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Leadership looks good on you (and your +1).

At CanTech Women in Tech (WIT), we’re all about helping our members grow — not just as lawyers or technologists, but as leaders (or leaders-in-progress, which absolutely counts).

That’s why we’re happy to share some access to The Art of Leadership for Women — a one-day conference coming to Toronto and Ottawa, featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers and actionable insights on what it takes to lead in today’s world.

We’ve got 2 tickets to give away — because growth is better with company. CANTECH MEMBERS CAN ENTER TO WIN

 

And a discount code for $50 off (or $100 off per pass for groups of 5+). CANTECH MEMBERS CAN ACCESS DISCOUNT CODE

It’s a great excuse to step out of your routine, invest in yourself, and leave with fresh ideas (and probably a great notebook). Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to develop your leaders, engage your talent, and build high-performing teams. Join us for an empowering day of learning, networking, and women’s leadership.

Details + registration

#cantechWIT#womenintech#leadership#careerbuilding#professionaldevelopment #TheArtOfLeadership

Contest Rules:

1. Contest: This Contest is brought to you by Canadian Technology Law Association (“Can Tech”).
2. Eligibility: Open to CanTech members who are legal residents of Canada and are the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. Limit of one (1) entry per CanTech member. Employees, officers, directors, agents, or representatives (and those with whom such persons are living) of Can Tech, associated and affiliated entities, prize suppliers, advertising/promotion agencies and any other individuals or entities involved in the administration, judging, or fulfilment of the Contest (“Contest Parties”) are not eligible to enter the Contest.
3. No Purchase Necessary: No purchase necessary.
4. Contest Period: Contest begins on June 16 at 2:00 PM ET and ends on Thursday, June 19 at 2:00 PM ET (“Contest Period”).  
5. How to Enter: Enter via our website during the Contest Period. All entries must be received during the Contest Period and are subject to verification by CanTech.
6. Winner Selection: One winner will be selected by random draw on Thursday, June 19, at approximately 3:00PM ET (“Draw Date”).  Odds of winning depend on total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.
7. Prize: The Prize consists of two (2) tickets to The Art of Leadership Women, with an approximate total retail value: $1000 (the “Prize”).
8. Winner Notification: Winner will be contacted via direct message on LinkedIn or email by CanTech within 2 days of the Draw Date. Can Tech will make a minimum of 3 attempts to contact the potential winner and if a potential winner cannot be contacted within 2 days, or there is a return of any notification as undeliverable, then Can Tech may, time permitting, select an alternate potential winner in the same manner as set out in these Rules. In order to be declared the Prize winner, the potential winner will be required to correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question and, where applicable, sign and return Can Tech’s declaration and release form confirming compliance with these Rules, acceptance of the Prize, and release of the Contest Parties from any and all liability in connection with this Contest. If a potential winner fails to correctly answer the skill-testing question, fails to properly respond, execute and/or return any required Contest documents within the specified time, or is determined to be in violation of these Rules, then they will be disqualified as a potential Prize winner.
9. Indemnification and Limit of Liability. None of the Contest Parties makes any representation or offers any warranty, express or implied, as to the quality or fitness of a Prize or any elements of a Prize awarded in connection with the Contest. The entrant agrees to releases and holds harmless the Contest Parties from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to the entrant or any other person or property, including personal injury, death, or property damage, resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, participation in the Contest, any breach of the Rules, the Prize and/or in any Prize-related activity.
10. Privacy. By participating in the Contest, you expressly consent and grant to Can Tech, the right to collect, store, disclose and use your name, and email address, submitted with your entry only for the purposes of administering this Contest, and you acknowledge that Can Tech may disclose your name and email address to its third party service providers and agents for the purposes of administering the Contest, in accordance with these Rules and the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy. 
11. General: Contest is subject to all applicable laws. Void where prohibited. Participation in the Contest constitutes each entrant’s full acceptance and agreement of the Contest Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Prize must be accepted as awarded and is not transferable or convertible to cash. No substitutions except at Can Tech’s option. Can Tech reserves the right to withdraw, cancel, terminate, or amend this Contest at any time without prior notice or obligation in the event of any cause beyond the reasonable control of Can Tech that interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Rules. Contest not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, LinkedIn.

