The David and Joyce Milgaard law

 POST SCRIPT TO INNOCENCE  CANADA PRESS CONFERENCE

Photos by Stephen Weir

Minister of Justice Arif Virani, Susan Milgaard (PICTURED ABOVE), and Innocence Canada co-founder James Lockyer address the press at Innocence Canada in Toronto to celebrate Bill C-40, the Miscarriage of Justice Act.

Named after David and Joyce Milgaard, this landmark law replaces the Ministerial Review process with an independent commission to examine wrongful convictions—a historic victory 31 years in the making for the wrongly convicted.

Minister of Justice Arif Virani

Innocence Canada co-founder James Lockyer

 Thursday Press Conference

Miscarriage of Justice Act

 This morning (Wednesday 18 May) Bill C-40, the Miscarriage of Justice Act known as David and Joyce Milgaard’s  Law; came into force. It makes drastic change to the Criminal Code and creates a new tribunal or commission to address all claims of wrongful conviction. It eliminates our present Ministerial Review process that has for more than 100 years been the only resort for the wrongly convicted.

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m., Minister Arif Virani and Susan Milgaard, David’s sister, will be holding a press conference at the Innocence Canada’s offices at 106 Front Street East, Suite 301, in Toronto. James Lockyer of Innocence Canada will also be in attendance.

The press conference will explain and celebrate this important legislation which is wonderful news for the wrongly convicted. Innocence Canada have been advocating for the creation of a new commission for 31 years and we are delighted that Minister Virani and his predecessor, David Lametti, guided this legislation through Parliament.

It’s a bittersweet day for Susan Milgaard. Her brother and her mother, who fought so hard for this law, are no longer with us. But Susan is delighted that the law is named after David and Joyce.

Susan Milgaard said today:

“My mother and my brother will be looking down on us and celebrating this new law. I am very grateful it is named after them. They did so much to get this law passed because they were dedicated to the cause of all the innocent people in prison who had no good place to seek justice. Now they will have a place to go.”

James Lockyer said:

“Today is a great day for all those wrongly convicted. Innocence Canada has been advocating for this law for more than 30 years. It will bring Canada in line with other countries that already have a similar commission and be a sea change for the wrongly convicted and the Canadian criminal justice system.”

Members of the media are asked to contact the Department of Justice’s Media Relations at media@justice.gc.ca to receive event location details and confirm their attendance. Media representatives are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.

 

For further information, please contact:

James Lockyer at 416-613-0416 or jwilockyer@yahoo.ca

Stephanie Nowak at 416-504-7500 x 100 or snowak@innocencecanada.com

Issued by
STEPHEN WEIR
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com 

 MEDIA ALERT!!

INNOCENCE CANADA

and the INTERNATIONAL WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY COMMITTEE

ANNOUNCES FIRST IWCD IN – PERSON EVENT SINCE 2019!

10th ANNIVERSARY of IWCD

October 2, 2024, Innocence Canada and other innocence, and social justice groups worldwide will join together in our shared goal of spreading awareness about wrongful convictions.

International Wrongful Conviction Day (IWCD) was launched by Innocence Canada on October 2, 2014.

In recognition of this special milestone year, Innocence Canada, and the International Wrongful Conviction Day Committee( IWCDC) are hosting a IWCD 10th Anniversary Gala Event.

This night provides us all the opportunity to recognize, acknowledge and honour the wronglyconvicted, their families, advocates, and supporters

Event: 10th Anniversary of IWCD

Where: Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Grand Salon

20 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario.

Time: Reception: 5:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. followed by the evening’s programme!

Exonerees from across Canada will be attending and participating in the evenings programme. Amongst the exonerees in attendance will be A.J. Woodhouse and Brian Anderson (Manitoba) who were exonerated on July 18, 2023, almost fifty years after they were wrongly convicted and incarcerated. Some of the others that will be attending are Innocence Canada co-president and exoneree, Ron Dalton (Newfoundland), Tom Sophonow (British Columbia), Réjean Hinse (Quebec), Tammy Marquardt (Ontario), Maria Shepherd (Ontario) and Dinesh Kumar (Ontario).

During the evenings programme there will be a presentation of the annual Rubin Hurricane Carter Champion of Justice Award, the Tracey Tyler Award, which is given to an individual or group who through the news media, documentary, or film, has helped to expose a wrongful conviction or raise awareness of the issue. The third award being presented is the Donald Marshall Jr. Award named after Canada’s first recognized wrongly convicted person. Some of our special guests will be previous award recipients who include representatives like Jim Williamson, Julian Sher, and David Studer of the Fifth Estate, Susan Milgaard representing her mother, the late Joyce Milgaard, and Marie Coffin Stewart whose brother Wilbert Coffin was hanged in Quebec in 1956.

