Bertha Wilson

Over a long career in the law, the Honorable Bertha Wilson forged a reputation as a champion of the underdog, a scholarly jurist, and a dedicated proponent of fair play for all. She is lauded for landmark decisions changing the face of Canadian law and society. Several of her decisions are considered groundbreaking victories for the rights of women, including the acceptance of the battered women syndrome as self-defense, the insistence on a woman’s right to abortion, and equity in the division of property between common law couples.