Rosalie Silberman Abella was the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. She founded the concept of “employment equity” and shaped the first decision made under the 1989 Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Canadian Supreme Court Justice | Born in 1946
Rosalie Silberman Abella’s career has been filled with firsts starting with being appointed at the age of 29 to the Ontario Family Court making her Canada’s youngest ever judge. In 2004 she again made history by becoming the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Abella’s illustrious career includes serving the sole commissioner on the Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, where she championed equality rights and fought against discrimination.
Abella’s unwavering commitment to the legal system and belief in the transformative power of law in creating a better society has left an indelible mark not only on Toronto’s legal landscape but the world.