he 2009 Nanaimo Law Day open house was held on April 25, 2009 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Nanaimo Courthouse at 35 Front Street. The theme for Law Day was “Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System.” In Nanaimo, Law Week is a collaborative project organized through the partnership of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, the Nanaimo City Bar Association and the Nanaimo County Bar Association.

Nanaimo Law Day events included the following:

• In Conversation with a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
• A Justice spoke on Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System, a question and answer session followed the presentation
• Mock trial with a Judge presiding over “The Queen v The Big Bad Wolf”
• Three Little Pigs skit presented by wills and estates seminar speakers
• Family law seminar
• Wills and estates law seminar

A number of information kiosks from various legal organizations were held at the open house. These kiosks included the Nanaimo Court Registry with information on filing a civil claims and small claims action, the RCMP, the Nanaimo Correctional Center, the Federal Crown, the Provincial Crown, the Nanaimo Family Justice Hub, the Nanaimo Crisis Line, the Canadian Bar Association, the Nanaimo Haven Society and the Vancouver Island University's Criminology Department and Legal Administrative Assistants Program.

The RCMP presented seminars and a canine unit exhibition. Police vehicles were also on display and tours of cells in the Nanaimo courthouse were conducted by Sheriffs.

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On Saturday, April 25, 2009, the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch held its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer” as part of Law Week. Nanaimo area residents were invited to call 1.800.663.1919 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to speak with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes at no cost.