“Frank and open discussion about the causes of wrongful convictions can lead to positive change in our criminal justice systems and help reduce future wrongful convictions and avoid the immeasurable suffering of innocent people and their families globally”, said Innocence Canada co-president and exoneree Ron Dalton.

Innocence Canada and the IWCDC are reaching out to communities across Canada to sign proclamations observing October as IWCD in their cities and towns. On this day landmarks buildings, stadiums and bridges will be illuminating to acknowledge the wrongly convicted. Innocence Canada and the IWCDC encourages the participation and support of individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, schools, churches and ask them to set aside time to focus on wrongful convictions, which can happen to anyone at anytime despite social, ethic, education, or religious backgrounds.

Awareness can be achieved through media releases, book signings, magazine articles, opinion pieces for daily newspapers, interviews, phone-in talk shows, educational forums, presentations by exonerees, vigils, film festivals, podcasts, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube videos.

Background on Innocence Movement

Since its inception in 1993, Innocence Canada has helped in the exonerations of 29 Canadians from across the country. These innocent individuals combined spent more than 250 years in prison. Innocence Canada is currently reviewing over 100 cases of possible wrongful convictions.

for more info contact me:

Stephen Weir

stephen@stephenweir.com

Toronto twitter: sweirsweir

MEDIA ALERT FAMOUS PEOPLE PLAYERS

Canada’s Goodwill Ambassadors to the World

Famous PEOPLE Players Celebrates 50 Years of Exceptional Entertainment

Toronto, ON - May 1, 2024 - Famous PEOPLE Players, the renowned black light theatre founded by Diane Dupuy, CM, is gearing up to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on June 1st, 2024. The milestone will be commemorated with a Gala event held at the Dine and Dream Theatre located at 343 Evans Ave, Etobicoke, ON, M8Z 1K2.

Since its inception in 1974, Famous PEOPLE Players has captivated audiences with its unique performances, featuring talented individuals with exceptionalities. In addition to its award-winning productions, the organization has launched the Stars of Tomorrow education program, aimed at empowering vulnerable, at-risk youth through the arts.

Liberace, the legendary entertainer, was instrumental in bringing Famous PEOPLE Players to the spotlight, featuring them as his opening act in Las Vegas for a decade. The Gala will be graced by the presence of the Chairman of Liberace's Foundation, adding to the star-studded line-up. Including Keven Hearn from The Barenaked Ladies. Kobe Japan will be represented with a delegation who are coming to thank FPP for their outstanding support during the Kobe 1995 Earthquake. Their performances in Japan helped to care for children with disABILITIES who tragically lost their parents in the Kobe earthquake. Kobe has invited FPP back in 2025 for the 30th anniversary of the earthquake for the city to thank them. Other countries’ Consulates will be present at the Gala, as FPP are Canada’s Goodwill Ambassador to the world.

The event will also welcome distinguished guests including Canada's Ambassador to the U.N., the Honourable Bob Rae, and Arlene Perly Rae. Footage of stars like Tom Cruise, Phil Collins, Paul Newman with Diane Dupuy will be available for use in TV coverage.

Famous PEOPLE Players will present the musical "Believe in Magic".

Reflecting on the people in the organization's journey, Diane Dupuy remarked, "After all this time, the Sun said to Earth 'I never said you owe me'. At Famous PEOPLE Players, we've always believed in earning our way, which is why we pride ourselves on working without operating government grants."

All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting Famous PEOPLE Players' Educational Stars of Tomorrow Program, aimed at enriching the lives of its performers and enabling them to pursue their dreams. (see attached.)

For media inquiries, please contact:

Diane Dupuy, C.M.

People Players Inc

o/a Famous PEOPLE Players

343 Evans Ave.

Toronto, ON, M8Z 1K2

Tel: 416-532-1137 or 1-888-453-3385 ext. 36

Email: diane@famouspeopleplayers.com

ISSUED BY STEPHEN WEIR AND ASSOCIATES

AIDWYC notes the death of Terry Swinton

 

Innocence Canada acknowledges the death of Terry Swinton 

Innocence Canada wishes to acknowledge the recent passing of Terry Swinton and celebrate his contribution to the innocence movement in Canada.  Many Canadians will remember Terry as one of the “The Canadians” who played a pivotal role in freeing Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.  Terry would go on to help form the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC) later to be renamed Innocence Canada.  He and his friends Sam Chaiton, and Lindy Green contributed generously to the ongoing fight for justice for wrongly convicted individuals in our country.  Terry was justly proud of his support of social justice organizations and Innocence Canada gratefully acknowledges being a recipient of that support.

