LAW
PUBLICATIONS
Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor awarded the honorary LLD to Persaud, who then delivered the keynote address to the 113 call candidates, their family, friends and distinguished guests gathered at the London Convention Centre.
-Law Society Gazette
law related publications
Please take your time to go through the articles below for excerpts and links to full articles.
By Mark Persaud, 2016 Law Society of Upper Canada Recipient of Doctorate of Laws (LL.D.), June 2016
Treasurer Minor, distinguished guests, new colleagues being called to the Bar today and very importantly the family and friends here today whom have supported you over the years.
Firstly, I wish to thank the Law Society of Upper Canada for this great honour being bestowed upon me today. I was completely overwhelmed when I spoke to the Treasurer about being the recipient of today’s Doctorate of Laws.
By Samuel Getachew, The Huffington Post, 09/26/12
Long before Mark Persaud became the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal winning activist, the noted Toronto lawyer spent many trying days as a new immigrant on the streets of Toronto, homeless.
He opens up on the early days as an immigrant, his law career, why he is a patriotic Canadian and the reason why he is committed to peace and justice in Canada and abroad via the Canadian International Peace Project.
Mark , You have had a storied Canadian life. Tell us about your journey so far.
By Samuel Getachew, The Huffington Post, 09/26/12
Long before Mark Persaud became the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal winning activist, the noted Toronto lawyer spent many trying days as a new immigrant on the streets of Toronto, homeless.
He opens up on the early days as an immigrant, his law career, why he is a patriotic Canadian and the reason why he is committed to peace and justice in Canada and abroad via the Canadian International Peace Project.
Mark , You have had a storied Canadian life. Tell us about your journey so far.
Justice should’t be political, Ottawa Citizen. Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2011( co-authored with J Morton)
Piercing the Muslim Veil- a face off between competing constitutional rights, The Canadian Immigrant Magazine, December, 2010 Edition (co-authored with J Morton)
Law Society Gazette, June 17 2016
The Law Society of Upper Canada today bestowed the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD) upon lawyer Mark M. Persaud at its Call to the Bar ceremony in London, Ontario.
By Cristin Schmitz, Ottawa
The Lawyers Weekly, March 7, 2008
Allegations to the Senate that visible minority lawyers are discriminated against at the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) when it comes to hiring, responsibilities and promotions has prompted a number of racialized DOJ lawyers to speak out.
Toronto lawyer Mark Persaud drew headlines last month when he told a Senate committee examining employment equity in the public service that racism was rife at the 4,800-employee department in 2003 when he left due to health reasons, after 10 years as a civil litigator and criminal prosecutor in Toronto.
Persaud, who told The Lawyers Weekly he has retained counsel to look into suing his ex-employer for constructive dismissal and abuse of authority, charged that the DOJ’s “poisonous, toxic culture” has spurred many visible minority lawyers to leave over the years.
He alleged visible minority lawyers have been subjected to systemic discrimination which makes them less apt than their co-workers to be recruited, mentored, promoted or get access to the types of files that help lawyers move up the DOJ career ladder.
REFLECTING THE CHANGING FACE OF CANADA: Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service
The Honourable Janis G. Johnson Chair The Honourable Mobina S. B. Jaffer Deputy Chair
By Samuel Getachew, Huffington Post, 09/26/2012
Long before Mark Persaud became the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal winning activist, the noted Toronto lawyer spent many trying days as a new immigrant on the streets of Toronto, homeless.
He opens up on the early days as an immigrant, his law career, why he is a patriotic Canadian and the reason why he is committed to peace and justice in Canada and abroad via the Canadian International Peace Project.
Mark , You have had a storied Canadian life. Tell us about your journey so far.
I was a student activist involved in opposing the government at the time in my country of origin. Like thousands of others, I fled the civil and political unrest after the assassination of the leader of the political party I supported. The regime was also targeting all its political opponents. I came to Canada to seek safety. The plan was to stay in Canada and eventually join my family in the United States. We were awaiting American visas to immigrate there but I was at risk, so my family sent me to Canada. The regime in my country of origin only permitted us to leave with $200 (CDN$80.59).
How was it being an immigrant to Canada?
My immigration status in Canada did not allow me to work or receive any form of social assistance so I ended up homeless on the streets of Toronto. I spent many a winter night travelling on the TTC or in coffee shops to keep warm.