T
he past year has been a busy one for ICJ Canada. Judge Michèle Rivet and her team have successfully completed and wrapped up our Regional Project in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Bosnia Herzegovina, and we’re eagerly awaiting CIDA’s decision on our most recent proposal.

Local meetings have taken place across the country, in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax, and meetings are already in the works for 2005 in Ottawa, Halifax, and Saskatoon, as well as plans for our Annual Meeting in Vancouver in August.

On the administrative front, our new assistant Susan Noad brings to ICJ Canada not only administrative and bookkeeping skills, but also much-needed computer skills that have allowed us to streamline many routine office tasks.

There was very positive response to the suggestion of sending many communications via e-mail to those who wish to receive them in that form, and we are looking into the cost and feasibility of implementing what is required by Revenue Canada to issue receipts by email, a procedure that is complicated by our status as a charitable organization.

We have also made great strides in bringing our financial revenues into line with the cost of our increased activity. We are grateful, once more, for a generous financial contribution from the Paul A. Fournier Foundation, presented by Justice Pierre-Claude Fournier to Justice Ginette Piché, his colleague on the Quebec Superior Court and our Vice-President for Quebec. At this point, it looks as though we’re close to a breakeven 2004 fiscal year, a vast improvement over 2003.

Response to the Executive’s changes to the membership renewal process was positive and immediate, and there has been a terrific increase in membership among Canadian Provincial Court Judges as a
result of President Ed Ratushny’s initiative. Justice Danielle Grenier, former Vice-President from Quebec, also conducted a successful membership drive among Quebec Court justices earlier in the year. Other membership drives in other sectors are being planned for 2005.

On behalf of the Executive, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you as a member of ICJ Canada for your enthusiasm and support over the past year and to wish you all the very best in 2005.•

Pat Whiting
Executive Director