiaison Committee and the Multi-Cultural Liaison Committee of theCanadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Craig has been involved inraising awareness around racism, youth and educational needs sincethe early 1980s. In 1994, as the Library Youth Worker at the NorthBranch Library, Craig first brought together Black students and theHalifax Police Services members for a positive exchange.Craig’s work, since being promoted in 2005 into the Corporal’s positionas Diversity Policing Analyst, includes travelling around NovaScotia to better the relationship between the RCMP and the diversecommunities of our province. It has also included partnering with theOffice of African Nova Scotia Affairs, presenting at consultations ineight Black communities and holding career/recruitment presentationsin another 10.In 2007, the Halifax Public Libraries, in partnership with the RCMPunder Craig’s leadership with the HRP, enhanced and revised thisprogram. By 2008, Craig’s unit had received funding to hold sessionsacross the province.Craig coordinates the Commanding Officer’s H Division DiversityAdvisory Committee, which came into existence as a direct result ofthe Marshall Inquiry. This committee provides advice and directionto the Commanding Officer on a variety of issues and concerns.He has lectured to RCMP members and others within law enforcementon the topic of bias-free policing since 2006. Presently, he isin the process of rolling out African Nova Scotian-specific culturalcompetency education to RCMP members across the Division.As a writer and educator, Craig has provided a unique insight intothe African Canadian experience, leaving himself somewhat opento criticism as he has attempted to expose institutionalized racismin the RCMP and Canada. Craig’s 2006 book, You Had Better BeWhite By Six A.M. – The African Canadian Experience in the RoyalCanadian Mounted Police, provided Canadians with a glimpse of theAfrican Canadian struggle for equality in our country. It is the kindof learning tool that can be utilized in classrooms across our countryand a must-read for those within the legal field, law enforcement,correctional services, parole and probation, and more.He is a Canadian National Griot Award winner and an inductee tothe Rev. Dr. William P. Oliver Black Wall of Honour. Also devotedto celebrating achievement in sport, Craig is a former president and38 The Society Record
founding member of the Black Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame,and current president of the Society of North American HockeyHistorians and Researchers.In 2009, Craig and his brother Wade created a new website calledblackgreenandredserge.com, which explores African Nova Scotianstories and challenges, and enables businesses and institutions toprovide cultural sensitivity education to their employees.Suffice it to say that I take great pride and pleasure in sending kudosto Cpl. Craig Marshall Smith. He is truly an inspiration to his fellowpolice officers, as well as all Nova Scotians, in helping to eradicateracism.Paula MarshallProject Coordinator, with Dr. DonaldM. Julien, DCL, DHuml, O.N.S.,Executive Director of the Confederacyof Mainland Mi’kmaqMary Jane AbramLegal AdvisorConfederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaqPaula Marshall is theProgram Coordinatorfor the Mi’kmaqLegal Support Network(MLSN) with the Confederacyof Mainland Mi’kmaq. At the province’s 2009 Crime PreventionSymposium in Halifax, Paula was presented with the inauguralJustice Minister’s Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention, for herinvolvement in legal support programs for Aboriginal persons inNova Scotia.This award is presented for outstanding leadership and commitmentto crime prevention and promoting safety in communities. Paula wasrecognized for her involvement in the MLSN from its inception as apilot project in the 1990s to the current province-wide multi-servicelegal support program.Paula has been a strong advocate for youth justice and Aboriginaljustice throughout her entire career. She remained committed to theAboriginal Justice Program and its cultural components throughoutmany changes in its environment. The MLSN has been priviliged tohave Paula involved since 2004, when it came under the umbrella ofthe Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq.Focusing on the integrity and accountability of the programming,Paula is instrumental in MLSN’s continued success by tirelesslyworking to seek and sustain funding for its ongoing operation anddevelopment. She is a current champion for restorative justice,victim services, court worker programming, regulatory offences andreintegration services.The concept of a culturally sensitive approach to justice supportprograms was brought to the forefront during the Marshall Inquiry,after Donald Marshall, Jr. was wrongfully accused and imprisonedfor murder. The Mi’kmaw Legal Support Network built on therecommendations from the inquiry to have Mi’kmaw translatorsin the courtroom, develop sentencing circle protocols, reintegrateoffenders into communities and engage in youth criminal justiceinitiatives.The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq is a non-profit tribal councilthat provides programs and services to its six member bands and,upon request, to all 13 Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia.October 2009 39
Page 2 and 3: Forensic Engineering Servicesfor Ci
Page 4: Donald Marshall, Jr. spent 20 per c
Page 14 and 15: A joint program of the Nova Scotia
Page 16: Quicklaw Research SolutionsThe Lexi
Page 19 and 20: ole as an icon in the struggle for
Page 22 and 23: I suspect that in the minds of most
Page 24: The Marshall Inquiry was aWylie Spi
Page 28 and 29: Equity and diversity inthe legal pr
Page 33: The IB&M Initiative:Reflections on
Page 40 and 41: focus onrecoveryDo you have clients
Page 42 and 43: I recounted this episode recently t
Page 44 and 45: Total Practice SolutionsSucceed wit
Page 46 and 47: SummationJarvis GoogooBarrister & S
Page 48: Financial Strength Ratings: Demotec

SR Vol 27 No 4, October 2009 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?