The CAN-TECH Law executive committee are pleased to announce Lola's appointment to the Board of Directors for the 2025 term. Lola is also our member ambassador for the Atlantic Canada region.

Lola (Agbaje-Williams) Williams-Afolabi is the lead counsel at Williams Armstrong LP, practising primarily Business and Intellectual Property Law. She has extensive experience in providing exceptional services for clients with creative and effective solutions to address their needs and protect their business interests. Lola advises on business operations, commercial transactions, intellectual property protection, strategy, privacy and other business-related matters. Lola holds an LLB from the University of Lagos, an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), and received the 2014 International Bar Association Scholarship in the Intellectual Property, Communication and Technology Section. Lola is currently the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (NS Chapter) Intellectual Property Section, Board President of the NS chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and speaks on various expert panels on Business Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Artificial Intelligence. Outside the office, Lola loves spending time with family and making an impact through mentorship, advocacy and community work. Lola has also been a Judge with the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition at the University of Oxford since 2015 and participates as a Judge in other law moots in Canada and internationally. Lola received the CBA-NS, Community Service Award in 2022.

#AccelerateAction: Women Moving the Dial

Author: Harsharan Nagra

For International Women’s Day 2025, the CAN-TECH Women in Technology (WIT) Committee hosted an inspiring evening of connection, conversation, and celebration of women driving change in the tech industry and beyond at The Loft (18 Tank House Lane, Toronto). The event embraced this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” moderated discussion with our speakers, and a unique dinner experience that fostered deeper conversations among attendees.

Moderated by Christine Jackson, the discussion featured four extraordinary women who shared their journeys, insights, and impact in their respective fields. Kate Anderson reflected on the power of graceful failures, emphasizing that the moments of falling short often teach us the most about ourselves. She shared the meaningful inspiration behind her company’s logo, a samara seed, which symbolizes the beauty of falling with purpose and resilience. Aarani Stoneham spoke about how witnessing her parents’ hard work building a new life shaped her grit and determination. Her journey is a testament to perseverance and the impact of lived experiences on professional drive. Lisa Danay Wallace touched on topics of advocacy for women in law and technology, and she also highlighted the importance of representation, mentorship, and empowering women to take up space in leadership roles. Deborah Rosati highlighted the importance of mentorship, breaking the common misconception that a mentor must be a well-established leader. Instead, she encouraged attendees to seek guidance from those just a step ahead in their career journey, someone whose path they resonate with.

Left to right: (1) Christine Jackson, Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; (2) Lisa Danay Wallace, Partner, WeirFoulds LLP; (3) Dr. Deborah Rosati, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D GCB.D, CCB.D; (4) Katherine Ayre, Chief of Staff, Legal & Compliance AAM/Aviation Lawyer, Pivot Airlines; (5) Aarani Stoneham, Head of Legal, Data Privacy, AI Governance and Ethics, ModiFace (L'Oreal Group Company).

Left to right: (1) Christine Jackson; (2) Lisa Danay Wallace; (3) Dr. Deborah Rosati; (4) Katherine Ayre; (5) Aarani Stoneham.

Throughout the evening, everyone had the opportunity to connect over each course of the meal, exchanging personal stories and insights in an intimate setting. A question jar made its way around the tables, allowing guests to submit their questions, which the speakers addressed, sparking meaningful discussions and takeaways. Towards the end of the night, as attendees finished, you could see many engaging and meaningful conversations at each table.

Thank you to Wendes Keung and Mimi Palmer, Co-Chairs of the WIT Committee, for their leadership and dedication in making this year’s International Women’s Day event a resounding success. Through their efforts, the event was not just a celebration but a catalyst for empowerment and change. We are grateful for their commitment to uplifting women in tech and beyond!

