PLE Volunteer Spotlight: Georjo Tabucan

Profile written by fellow JFCY volunteer Arif Hussain.

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and interview Mr. Georjo Tabucan about his volunteering experiences with the Public Legal Education Team here at JFCY thus far. Georjo comes from a diverse academic and professional background with a very keen interest in the field of law. Like some of our other volunteers, he also dreams of practicing law in the future and helping our community at large. Having interviewed Georjo I find that this article will be an excellent read for anyone interested in the field of law from any direction but especially for youth interested in volunteering or getting information regarding the practice of law from an earlier stage in life. So please enjoy everyone, happy read and happy new year!

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are and what you are doing at the moment?

I am currently in my 1st year at Ryerson University pursuing a B.Comm. in Law & Business. I previously majored in Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo for my first two years of undergrad but I felt that living at home and of course studying right in the heart of downtown Toronto would provide me with more flexibility and more opportunities to explore the area of law through volunteering. I am also able meet with and learn from a plethora of lawyers in Toronto, which was more difficult during my tenure at UW. At the moment, I am simply trying to discover which areas of the law I am most interested in, and how I plan to inspire and motivate others, which is one of my main goals in life. 

How did you hear about JFCY and get involved?

During the summer, I held a position with the Government of Ontario, Ministry of the Attorney General, and after my contract ended, I knew I wanted to continue my involvement with a legal organization at the start of the school year because the law is something I'm passionate about. So, in searching for a volunteer position, I came across JFCY on one of the Ryerson websites and I knew right then and there that it was the perfect organization that I wanted to volunteer with. My experience with JFCY so far has been amazing. 

What are your future plans in terms career choice and is the law a part of it?

I know I want to become a lawyer when I finish my undergraduate degree and complete my JD. Every morning, on my way to class, I observe all these successful lawyers in their suits on Bay Street walking to their respective law firms and I picture myself being just as successful as they are. When I'm not swamped with schoolwork, I like reading legislation and case law for fun...I guess it's sort of an obsession that I have. I am just so fascinated with the law and my motivation to learn about the law will never stop. 

You have been with JFCY for sometime now. Thus far, how do you find the work that the volunteers do here and do you think that PLE Team makes a difference?

The type of work that the volunteers contribute makes the PLE Team an essential committee of JFCY. We create meaningful videos and blog posts that each and every young person has access to. Not every child and youth is aware of their rights and it is crucial to spread the word and to start introducing them to what the law is and how they should conform to the rules and regulations implemented by our society in any way possible. Young people are our society's future, so teaching them about the law even at a young age is paramount if our Canadian population is to continue to live in harmony for generations to come. Digital media is without a doubt a powerful tool in instilling values to these young people and the volunteers on the PLE team are definitely making a difference in the lives of children and youth. 

How do you think the clinic overall benefits society at large?

Our society is comprised of a minor population of youth coming from low-income families who cannot afford legal representation during times of conflict. Organizations such as JFCY that offer free legal aid benefits our society, especially those low-income families, because without legal aid, there would be no justice and equity for our children and youth, which would therefore infringe children's fundamental rights. Every citizen of our nation ideally should have a right to legal counsel, and JFCY plays a huge role in our society by providing legal aid to our youth. 

What are your future plans with JFCY?

I would like to get more involved with JFCY because I honestly feel that children have a lot to learn that schools and parents may not teach them which the committee may be able to. Since the law is a complex subject and since not all children grow up with lawyers as parents or teachers holding degrees in law, there needs to be a way for children to at least know about what the purpose of the law is and why certain actions are accepted or prohibited. Personally, anything I can do to help further develop the committee's reputation and contribute to its continued success while making a difference in the community is what I am most looking forward to as a volunteer with JFCY. 

What would you like to say to any youth/adult (perhaps reading this) thinking of joining PLE Team?

To anyone interested in joining the PLE Team, I highly recommend that you apply because you'll be working with some amazing people, you'll be learning hands on about many areas of law, knowing that you're doing something to help shape the lives of children goes beyond a feeling of accomplishment. Volunteering with JFCY is truly unique and rewarding experience! 

