Montreal, November 5, 2010. - On November 4, 2010, in Longueuil, Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, proudly handed out the 2010 Robert-Sauvé Awards. The winner in the General Public category is Me Charles Clément, a lawyer and member of the Barreau de Laval. The award in the Network category was conferred on Me Raymond Gagnon, retired Director General of the Community Legal Centre of Québec.
Me Charles Clément
Me Charles Clément has been a lawyer for 55 years. Throughout his career, Me Clément has been committed to providing legal services to disadvantaged persons. He has always been willing to represent the least fortunate in our society, doing so attentively and with respect, without ever considering their ability to pay, even in complicated and difficult cases requiring a great deal of his time. Me Clément considers that every individual has the right to be properly represented, regardless of his or her means. Me Clément has served the most disadvantaged individuals within our community for many years with competence, generosity and altruism—truly a remarkable and exceptional contribution to the law and to Québec society.
Me Raymond Gagnon
Me Raymond Gagnon has devoted the majority of his career to helping those who are the least fortunate within our society. Having been admitted to the bar in 1966, he began his practice at the law firm of Dorion, Bernier. In 1970, he joined the Barreau de Québec’s Legal Assistance Department, where he developed his practice in criminal law and became Director of the Criminal Law Department In 1972, when the legal aid network was created, Me Gagnon was appointed Director General of the Community Legal Centre of Québec. There, he rose to the challenge and provided the Centre with direction and organizational tools which allowed it to offer high quality legal services to a clientele in great need. Throughout his 35-year career in legal aid, Me Gagnon has defended the values of fairness and social justice and the absolute necessity for a legal aid network to defend those who need it the most.
The Robert-Sauvé Award
The Commission des services juridiques created the Robert-Sauvé Award in order to recognize the exceptional contribution of individuals to promoting the rights of the less fortunate. These individuals come from within the legal aid network (network award) or from outside the legal aid network (general public award). The prize is named after the founding chairman of legal aid in Québec, the Honourable Robert Sauvé, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques from 1972 to 1977.
About the Commission des services juridiques
The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Act respecting legal aid and the provision of certain other legal services. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative or criminal matters or matters relating to youth law.
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Source:
Me Monique Jarry,
Communications Director
514 873-3562, ex. 261