About CCIAWJ
July 3, 2026 2026-07-15 3:54About CCIAWJ
President’s Message
Justice Gisele Miller
President CCIAWJ, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
My name is Gisele Miller. I am a Superior Court trial judge in Ontario (Central West Region) and a Deputy Judge in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
I am honoured to be the incoming president of the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) as we embark upon the challenging and fulfilling project of hosting the International Conference in 2027, while continuing the work we do across Canada.
I acknowledge the inspirational women judges who have held the president role before me. I am tremendously proud of the work this organisation has done. I count as friends many CCIAWJ members from across Canada who take on this work in addition to their judicial and family commitments.
What I bring to the CCIAWJ
I bring to my new role 19 + years of involvement in CCIAWJ, having joined in 2007 as a first year trial judge. My first IAWJ International Conference in 2008 in Seoul, South Korea, was where I began to meet colleagues from around the world and began to learn the similarities and also the differences of the judicial roles in our countries which vary for reasons of economics, security, cultural and regional specific circumstances. My first volunteer role was as contributor to the CCIAWJ’s report to the Canadian Judicial Council on the Seoul conference. In 2017 I joined the CCIAWJ executive and have held various roles including secretary and vice president.
I consider myself a “lifelong learner”, and have made it a priority to attend and participate in in every biennial CCIAWJ Conference since 2007. At our conferences I have become aware of regional challenges across the country and formed friendships with colleagues from every court level of all our provinces and territories. I am committed to serving CCIAWJ in both national languages, and maintain annual attendance at French language training and weekly French lessons.
Another priority has been outreach of women judges to law school students across the country. I have participated in and organised Evenings with Women Judges at Ontario law schools, including my alma mater University of Toronto. I believe that the future of the legal profession and a truly inclusive judicial system requires us all to adapt and continue traditions of mentoring and supporting those entering the profession, in particular students of historically underrepresented indigenous, racial, cultural, and gender identities.
The 2024 Nauru Convention on Judicial Wellness, leading to the International Day of Judicial Wellness each July 25 put a spotlight on the many impediments to health and wellness relating to our work. Our recent CCIAWJ conference in Moncton included a wellness focus. As your CCIAWJ president, I will be reaching out to other judicial organizations including the World Assembly of Indigenous Judges and the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges (of which I am a member), on issues of common concern and to explore interest in co-hosting learning opportunities.
The 2027 IAWJ Biennial Conference
What an exciting year ahead as we prepare to host the 18th Biennial Conference of the IAWJ in Québec City in May 2027!
Canada last hosted the international conference more than 25 years ago – the 4th Biennial IAWJ conference was held in Ottawa in 1998. Next year we are very pleased to welcome women judges from around the world. The IAWJ’s 6,500 women judge members come from over 100 countries and territories.
The IAWJ is committed to equal justice and the rule of law worldwide. The 18th Biennial Conference, with the theme “Women’s Justice: Strong and Free”, will bring together influential judicial leaders from all levels of courts to address issues that affect us and the work we do worldwide. Each of us in our roles as judges make decisions which impact the individuals who appear before us. Together we can ensure fairness and equality on a global level. It is tremendously exciting to be together with strong, independent and influential women from around the world.
We are committed to ensuring the conference promotes international collegiality, sisterhood, and learning, provided in an inclusive and respectful environment – in one of the oldest and most historic cities in North America.
The Ongoing Work of the CCIAWJ
The CCIAWJ has several ongoing projects which aim to make a positive difference in legal communities across our country.
These include a roundtable partnership with law societies across the country focussed on the retention of women in the practice of law. We host annual events at law schools across the country, inviting law students to interact with women judges and learn from our experiences. We have been honouring the March 10 International Day of Women Judges since its inception in 2022 with an annual webinar.
The Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges was instrumental in assisting women judges fleeing from Afghanistan to settle in Canada with their families and to embark upon new careers. Judges from across Canada partnered with Afghan women judges and continue to do this work.
In addition we will continue to fund scholarships as we have at various Canadian universities. We are committed to enhancing access to justice for all, with a focus on those in our communities who have historically faced barriers to inclusion in the legal profession. These include all vulnerable communities including those with disabilities, those from indigenous and other cultural backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQ2IA+. Our commitment to these goals can be seen in the topics addressed in our recent joint CCIAWJ/NJI program in June 2026 in Moncton, NB, in particular Judicial Allyship, Self-Identification in the Courts, and Indigenous Governments and Laws.
Please join us!
There are many opportunities to contribute to the CCIAWJ as a member – our Board of Directors draws from all areas of the country and all levels of court. We are always looking for contributions to our website, for membership outreach, for our law student events and other projects. Please do not hesitate to reach to me or other members of the Board to become more involved. We will be “all hands on deck” for the 2027 Biennial Conference and would love to hear from you if you would like to help in advance or simply attend as part of our strong Canadian presence at this conference. It will be a wonderful occasion to connect with colleagues from across the country and around the world.
You should also know that the CCIAWJ provides mentorship and support for the increasing challenges we face in our work as judges. Membership helps each of us both give and receive such support.
Come and join the CCIAWJ and be part of this wonderful opportunity!
President’s Message
Justice Gisele Miller
President CCIAWJ, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
My name is Gisele Miller. I am a Superior Court trial judge in Ontario (Central West Region) and a Deputy Judge in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
I am honoured to be the incoming president of the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) as we embark upon the challenging and fulfilling project of hosting the International Conference in 2027, while continuing the work we do across Canada.