This JFCY Volunteer Profile was written by fellow PLE volunteer Arif Hussain. To read more about Arif, check out a spotlight on him here: http://jfcy1.blogspot.ca/2012/12/volunteer-spotlight-arif-hussain.html

Year in Review: JFCY and the PLE Team!

Both JFCY and the PLE Team had a great year in 2012.

JFCY's work in 2012

JFCY lawyers assisted hundreds of young people this year with various legal issues, ranging from defending youth on charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, representing youth in family court in making claims for financial support, advocacy around entitlement to social benefits like Ontario Works, negotiations and defending youth facing school expulsions, representing youth victims of crime in applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, and many other types of cases.

In addition to direct representation at court and tribunals in the Toronto-area, JFCY lawyers also provided legal advice and brief services to young people across the province.

JFCY intervened in two important cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, including one about children's rights to appropriate special education supports.  To read more, check out our related blog post here.

JFCY lawyers also conducted legal education workshops and seminars for other lawyers, social workers, teachers, guidance counselors, front-line support workers, social service professionals and, of course, youth themselves.  These sessions focused on a variety of issues, from youth criminal justice to school education law and were conducted across the province, including as far away as Thunder Bay.

JFCY did all of this despite a small staff of only six people!  A special thanks to our dedicated crew: Mary (Acting Executive Director), Samira (intake lawyer), Andrea (litigation lawyer), Johanna (street youth legal services lawyer), Karien (office manager) and Marie (admin).

Finally, a VERY big thanks to JFCY's many volunteers, from our Board of Directors to our law student interns to our committees, including the PLE Team, featured below.  The work of our volunteers is crucial in allowing us to be able to fulfill our mandate, while keeping connected to the communities that we serve.

The Public Legal Education Team ("PLE Team")- 2012 Year in Review

Launched in the summer of 2010, the PLE Team has grown and improved in the past two years.  Led by our litigation lawyer, Andrea, and supported each academic year by a law student volunteer from U of T's PBSC program, the PLE Team is responsible for this blog, as well as JFCY's Facebook, YouTube and Twitter presence.  Additionally, the PLE Team regularly publishes print and online newsletters, zines and other special projects. To read the Bullying 'Zine that we published in 2012, click here.

2012 saw JFCY's blog stats increase significantly, thanks in large part to the consistent and high-level effort of the PLE Team volunteers, who include high school students, post-secondary students, law students, lawyers and others. To read our most popular blog post written in 2012, click here.

The YouTube subcommittee of the PLE Team produced and uploaded four videos in 2012, including topics such as Leaving Home and Fake ID.

Thanks to the 20+ active volunteer members of the PLE Team, including 8 high school students, our PBSC law student voluntreers Leora Jackson (2011/12) and Lauren Grossman (2012/13), our YouTube coordinators Arif Hussain and Bianca Thomas and our video editor Terence Chen (a grade 12 student who was recognized as JFCY's Volunteer of the Year at our 2012 AGM.)

  


The PLE Team in 2013?

Around the corner in 2013, stay tuned for a new YouTube video on school expulsions.  We are also in the process of creating an interactive game that will be used at JFCY workhsops.  The Youth Action Committee members of the PLE Team have several plans up their sleeve, including some awareness raising initiatives and events to help encourage young people from diverse backgrounds to consider future careers in law. We are looking forward to another fun and successful year of PLE in 2013.

Behind the Scenes with the PLE Team

The YouTube subcommittee of the PLE Team was busy this week filming a video on school expulsions.  The video examines some of the consequences of getting caught selling and buying drugs on school property.

Here is a look behind the scenes at our youth volunteers:

Thanks to everyone involved:

Arif (writer and director)
Bianca (law student writer)
Andrea (JFCY staff lawyer supervisor)
Terence (actor, camera, editing)
Lucas (actor, camera)
Johnny (actor)
Genevieve (actor)
Mindy (actor)
Cydney (actor)
Marie (pizza!)

Stay tuned in early January for the release of this video.

Volunteer Spotlight: Arif Hussain

 This JFCY Volunteer Profile is about volunteer Arif Hussain.  It was written by fellow JFCY volunteer Georjo Tabucan.

