Description

The Robert-Sauvé Award honours the exceptional contributions of two people who have worked on behalf of the less fortunate. One prize is awarded to someone working the legal aid network, the other to a member of the public-at-large. Candidates for the award must have devoted themselves to this cause for many years and carried out their work in Québec.

The award is named after the first chairman of legal aid in Québec, The Honourable Robert Sauvé, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques from 1972 to 1977. Robert Sauvé was convinced that a legal aid system was essential to ensuring access to justice for all Québecers. The winners of the awards have the privilege of being associated with one of the most ardent defenders of the rights of the less fortunate.

The award was handed out for the first time in 1999, posthumously to the Honourable Robert Sauvé.

Network Award

General Public Award

Selection Committee

• a member of the Commission des services juridiques, other than the Chairman;
• a staff lawyer appointed by the Directors General;
• an external member chosen by the Commissioners. That person must be either a judge or someone publicly well-known and respected.

How do you submit a nomination?
Any person or organization who wishes to submit one or more nominees for consideration must send a complete file that includes:

• a nomination form;
• an introductory letter;
• two letters of support;
• a description of the career and exceptional acts of the nominee.

Nomination forms are also available at your regional community legal centre.

The Robert Sauvé Award will be presented in odd-numbered years. Due to the pandemic, the award will not be presented in 2021.

Complete nomination files must be sent  exceptionally before June 30^th to the following address:

Robert-Sauvé Award Committee
Commission des services juridiques
P.O. Box 123
Station Desjardins
Montreal, Québec, H5B 1B3

Information
M^e Richard La Charité
(514) 873-3562, extension 232
rlacharite@csj.qc.ca
or your regional community legal centre      

 

Documentation

Dépliant
(French only)
Selection Criteria and Process
(French only)
Candidacy Application Form
(French only)

2019
2017
2015
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
1999
All

Winners 2017

On November 2, 2017, M^e Yvan Niquette, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, proudly presented the 2017 Robert-Sauvé Awards in Longueuil.

The winner of the 2017 Robert-Sauvé Award in the General Public category is M^e Denis Falardeau for his 35-year involvement and commitment working with low-income consumers and community organizations. 

This year, the Robert-Sauvé Award in the Legal Aid Network category was bestowed on the Honourable Élizabeth Corte, Judge of the Court of Québec, for her 26 years of commitment and contribution to the field of criminal law at the Community Legal Centre of Montreal and in a variety of associations. 

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« General Public » category

Me Denis Falardeau

Photograph: Julie Herron. From left to right : Me Yvan Niquette, chairman of the Commission des services juridiques and Me Denis Falardeau, recipient of the Robert-Sauvé 2017 – General Public award.

At the age of 30, Me Falardeau decided to study law. From the outset of his career, he represented workers, those who had suffered employment injuries, under legal aid mandates or on a pro bono basis. 

For 35 years, he has defended low-income consumers and has been involved in organizations such as the Réseau québécois de l’action communautaire autonome du Québec, the advisory committee of the Office de la protection du consommateur, the Association coopérative d'économie familiale de Québec, the Coalition solidarité Santé, and Vigilance OGM. 

M^e Falardeau has served the most disadvantaged individuals within our community for many years with generosity and competence, making a truly exceptional contribution to society. 

« Legal Aid Network » category

Madame la juge Élizabeth Corte

From left to right : Me Yvan Niquette, chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, the honourable Élizabeth Corte, Judge of the Court of Québec, recipient of the Robert-Sauvé 2017 – Network award and Me Gilles Trudeau, corporate Secretary of the Community legal Centre of Montreal.

In July 1973, Madame Justice Corte articled in criminal law at the Montreal legal aid office. She pursued her career as a criminal lawyer in the same legal aid office, at a time when few women practised criminal law. 

Not wasting any time, she began to champion the defence of the rights and freedoms of disadvantaged persons and respect for human dignity. She became a role model and resource person for other lawyers. 

In 1981, she joined the management team in the criminal law section of the Montreal legal aid office, where her leadership shone. 

She became involved with the Association des avocats de la défense de Montréal, where she was a two-term chair of its board of directors. She sat on the board of directors of the Société de criminologie du Québec for twelve years. 

From 1997 until her appointment to the bench in 2000, she was vice-president of the International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association, of which she was a founding member. 

Throughout her 26-year career in legal aid and later as a judge of the Court of Québec, Madame Justice Corte has always been concerned with access to justice and has defended the importance of an efficient legal aid system in order to help those who are most disadvantaged.