Blog: Summer Student Profiles 2021

Summer at CELA

At CELA, tremendous value is placed on building capacity for the environmental and social justice community. A fundamental part of this focuses on training and mentoring young lawyers and other professionals eager to enter the field. This past summer, CELA welcomed seven talented and passionate students to the team. Their range of talents and expertise were an integral part of CELA’s work, and we’re proud to feature a selection of their work in this blog post.

Each year, in addition to partnering with organizations and academic institutions that support student placements, CELA employs an articling student whose focus is on administrative and environmental law. CELA’s articling student program is supported by the Canadian Environmental Law Foundation. Donations in support of this program are appreciated.

Clockwise from top left: Kanisha Acharya-Patel, Peter Hillson, Eneria Mucaj, Adam Clasky,
Jane Fallis Cooper, Sara Shams, Amanda Mcaleer

Adam Clasky – Adam is a student at McMaster University in the Master of Public Health program. This summer he worked on two pesticide related projects and contributed baseline research about hoarding to the RentSafe initiative. Most recently, Adam co-authored a letter to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, updated CELA’s fact sheet about “Pesticides and Bed Bugs – Information for Tenants in Ontario” and wrote a thoughtful blog post about precautions and prevention in public health practice.

Jane Fallis Cooper – Jane is a first-year law student at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. She is CELA’s Northern Services Summer Student, funded by Lenczner Slaght’s Advocacy Internship program. Jane has worked on research related to links between industry, health, and the environment in Northern Ontario. She authored two helpful blogs, one on environmental justice in a nuclear age and the second titled “Bait-and-Switch? A look at CELA’s Intervention opposing Canada’s first ever SMR in Durham Region” and is working towards releasing a toolkit on environmental law and public participation in the North.

Eneria Mucaj –Eneria is a student at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University. This summer, her research focused on the lead-free drinking water for all in Ontario campaign. Eneria was also the lead author of CELA’s brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development’s study on freshwater and penned a blog discussing the context and substance of the recommendations. Eneria additionally supported CELA’s legal team on summary advice files.

Peter Hillson – Peter is a student at Osgoode Hall Law School in the JD/Master of Environmental Studies program. This summer Peter has heavily contributed to research relating to Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) amendments. Read Peter’s “Faces of CELA” profile here. Peter also recently co-presented a webinar with Kanisha Acharya-Patel on their research on the current review of CEPA.

Kanisha Acharya-Patel – Kanisha is a student at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. This summer, Kanisha’s placement was focused on environmental discrimination within the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Read Kanisha’s “Faces of CELA” profile here. Kanisha also recently co-presented a webinar with Peter Hillson on their research on the current review of CEPA.

Sara Shams – This summer, Sara joined CELA as a summer law student where she diligently conducted research relating to municipal action for climate equity, which culminated in the creation of a municipal toolkit on climate change and equity policies. Read Sara’s “Faces of CELA” profile here.

Amanda Mcaleer – As a summer law intern, Amanda’s research at CELA was focused on rights for rivers, a new and innovative undertaking within the Canadian legal landscape. She authored a blog highlighting the officially attained legal personhood status of Quebec’s Magpie River.

Blog: Summer Student Profiles 2021

Summer at CELA

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