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Last edited: 2023-10-03
Publication status: Active
Born: July 1st, 1946
Place of Birth: Stuttgart, Germany
Parent(s): Jacob Sumer and Fanny (Krongold) Silberman
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Married Irving Martin Abella 8 Dec. 1968Children: Jacob, Zachary
Bathurst Heights S.S. Toronto 1964
A.R.C.T. in classical piano 1964
Univ. Coll. Univ. of Toronto B.A. 1967
Univ. Coll., Univ. of Toronto LL.B. 1970
Occupation: Judge
Field of Endeavor: Law
Current Position(s):
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF CANADA 2004–21
Biography Notes:
called to Bar of Ont. 1972
private law practice 1972–76
Comnr., Ont. Human Rights Comn. 1975–80
Co-Chair, Univ. of Toronto Acad. Discipline Tribunal 1976–84
Judge, Ont. Family Court 1976–87
Justice, Court of Appeal for Ont. 1992–2004
mem., Ont. Public Service Labour Relations Tribunal 1975–76
Chair, Study on Access to Legal Services by Disabled 1982–83
Sole Comnr., Royal Comn. on Equality in Employment which created term and concept of Employment Equity 1983–84
Chair, Ont. Labour Relations Bd. 1984–89
Chair, Ont. Law Reform Comn. 1989–92
Boulton Visiting Prof., Fac. of Law, McGill Univ. 1988–92
Sr. Fellow, Massey Coll. 1989–
Dir., Inst. for Rsch. on Public Policy 1987–92
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Previous | Back to first tabABELLA, Hon. Rosalie Silberman, B.A., LL.B., LL.D., F.R.S.C.; retired judge; b. Stuttgart, Germany 1 July 1946; d. Jacob Sumer and Fanny (Krongold) Silberman; m. Irving Martin Abella 8 Dec. 1968; children: Jacob Julian, Zachary Joshua; e. Bathurst Heights S.S., Toronto 1964; A.R.C.T. in classical piano 1964; Univ. Coll., Univ. of Toronto B.A. 1967, LL.B. 1970; 30 Honorary Doctorates; called to Bar of Ont. 1972; private law practice 1972–76; Comnr., Ont. Human Rights Comn. 1975–80; Co-Chair, Univ. of Toronto Acad. Discipline Tribunal 1976–84; Judge, Ont. Family Court 1976–87; Justice, Court of Appeal for Ont. 1992–2004; Justice, Supreme Court of Canada 2004–21; mem., Ont. Public Service Labour Relations Tribunal 1975–76; mem. Premier's Adv. Ctte. on Confedn. 1977–82; Chair, Study on Access to Legal Services by Disabled 1982–83; Sole Comnr., Royal Comn. on Equality in Employment which created term and concept of Employment Equity 1983–84; Chair, Ont. Labour Relations Bd. 1984–89; Chair, Ont. Law Reform Comn. 1989–92; Moderator, 1988 Leader's Debate; Boulton Visiting Prof., Fac. of Law, McGill Univ. 1988–92; Sr. Fellow, Massey Coll. 1989– ; Dir., Inst. for Rsch. on Public Policy 1987–92; Rosalie S. Abella Annual Lecture Series estab. at Univ. of Guelph 1989; Mem., Cdn. Judicial Council Inquiry Ctte. re Donald Marshall, Jr. Reference 1990; Programme Chair, Gov. General's Cdn. Study Conf. 1990–91; Chief Rapporteur (Halifax) and Co-Chair (Vancouver) Cdn. Constitutional Conferences 1992; former Dir., Internat. Comn. Jurists (Cdn. Sect.); former Dir., Cdn. Inst. for the Admin. of Justice; Bd. of Trustees, McGill Inst. for the Study of Canada 1993–2000; Gov., Internat. Bd. of Govs., Hebrew Univ. 2000; mem., Am. Bar Assn. Standing Ctte. on World Order Under Law 1997; Ctte. on Conscience, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council 2000; honours & awards incl. B'nai Brith Woman of Yr. 1977; Honour Roll Medal, Maclean's 1990; Cdn. Bar Assn. (Ont.) Distinguished Service Award 1992; Faculty of Law, Univ. of Toronto Distinguished Alumnus Award 1996; Specially Elected Fellow, Royal Soc. of Canada 1997; Internat. Justice Prize, Peter Gruber Fdn. 2003; Human Relations Award, Cdn. Council of Christians and Jews 2003; Walter S. Tarnopolsky Medal 2004; Fellow, Am. Acad. of Arts & Sciences 2007; Hon. Fellow, Am. College of Trial Lawyers 2007; Bora Laskin Award 2010; Global Jurist of the Year, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 2016; Hon. Doctor of Laws, Yale Univ. 2016; inductee, Canada's Walk of Fame 2023; Judge, Giller Literary Prize 2003; author Access to Legal Services by the Disabled 1983, Equality in Employment 1984; various articles legal jours.; co-editor Family Law: Dimensions of Justice 1983, Justice Beyond Orwell 1985; recreation: music, reading.