Membership renewal forms for 2009/10 are now available online. Watch your inbox for a membership renewal email, coming soon. Starting this year, members are required to complete a CPD Plan. You will find an information sheet with the CPD Plan form. Be sure to take advantage of the new “fillable” forms. You may now complete them from your desktop through Adobe Acrobat/Reader. Simply complete the form, print it, sign it and send it to us.

The deadline for membership renewal is March 31, 2009.

In recognition and appreciation of their contributions, Society volunteers are invited to a lunch on the 27th of January at Fuego International Restaurant. We look forward to seeing you there. Please RSVP by Friday the 23rd.

A Family Law Section Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 – 12:00pm in the LSNT Boardroom. Please confirm your attendance by return.

A Labour & Employment Section Meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2009 – 12:00pm in the LSNT Boardroom. Please confirm your attendance by return.

The Northwest Territories Branch of the CBA is holding it's Mid-Winter meeting on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:00pm at Fuego International Restaurant. On the agenda is a discussion on the resolutions for the National Mid-Winter Meeting and the presentation of service pins for members. All CBA members are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP your attendane by return or by calling the Law Society.

The CBA National Pensions & Benefits Law Section will present an Update on Pension Reform in Canada on Monday, February 9, 2009 - 10:00am. This online CLE will explore the proposed pension law reforms in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. The panel of experts will be discussing the governance of funding of pension plans, the future of regulation, increased private sector defined benefit coverage, harmonization, and recommended national legislative or policy changes. Visit the CBA Website for more information and to register.

Alternatively, the LSNT will be providing a portal for this event in the boardroom. Bar members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Please comfirm your attendance by return.

Take part in the Women in Law Conference, "Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges," which will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the Edmonton Petroleum Club. Guest speakers include Carole L. Hunt, Teresa R. Haykowsky, Sharon Stefanyk, Gail L. Harding, QC, Lana Bullough, Kristine Robidoux, QC, Cynthia Amsterdam, Tara L. Hamelin, and keynote speaker Jerri L. Cairns. Download the information and registration package.

From Mounia Allouch, Counsel/Advocate, International Private Law Section, Department of Justice:

Canada will be participating in the Special Commission of Hague Conference on Private International Law on the practical operation of the four Hague Conventions: the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (November 15, 1965), the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (March 18, 1970), Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (October 5, 1961), and International Access to Justice (October 25, 1980). The Special Commission will take place from February 2 to 12, 2009, in The Hague. More information is available at the Hague Conference's website at http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=text.display&tid=48.

As Canada is only party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, I am writing to seek your comments with regard to any issues in relation to the application of the Convention in Canada or abroad that you are aware of as practitioners. I would very much appreciate if you could send me your comments by email by January 30, 2009, so that they are taken into account in the preparation for the Special Commission. I encourage you to forward this message to others that may be interested in participating in this consultation.

Mounia Allouch: mounia.allouch@justice.gc.ca