You know passion when you see it, and in the few months that I’ve been volunteering with JFCY, I’ve been using my detective skills in my quest to write about the perfect volunteer in this top secret volunteer profile. I can honestly say that my years of training in gathering information have paid off! Now allow me to share with you some really interesting information about Arif Hussain, a young man with a lot of passion (But remember, this is top secret!).

A recent English and Philosophy graduate from the University of Toronto, Arif Hussain is an active volunteer with JFCY - one of the founding members of the Public Legal Education Team whose inception began in 2010, as well as a member on the Board of Directors. I recently had the chance to speak to him regarding his experience so far with JFCY and how much the law means to him: 

Q:        Why did you decide to volunteer with JFCY?

A:        It is now my third year volunteering with JFCY. I had always been interested in law growing up but nothing specifically. Youth law stood out as something very important to me when I was taking high school law courses, perhaps because I was a youth at the time.   Anyways, in my second year [of university] I was advised by an academic coach that down the line professional and graduate schools will be looking at more than just  GPA or test scores. In searching for volunteer activities, I happened to come across a JFCY           posting on the UofT career website. The rest is history.

Q:        How long have you been with JFCY and what is your role within the organization?

A:        I started off as a volunteer with the Public Legal Education Team. It was very small at the time. I still remember my first meeting, there were 6 of us including the person in charge of the committee and staff lawyer with JFCY, Andrea Luey. For my work with the clinic, I was also elected as a member of the board of directors last November 2011. On the board we make decisions regarding the clinic in all its aspects. Outside of my degree, volunteering with this clinic has been the best education I have received thus far.  

Q:        What are your future goals, both personally and with JFCY?

A:        At the moment I am applying to law school. Becoming a lawyer had been my life long goal, since I was 8 to be exact but who's counting, right? I am very nervous about my law school applications and as result, I have applied everywhere. Ideally, I want to stay in the city and still regularly volunteer with JFCY but if that's not possible we have students out of the city who can send in blog posts or still help out in other ways, and I could do that as well. Regardless of what happens, I see myself continuing to work with JFCY.

Q:        How important is the law to you?

A:        Important doesn't even begin to cover it. I was interested in practicing law in Canada based on what I was seeing around me long before I could speak the English language when I first arrived here. I was 8 at the time. Everything I have done since then has been a preparation towards this end goal, including my involvement with JFCY to the undergraduate programs I chose. It is an obsession in many ways.

Q:        Why is it essential for children and youth to be aware of their rights?

            It's like this - we should always be at least aware of the rules governing any system that  we are a part of. Whether or not you are a pro at it, arguably most teens today have a  Facebook account. But before anyone learns to post or like anything, we quickly learn how Facebook as a system operates through various and very accessible means. When one learns a new language, one must first learn the rules of speech, grammar etc. I'm not suggesting that every youth go out and become a legal expert or get a law degree. But I    think everyone who is able, has a responsibility to themselves to be aware of the law. It's good to know a few things about the system we live in.

           

Arif is currently taking the year off to further explore the field of law in its practical setting, working at the ADR Institute of Canada, and wishes to work in social justice upon becoming a lawyer (you know, modern day superheroes who want to bring about change. That’s inspiring!). Aside from volunteering, working, and pursuing his legal interests, Arif likes to spend his free time working out at the gym, and keeping himself abreast with new technology and gadgets.

By now you probably realize that I’m not really a detective...or am I? (Just kidding) But in all seriousness, Arif is probably one of the most passionate people I have ever met and I wish him all the best in his applications to law school. He’s a cool and bright individual, if I do say so myself!

How to change your name in Ontario

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Scenario:

Sarah Smith, age 17 began exploring different religions when she was 14.  For the past two years she has been observing Islam and now self-identifies as a practicing Muslim.  Her parents were confused at first but have seen that she is serious about her decision to convert from Christianity to Islam and now support her choice. 



Sarah would like to change her name so that it better reflects her religious identity.  What are her options?

