2019 CCCA PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED

  • March 13, 2019

TORONTO, ON – Mary Ellen Bench, CIC.C has won the 2019 Professional Contribution Award presented by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, part of the Canadian Bar Association.

The Professional Contribution Award recognizes an individual or group who raises the profile of the CCCA in the professional community.

Ms. Bench is the City Solicitor for the City of Mississauga, leading a legal department of over 50 legal professionals. She is a powerful advocate for in-house counsel being regarded as key strategic and legal business advisors while highlighting the value of the CCCA among her fellow public sector in-house counsel.

As a member of the CCCA for over 20 years, Ms. Bench has been a frequent speaker at CCCA events and even co-chaired the 2017 CCCA National Conference. But by far, her most important professional contribution has been her continued support of the CCCA’s Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel. Since the program’s inception in 2013, Ms. Bench has been one of its key champions, providing valuable feedback during the pilot program and acting as an Executive-in-Residence for many subsequent student cohorts.

The Professional Contribution Award will be presented during the CCCA 2019 “Light the Fire” National Conference, on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2019 in Toronto, ON along with various other CCCA awards.

Media accreditation for this event may be obtained by contacting Karen Sadler at ksadler@ccca-cba.org.

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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:

This year the annual conference is co-chaired by Charlene Theodore, In-House Counsel, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, and Julia Shin Doi, General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Governors, Ryerson University and will be held at the Hilton Toronto in Toronto from April 7 – 9, 2019.

ABOUT THE CCCA:

The CCCA is the national voice and forum for in-house counsel in Canada. We have been championing Canadian in-house counsel since 1988. Now more than 4,500 strong, the CCCA is proud to be a Forum of the Canadian Bar Association, the essential ally and advocate of the legal profession in Canada.