The new CBA President Bianca Kratt, K.C. receives the Chain of Office during a ceremony in Calgary and unveils her priorities for the year 2025-2026.
Transcription
Bonsoir tout le monde, good evening everyone.
Thank you, Lynne, for the kind introduction.
I want to take a moment to say that your leadership this year has been exactly what our profession and what our association needed.
This year, you reminded Canadians that the law isn't something abstract — it's a living system that depends on their trust and involvement of everyone.
And you've inspired us to raise our voices as defenders of justice and democracy.
It was quite a year, but our association was fortunate to have you in the lead.
Merci beaucoup pour tout ce que tu as fait, Lynne. Merci.
Merci tout le monde d’être ici ce soir.
Il s’agit d’un immense honneur pour moi de commencer mon mandat à la présidence de l’Association du Barreau canadien ici à Calgary, chez moi.
Avant de commencer avec un peu de mon histoire, je voulais vous faire part de certaines données :
I'm actually the 97th National president of the Canadian Bar Association, and the 11th woman to serve in the role.
Ten years ago, the National President was Michelle Hollins — now Justice Michelle Hollins. Who is with us tonight.
Today, I'm proud to bring the presidency back to Alberta.
And I believe that's something we can all celebrate together.
I feel so privileged to be standing in front of you tonight, and to be wearing the chain of office for the first time.
To be honest, this is a dream come true.
Especially that the path that brought me here has been full of growth. Full of surprises.
Full of great challenges that have shaped who I am.
I wasn't born in the legal world.
I grew up in a very small town in Quebec called Saint-Raymond de Portneuf.
And I was raised in the heart of the countryside.
My family has a long history as private guides, serving fishing and hunting clubs, while also guiding those who sought to explore Quebec's lakes and forests.
From a young age, my parents, who were teachers, taught me the value of hard work and community.
I'm so proud of my Huron Wendat roots and all the teachings that my parents have given me.
In my early 20s, a language exchange to Regina, Saskatchewan opened my eyes to a world beyond my small hometown, and meeting my now husband, Dan, here with us tonight in Regina.
Truly changed my life in ways that I could have never imagined.
I made the decision to leave my family and move across the country.
Ça n’a vraiment pas été facile.
J’ai dû accepter l’éloignement de ma culture d’origine, apprendre une deuxième langue, retourner aux études, me faire de nouveaux amis et me frayer un chemin parmi les grands.
De la détermination et du courage — il en a fallu vraiment.
Those early challenges forged the resilience that carry me forward ever since.
And the Canadian Bar Association played a very important role in that journey.
L’ABC a été l’un des tout premiers endroits où j’ai senti que j’avais véritablement ma place dans la profession.
L’ABC m’a mise en contact avec des mentors et des collègues qui ont cru en moi, avant même parfois que je croie en moi-même.
L’ABC m’a donné la confiance nécessaire pour m’engager, pour m’exprimer, et devenir une meilleure leader.
Standing here today means everything to me.
It's not just about where I am. It's about where I came from. It's about the journey, the setbacks. And the people who helped me rise.
And it's about a belief I hold deeply that every lawyer, especially every woman who has ever felt unseen or underestimated, deserves a profession that supports them, that values them and lifts them up.
And that belief fuels my vision for the year ahead.
Devant les défis de notre profession, je ressens vraiment une profonde détermination : de diriger avec clarté, de redonner à la communauté qui m’a fait grandir, et rassembler notre profession autour d’un objectif commun.
That’s why, for the next year as CBA President, I want to focus on a simple but urgent task: building a resilient legal profession.
Resilience isn't just about bouncing back. It's about anticipating new challenges and meeting them with courage and integrity.
It's about seeing grounded in our values even when the ground around us is shifting. It's about being prepared and united, especially when the pressures mount.
Et ceci est maintenant plus important que jamais. À un moment où nos institutions démocratiques et la souveraineté même de notre pays sont soumises à une pression croissante, notre profession doit faire preuve de résilience.
Over the next 12 months, I will focus on four aspects of resilience that I believe are essential to strengthening our profession, our justice system, and the trust that Canadians place in both.
First, a resilient profession needs a resilient justice system, and that starts by giving our courts the resources they need to do their work.
La justice est une pierre angulaire de notre démocratie, de notre souveraineté et de notre stabilité économique.
Quand elle est fragilisée, c’est toute notre capacité à faire respecter les droits de chacun qui en souffre.
The CBA will keep pushing governments to reduce court delays, to protect judicial independence.
And remember that a well resourced justice system is not a luxury.
It's a core element of our democracy.
Second, we will support lawyers to lead through change.
New technologies and rising expectations mean that we can't stand.
So to lead in uncertain times, lawyers need to embrace innovations and continuous learning while maintaining strong ethics.
For example, the CBA is launching a national AI action plan with training and support for small firms and tools to ensure that AI is used responsibly and in service of access to justice.
Third, we will build bridges to reinforce public trust.
Je crois que si les citoyens comprennent mieux leurs droits et nos institutions, ils vont avoir davantage confiance dans notre système de justice.
Donc, c’est pour ça que nous devons continuer à contrer la désinformation, et à faire connaître concrètement la valeur de notre système.
The CBA cannot assume that everyone cherishes the rule of law as we do.
We must continually demonstrate its relevance to Canadians.
Finally, resilience means inclusion.
Our profession is more resilient when it reflects the diversity of those it serves.
And that means breaking down systemic barriers, especially for women.
Cette année, je veux vraiment amplifier la voix des femmes dans la profession, mettre en lumière des parcours inspirants, et montrer que s’épanouir comme femme en droit devrait être la norme, et non pas l’exception.
In many ways, this moment right here, right now feels unreal.
But it also feels just right.
I started my career unsure of where I belong, and today I stand before you with a deep sense of purpose and with gratitude for the people who helped me get here.
And with determination to return the favor.
Merci à tous ceux et celles qui m’ont soutenue au fil des années.
Thank you to all of you for your support over the years.
And thank you, Dan for your love and your constant support.
With all the energy I have.
Let me end with this.
Lawyers are facing challenges in Canada and elsewhere, but we're not facing them alone.
When we support each other and we lead with courage and conviction, no challenge is too daunting.
So let's rise to this moment.
Let's lead the way.
And let's build a legal profession that is strong, that is resilient and truly worthy of the society we serve.
Thank you. Merci. Onen.