The Law on Changing Your Name in Ontario



In Ontario, you can apply to formally and legally change your first and/or second name and/or last name.  These rights are outlined in legislation called the Change of Name Act.

 

Applicants who are 16 or 17-years-old may also apply to have their names changed, but they first need the written consent of the person(s) who have lawful custody of them.  However, if they are unable to get consent from their parents then they can seek an Order from a judge, allowing them to apply for a name change without their parents' consent.  The court will consider the best interests of the young person when making the decision on whether to dispense with the requirement for parental consent. 

 

Sarah should first ask her parents if they will consent. If they refuse, then she can call JFCY to speak to a lawyer about how to seek an Order from a judge.

The fee for a formal name change is $137.

To change your name in Ontario, you must: 

• Be 16 years of age or older, and
• Have lived in Ontario for at least one year before submitting a change of name application. 

Applications must be accompanied by a police records check. 

If your application is refused, you can apply to court to seek an order granting the application. 

If your application is granted, you will be issued a change of name certificate with your new legal name(s) and you’ll receive a new birth certificate if you were born in Ontario. 

If you were not born in Ontario, you will need to apply to the province or territory in Canada or other country where you were born for a new birth certificate. 

 

For more information or if you want to get started and download the application form right away, visit:

http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/119596.html#formalself

Note: The information on this page was  from the webpage above, as well as the Change of Name Act.

To read the legislation, click here.

Post was written by JFCY volunteer and Board Member Arif Hussain, who recently completed an Honours B.A. at UofT.  Scenario and review by JFCY.

Images are from:

 http://www.scottkim.com/inversions/images/26names.gif

 http://www.arthafez.com/images/99-NAMES-OF-PROPHET-MUHAMMAD.jpg

 http://waktattoos.com/large/Chinese_tattoo_4.jpg

Fake ID and the Law: Video

Ever wondered about the potential legal consequences for getting caught with fake or borrowed ID?

Check out this video produced by the PLE Team.  Click here to watch the video!

Learn about the law around fake IDs in Ontario.  Watch these three teens as they learn about the possible consequences for getting caught with fake or borrowed ID.

A big thanks goes out to the YouTube Subcommittee of the JFCY PLE Team (Arif, Bilal, Christine, Lucas, Terence, Tracy, Brendan, and Andrea) for writing, planning, acting, filming and editing this video!







Click here to watch the video!

Video: Leaving Home

Check out this new video that deals with legal issues that can arise when youth leave home.  

Click on the link below to learn about the legal and practical issues that Terence must consider as he decides whether to leave home and live on his own at the age of 16. 

To read more about leaving home legal issues in Ontario, check out this JFCY pamphlet, as well as our past blog posts here and here.

A special thanks to the volunteers from the YouTube Subcommitte of the PLE Team for their efforts in making this video: Arif, Terence, Lucas, Tracy, Cydney, and Chrsitine, as well as JFCY staff lawyer Andrea.

To view the JFCY YouTube channel click here.

BULLYING ZINE

Just in time for the Day of Pink, the JFCY PLE Team has released its Bullying Zine. Click here to read it!

This zine has articles and info on many topics relating to bullying, as well as comics and other graphics. It was directed and edited by Leora Jackson, a U of T law student who volunteered at JFCY this year as part of Pro Bono Students Canada.

The content in the zine was written by the following PLE Team volunteers: Terence Chen, Tracy Chen, Arif Hussain, Marsha Rampersaud, Cydney Kim, Deby Ko, and Inez Leutenegger. The legal info was reviewed by JFCY staff lawyers.

Members of the PLE Team will be handing out copies today at Dundas Square, as part of the Day of Pink, the International Day Against Bullying, Discrimination, Transphobia and Homophobia in schools and communities.

For your own copy, and to distribute to your class, community group or friends, click here.

New Video: Age of Consent

Check out JFCY’s new video on age of consent.  For those of you who want the details in brief, there's a quick summary of the law below:

Consent to sex is always your decision – The Canadian law requires that all people participating in sexual activity must give their own consent: you decide whether you want to be involved in any kind of sexual activity, from kissing and touching to intercourse.  


