Supreme Court of Canada confirms plan to visit Halifax next September

SCC will hear appeals and meet people in Nova Scotia from Sept. 20–24, 2027

Richard Wagner, Canada’s chief justice, has shared that the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) will hear appeals and engage with the legal community, students, and members of the public during a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Sept. 20–24, 2027.

“Visiting communities across Canada is an important way for the Court to strengthen public understanding of its role and the justice system as a whole,” Wagner said in the SCC’s news release. “These visits allow Canadians to see the Court in action, learn more about how our justice system works and engage directly with members of the Court.”

“We are pleased to welcome the Supreme Court of Canada to Halifax for this important visit,” added Michael J. Wood, Nova Scotia’s chief justice. “Hosting Canada’s highest court is a unique opportunity for Nova Scotians to see it firsthand.”

Wagner, who first announced the Halifax visit during his annual press conference last year, expressed eagerness for the upcoming opportunity to interact with Nova Scotians in their capital.

“The Court’s presence in Halifax will help build meaningful connections with the public and further strengthen confidence in the administration of justice,” Wood said.

According to the SCC’s news release, the Halifax visit is in line with its tradition of sitting outside Ottawa to help bridge the gap between the country’s highest court and the people served.

Similarly to its visits to Quebec City in 2022 and to Winnipeg in 2019, the SCC plans to connect with Nova Scotians through various activities.

Supreme Court of Canada’s preparation for Halifax visit

In the lead-up to the Halifax visit, the SCC will work alongside Nova Scotia’s courts and its legal and community partners to ensure that everybody is ready.

As the Halifax visit approaches, the SCC intends to share details about the appeals it will hear and its program of planned activities, with updates posted and information shared via the court’s webpage.

Here are some other recent news stories from this month involving the country’s courts.

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Sean Fraser, federal justice minister and attorney general, announced the following appointments: Nicholas McHaffie as a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, and Audrey Boctor as a puisne judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal in Montreal.

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