Left to right: (1) Mimi Palmer, Co-Chair of WIT and Partner, WeirFoulds LLP; (2) Wendes Keung, Co-Chair of WIT and Associate, McCarthy Tétrault LLP; (3) Aarani Stoneham; (4) Lisa Danay Wallace; (5) Christine Jackson; (6) Katherine Ayre; and (7) Dr. Deborah Rosati.

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Not surprisingly, creative and technology sectors take different positions on the intersection/collision between GenAI and copyright

The Government of Canada conducted a Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence between October 12, 2023, and January 15, 2024, seeking input on the effects of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on copyright and the marketplace. On February 11, 2025, it released the “What we heard” report, which – not surprisingly – reports a divergence of views between technology and AI companies, on one hand, and creators and creative industries, on the other. 

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Regulator is seeking an order to change its privacy practices following 2024 investigation

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada announced on March 3, 2025 that it had filed an application in the Federal Court (T-702-25) under  the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act to require Aylo, the operator of the PornHub website, to change its practices in accord with the Commissioner’s 2024 report of findings.

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Nova Scotia Plaintiff awarded $60,000 for unrelenting social media criticism

The case of Terris v. Meisner arose from what the trial judge found to be a sad, regrettable set of facts. The defendant’s son was an intellectually disabled adult who was a longtime resident of a care home, at which the plaintiff worked as a nurse. The son had a history of being physically violent to himself and others. One night in 2016 the son became extremely agitated and, due to understaffing, had to be restrained; among other behaviour he was flinging feces at people, some of which hit the plaintiff, who was among the staff dealing with the situation. At one point a hand towel was placed in front of his face, apparently to keep him from spitting on people; the hand towel was misidentified in notes as a “pillowcase” though that was later corrected.

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Alberta law effectively turned scrap dealers into state agents

In R v Khairullah, the Alberta Court of Justice was asked by an accused to declare that an Alberta law’s requirement that scrap metal dealers collect personal information from scrap metal sellers, which is entered into a police-accessible database, is an unreasonable search under section 8 of the Charter. The Court found that requiring a private business to gather personal information from a lawful seller of scrap metal made the business an agent of the state, and the breadth of personal information and how it was stored resulted in a violation of section 8 of the Charter. This decision may have broader application in other “know your customer” contexts. 

The accused, a scrap metal dealer, was previously charged with violating the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act. He challenged the constitutionality of the Act and regulations (addressed in 2023 ABCJ 235 and 2024 ABKB 286), and also challenged the customer identification requirements under section 8 of the Charter.

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Majority of the Court of Appeal find a thumbs up emoji was an electronic signature for the purposes of The Sale of Goods Act

In Achter Land & Cattle Ltd. v South West Terminal Ltd., the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal was called upon to consider whether a contract was validly formed under the province’s Sale of Goods Act via a replied “thumbs up” emoji.

A purchaser of grain and a commodities vendor disputed whether a valid contract arose for the sale of grain, the discussion of which took place over text messages. An employee of the vendor sent a proposed agreement to the putative purchaser and requested confirmation. The proposed agreement was an image of the front page of the proposed agreement, along with the words “Please confirm flax contract.” What came back was a simple thumbs up emoji. 

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As resources for dealing with AI in legal settings emerge, so too do court decisions dealing with it as evidence

The Canadian legal world has slowly but surely begun various efforts to figure out, react to and (in appropriate circumstances) embrace the many issues raised by the onslaught of “artificial intelligence” (AI) and specifically one of its main manifestations, “generative artificial intelligence” (GenAI). GenAI, as is well known, is the subset of AI that creates content (text, images, sounds), its capacity for which is generated by “training” on large sets of data (the latter has been gained primarily from internet scraping, which has generated numerous intellectual property issues and at least one federal government consultation report). In law as in many sectors, much attention has been focused on “large language models” (LLMs), GenAI platforms that produce text and images in response to user prompts, and are designed to mimic human behaviour and/or tasks.

Read more here