Terry and Sam enjoyed a lifelong friendship from which we at Innocence Canada benefited from on a practical financial bias and inspirationally.  As we continue to work towards freeing innocent individuals, we are ever mindful of the seeds of justice sown by Terry, Sam, and Lindy. The greatest tribute we can pay to Terry’s memory is to carry on the fight for justice he helped start.  He was known to say the fight is long but winnable and we accept his challenge to continue that journey.

 

“Thank you, Terry, for a life well lived, we will do our best to live up to your example.” – Innocence Canada

Issued on behalf of Innocence Canada

CARIBANA GOING DOWN THE ROAD TO KITCHENER IN LATE AUGUST

 

CARIBANA ON THE ROAD TO KITCHENER

The City of Kitchener is gearing up for an unprecedented summer cultural extravaganza as it partners with the Caribana Arts Group to bring Caribana Ignite to the heart of the city from August 23-24, 2024. This marks a significant expansion of the iconic Caribbean carnival beyond its traditional Toronto roots.

Caribana Ignite promises to be a dazzling celebration of Caribbean culture, featuring a shift from the usual parade format to a street performance and street party spectacle. The event will showcase emerging carnival designers, the rich diversity of the Caribbean, and the vibrant essence of carnival itself.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “This celebration will contribute to the social, cultural, and economic vibrancy of Kitchener.” The event is expected to bring together communities, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for Caribbean traditions.

With Carl Zehr Square in Downtown Kitchener transforming into Carnival Village, attendees can anticipate an immersive experience where they can enjoy Caribbean cuisine, music, and arts. The departure from the traditional parade format aims to give festival-goers a front-row seat on the carnival runway, providing a unique perspective on the cultural explosion that is CaribanaTM.

Davina Reid, Chair of the Caribana Arts Group, expressed gratitude to the City of Kitchener for co-hosting the event and highlighted the goal of introducing the region to the vibrant culture of Caribana. Lannois Carroll-Woolery, President of the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the alignment of the event with the organization's mission of promoting the social, cultural, and economic interests of the Caribbean community.

Caribana Ignite was officially announced by Mayor Berry Vrbanovic at a special KW Titans game, accompanied by live performances from the Dance Caribe Performing Company and Acoustic Steel. As anticipation builds, event organizers encourage the community to stay updated on festival details by subscribing to www.kitchener.ca/CaribanaIgnite or visiting www.caribana.com/ignite.

BRIEF NEWS CLIP FROM SWEIR RE: INNOCENCE 40 YEARS AFTER MURDER CONVICTION

Breaking news from Innocence Canada.

JAN 4, 2024 This afternoon Robert (Bobby) Mailman and Walter (Wally) Gillespie were acquitted by Chief Justice Tracey DeWare of the King’s Bench Court in Saint John, New Brunswick, 40 years after they were wrongly convicted in the murder of George Leeman
 

Mailman and Gillespie will be appearing before Chief Justice Tracey DeWare of the King’s Bench Court re: murder

Bench Court today 40 years after they were charged and convicted in the murder of George Leeman

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Innocence Canada is announcing that this afternoon, Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., Robert (Bobby) Mailman and Walter (Wally) Gillespie will be appearing before Chief Justice Tracey DeWare of the King’s Bench Court in Saint John, New Brunswick, 40 years after they were charged and convicted in the murder of George Leeman.

 

On November 30, 1983, Mr. Leeman’s body was found by a jogger in a wooded area in Rockwood Park, Saint John.  Mr. Leeman was the victim of a significant beating, and his body was partially burned.  Mr. Leeman was living in Saint John in a rooming house when he was murdered.

 

Between January 19 and 21, 1984, the Saint John Police Service charged Wally Gillespie and Bobby Mailman with the murder.  

 

Mr. Gillespie and Mr. Mailman both had strong alibis with multiple witnesses placing them kilometers from the crime scene on the day of the murder.  Nevertheless, they were convicted of the murder on May 11, 1984.  Both were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole eligibility for at least 18 years.  Not for one day since then have they wavered in insisting on their innocence.

 

Mr. Mailman who served 18 years in prison, sadly, is terminally ill.  He is 76 years of age.  He also lives in Saint John. Mr. Gillespie served 21 years of his life sentence in prison and is presently living in a halfway house in Saint John.  He is now 80 years of age. 

 

On December 22, 2023, Justice Minister Arif Virani quashed the murder convictions of both men on the grounds that there was a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred in their case. The Minister directed new trials for both.

 

Tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. will be Mr. Mailman and Mr. Gillespie’s first appearance in court since the Minister’s decision. As noted, they will be appearing before the Chief Justice at 1:30 p.m. The courthouse is located at 10 Peel Plaza in Saint John. Mr. Mailman and Mr. Gillespie will be accompanied by Innocence Canada counsel Jerome Kennedy and James Lockyer.