I acknowledge the inspirational women judges who have held the president role before me. I am tremendously proud of the work this organisation has done. I count as friends many CCIAWJ members from across Canada who take on this work in addition to their judicial and family commitments.
What I bring to the CCIAWJ
I bring to my new role 19 + years of involvement in CCIAWJ, having joined in 2007 as a first year trial judge. My first IAWJ International Conference in 2008 in Seoul, South Korea, was where I began to meet colleagues from around the world and began to learn the similarities and also the differences of the judicial roles in our countries which vary for reasons of economics, security, cultural and regional specific circumstances. My first volunteer role was as contributor to the CCIAWJ’s report to the Canadian Judicial Council on the Seoul conference. In 2017 I joined the CCIAWJ executive and have held various roles including secretary and vice president.
I consider myself a “lifelong learner”, and have made it a priority to attend and participate in in every biennial CCIAWJ Conference since 2007. At our conferences I have become aware of regional challenges across the country and formed friendships with colleagues from every court level of all our provinces and territories. I am committed to serving CCIAWJ in both national languages, and maintain annual attendance at French language training and weekly French lessons.
Another priority has been outreach of women judges to law school students across the country. I have participated in and organised Evenings with Women Judges at Ontario law schools, including my alma mater University of Toronto. I believe that the future of the legal profession and a truly inclusive judicial system requires us all to adapt and continue traditions of mentoring and supporting those entering the profession, in particular students of historically underrepresented indigenous, racial, cultural, and gender identities.
The 2024 Nauru Convention on Judicial Wellness, leading to the International Day of Judicial Wellness each July 25 put a spotlight on the many impediments to health and wellness relating to our work. Our recent CCIAWJ conference in Moncton included a wellness focus. As your CCIAWJ president, I will be reaching out to other judicial organizations including the World Assembly of Indigenous Judges and the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges (of which I am a member), on issues of common concern and to explore interest in co-hosting learning opportunities.
The 2027 IAWJ Biennial Conference
What an exciting year ahead as we prepare to host the 18th Biennial Conference of the IAWJ in Québec City in May 2027!
Canada last hosted the international conference more than 25 years ago – the 4th Biennial IAWJ conference was held in Ottawa in 1998. Next year we are very pleased to welcome women judges from around the world. The IAWJ’s 6,500 women judge members come from over 100 countries and territories.
The IAWJ is committed to equal justice and the rule of law worldwide. The 18th Biennial Conference, with the theme “Women’s Justice: Strong and Free”, will bring together influential judicial leaders from all levels of courts to address issues that affect us and the work we do worldwide. Each of us in our roles as judges make decisions which impact the individuals who appear before us. Together we can ensure fairness and equality on a global level. It is tremendously exciting to be together with strong, independent and influential women from around the world.
We are committed to ensuring the conference promotes international collegiality, sisterhood, and learning, provided in an inclusive and respectful environment – in one of the oldest and most historic cities in North America.
The Ongoing Work of the CCIAWJ
The CCIAWJ has several ongoing projects which aim to make a positive difference in legal communities across our country.
These include a roundtable partnership with law societies across the country focussed on the retention of women in the practice of law. We host annual events at law schools across the country, inviting law students to interact with women judges and learn from our experiences. We have been honouring the March 10 International Day of Women Judges since its inception in 2022 with an annual webinar.
The Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges was instrumental in assisting women judges fleeing from Afghanistan to settle in Canada with their families and to embark upon new careers. Judges from across Canada partnered with Afghan women judges and continue to do this work.
In addition we will continue to fund scholarships as we have at various Canadian universities. We are committed to enhancing access to justice for all, with a focus on those in our communities who have historically faced barriers to inclusion in the legal profession. These include all vulnerable communities including those with disabilities, those from indigenous and other cultural backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQ2IA+. Our commitment to these goals can be seen in the topics addressed in our recent joint CCIAWJ/NJI program in June 2026 in Moncton, NB, in particular Judicial Allyship; Self-Identification in the Courts and Indigenous Governments and Laws.
Please join us!
There are many opportunities to contribute to the CCIAWJ as a member – our Board of Directors draws from all areas of the country and all levels of court. We are always looking for contributions to our website, for membership outreach, for our law student events and other projects. Please do not hesitate to reach to me or other members of the Board to become more involved. We will be “all hands on deck” for the 2027 Biennial Conference and would love to hear from you if you would like to help in advance or simply attend as part of our strong Canadian presence at this conference. It will be a wonderful occasion to connect with colleagues from across the country and around the world.
You should also know that the CCIAWJ provides mentorship and support for the increasing challenges we face in our work as judges. Membership helps each of us both give and receive such support.
Come and join the CCIAWJ and be part of this wonderful opportunity!
Board of Directors
- 4 Members from the Western region (B.C., Alta., Sask., and Man.)
- 2 Members from Ontario
- 2 Members from Quebec
- 2 Members from the Atlantic region (N.S., N.B., P.E.I., & Nfld.)
- 1 Member from the Territories
- 1 Member from the Federal Court/Tax Court/Supreme Court
Board of Directors
- 4 Members from the Western region (B.C., Alta., Sask., and Man.)
- 2 Members from Ontario
- 2 Members from Quebec
- 2 Members from the Atlantic region (N.S., N.B., P.E.I., & Nfld.)
- 1 Member from the Territories
- 1 Member from the Federal Court/Tax Court/Supreme Court
