The Lincoln Alexander Award
The Lincoln Alexander Award was established in 2002 and is awarded annually in recognition of an Ontario lawyer or paralegal who has demonstrated long-standing interest and commitment to the public and to the pursuit of community service on behalf of residents of Ontario. The award was created in honour of The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, PC, CC, OOnt, CD, QC, LSM, to reward his dedication to the people of Ontario and the legal community.
The honour is granted only to members of the Law Society of Ontario or in recognition of service given while a member of the Law Society.
2024 recipient
Juliet Chang Knapton
Called to the Bar in 2005, Juliet Chang Knapton exemplifies commitment to the service of the profession, public and community-at-large.
Throughout Juliet's career as a legal educator, civil litigator and tribunal member, she has been a capacity-builder. She is a perpetual mentor and develops long-term relationships. She gives tirelessly to support and empower those from within and outside of the legal profession, particularly those from equity-seeking backgrounds.
Juliet is the Chair of the Roundtable of Legal Diversity Associations (RODA) - a coalition of equity-seeking Canadian legal associations - and has held a number of leadership positions at the Ontario Bar Association. She has served as a member of the federal Judicial Advisory Committee and has been an active volunteer with a variety of community and advocacy groups including the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, LSO Equity Advisory Group, the County of Carleton Law Association, public and Chinese language school councils, the Ottawa Lawyers Feed the Hungry program and the Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing Corporation.
Juliet’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility principles and practices are rooted in her desire to serve with compassion. Her unceasing efforts on behalf of marginalized groups make Juliet an inspiration to her colleagues and the legal profession.
Past recipients
Selwyn J. Hicks, 2023
Lawrence Greenspon, 2022
Rochelle Ivri, 2021
John E. Valeriote, 2020
Yasir Naqvi, 2019
Jim Cimba, 2018
Thora H. Espinet, 2017
Mary Lou Dingle, 2016
Paul Le Vay, 2015
Nigel G. Gilby, 2014
Frank E. Walwyn, 2013
Keith J.F. Jobbitt, 2012
Stanley M. Tick, QC, 2011
Aly N. Alibhai, 2010
Sandra Thomas, 2009
Morley Wolfe, QC, 2008
Roger Rowe, 2007
Patricia DeGuire, F.C.I.P., LLM, 2006
Keith M. Landy, 2005
Keith C. Norton, QC, 2004
David Lepofsky, 2003
Jean Teillet, 2002
About The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander
Born in Toronto, Ont., in 1922, Lincoln MacCauley Alexander graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., in 1949 and Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto in 1953.
He practised law in Hamilton and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1965. In 1968, only a few years after going into politics, Mr. Alexander was elected a Member of Parliament representing Hamilton West, thus becoming the first Black MP in Canada. He was re-elected in 1972, 1974, 1979 and 1980.
In 1985, he was appointed the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, becoming the first person of colour in Canada to be named to the viceregal position.
Mr. Alexander was made an honorary bencher of the Law Society of Ontario in 1992 and he received the Law Society Medal in 2002.
He received countless honours and awards over his lifetime. In 1992, he was appointed both an Officer of the Order of Ontario and a Companion of the Order of Canada. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers in 1997 and has been awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from five universities.
Lincoln Alexander died on October 19, 2012, in Hamilton, at the age of 90.