Linc Rogers and Melanie Gaston Win First Blakes Diversity Champion Award

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In 2009, the Equity & Diversity Committee introduced the Blakes Diversity Champion Award. The award is presented to one or more members of the Firm who have taken steps to promote diversity at Blakes, within the broader legal profession or their communities. Everyone in the Firm is eligible for this award, including lawyers, staff and other professionals.

The recipients of the first annual Diversity Champion Award are Melanie Gaston and Linc Rogers.

Linc Rogers is a Partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency Group in Toronto. He has been dedicated to promoting equity and diversity at Blakes and the broader legal profession throughout the course of his academic and professional career. Linc began serving on Blakes Equity & Diversity Committee soon after starting at the Firm. During that time, he helped to develop the committee's mission statement, the Blakes Equity & Diversity web page and the Blakes Equity & Diversity feature sheet, which highlights the Firm's accomplishments in the area. He has played a principal role in a number of Firm initiatives, including the Blakes Bulletin on Equity & Diversity, the diversity lecture series and the diversity lunch program. Linc also speaks frequently to diverse law students, associates and members of the broader community about the importance of diversity in the profession. He is an active member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and serves on the corporate advisory board of the Toronto Chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC). UFSC is dedicated to promoting the growth of minority professionals in the financial services industry and the promotion of financial literacy in minority and disadvantaged communities.

Melanie Gaston is an Associate in the Calgary Litigation Group. She has long been dedicated to promoting equity and diversity, including access to opportunity for children and traditionally disadvantaged populations, since her early years at university. At Blakes, Melanie is active in the Women at Blakes initiative in the Calgary office, contributes time and effort to the United Way Committee and the Charitable Giving Committee, and is involved in many of the recruiting efforts of the Student Committee. She, together with David Tupper, initiated the formation of a working group involving various community stakeholders with a focus on developing initiatives to support and retain women in the legal profession. This working group has since been adopted by The Law Society of Alberta, and Melanie continues to be an active member and contributor. Melanie is also a director on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary and is active in promoting its programs, which provide vital support to children and families in the Calgary community, particularly those most affected by complex social and economic issues such as homelessness and poverty. The mother of three young daughters, Melanie is also involved with Girl Guides of Canada as a Sparks troupe leader and volunteers her time and skills at her local elementary school, most recently in a campaign to adopt anti-bullying programming and awareness.