However, the law sets some limits on that, so that it is illegal if you are below a certain age to be sexually involved with certain other people. This means that if you are too young to consent to sex with a particular person, that older person could be charged with a criminal offence. 

When are you old enough to legally consent to sexual activity?

If you are…

• 12 or 13, you can consent to sex, but only with someone less than two years older than you.
• 14 or 15, you can consent to sex, but only with someone who is less than 5 years older than you. But, you CAN'T consent to sex with someone who is more than two years younger than you (or you could be charged).
• 16 and older, you can consent to sex with anyone older than you. 
• In all of these cases, however, if you are under 18, you cannot legally consent to sex with someone who is in a position of trust or authority over you (like your teacher, swim coach, Pastor). That person could be charged with a criminal offence.

Read the law: Criminal Code of Canada, s.150.1-153.


Thanks to PLE Team Volunteers Terence Chen (actor and video-editor), Lucas Treleaven (actor and script-writer), Arif Hussain (director), Tracy Chen (filming), Cydney  Kim (brainstorming),  Christine Doucette (law student advisor) and Andrea (script, JFCY lawyer supervisor) for their work on this video!

Behind the Scenes with the PLE Team

On December 20 some members of the YouTube Subcommittee of the PLE Team shot a public legal education video. The topic: Age of Consent for Sexual Activity, an area of law that is commonly misunderstood. The volunteers worked with Andrea to come up with a script and plan. Stay tuned for the release of this short video in January 2012. Thanks to everyone who helped: Tracy, Terence, Lucas, Christine, Arif and Andrea

To see more photos, check out our Facebook album FACEBOOK ALBUM

Guest Blogger Arif Hussain: Jaywalking and the Law!

From time to time, the JFCY blog will host guest youth bloggers who will write on a legal topic relevant to youth. This time, please welcome Arif Hussain, a third- year student at University of Toronto. His blog piece is on Jaywalking. JFCY has provided some additional information on Jaywalking at the end of Arif's peice below.

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Jaywalking is a major issue amongst teens and children, and often not seen as dangerous. This is because they don’t see themselves as doing anything wrong. Not only is jaywalking dangerous, you can be legally fined for jaywalking. But it’s more than just the legal precautions one should think about. You can lose your life simply by jaywalking.

Consider the following scenario:

Dinah was your average high school student. She had a very bright future ahead of her and always followed the rules. She loved the fast food café across from her school and for most lunches, she ate there with her friends.

Even though the traffic light was a few meters away, Dinah typically used the traffic light to cross safely and never jaywalked.

One day, Dinah took longer than she should have for lunch and realized that she would be late for class. When she saw there were no cars, she jaywalked. No one was there to stop her and no police officer was around ticketing her so Dinah jaywalked a few more times in different situations until she got into the habit of jaywalking even when she didn’t have to.

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More information on Jaywalking from JFCY:

Dinah’s habit is against the law. Her activity could result in a ticket with a fine from the police, and could also cause her serious injury. By early January of this year, police had already handed out nearly 225 tickets to pedestrians for jaywalking.

Jaywalking is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990. Here is what the law says in more detail:

• No pedestrian shall cross the roadway except at the designated cross walk;
• You may cross at a designated cross walk when the light is green or if there is a “walk” signal;
• When the light is red, amber (yellow), or indicating “don’t walk”, no pedestrian should enter the roadway and cross
• If you lawfully enter the roadway, the pedestrian has the right of way over vehicles and may cross as quickly as is reasonably possible.

The City of Toronto provides pedestrians with the following advice:

• Be predictable. Do not make decisions that place you in the path of oncoming traffic
• Cross at traffic signals, crosswalks and stop signs on busy roads
• Look all ways before crossing. Never cross unless it is safe to do so
• Walk, don't run, across intersections. Only cross when you have enough time to make it to the other side
• At pedestrian crossovers push the button to activate the flashing yellow light and point to indicate your intention to cross
• Try to make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb. Just because you see the car, doesn’t mean the driver sees you
• Wait for vehicles to stop before crossing in front of them. Cars take longer than you think to stop
• Keep aware of traffic until you safely reach the other side

Safe Crossings!