Honourable colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Canadian, Justice Corrine Sparks, a pioneer and a shining example of courage who has overcome barriers, a leader in the service of others, a legal educator and a mentor.

Justice Sparks’ historic appointment to the Nova Scotia Family Court judiciary in 1987 marked a significant milestone for Black representation in the Canadian legal system, and one of many firsts. She was the first in her family to attend university, the first Black judge in Nova Scotia, the first woman Black judge in Canada, and she co-created the first all-woman law firm in Nova Scotia. It was the start of a legal journey that would change the course of Canadian legal history in the 1995 R v. S (R.D.) case.

Her journey began in Lake Loon — a small, segregated community in rural Nova Scotia — where she experienced the challenges of an underfunded and segregated education system. Despite these obstacles, Justice Sparks forged ahead, graduating from Mount Saint Vincent University with a degree in economics, and later earning from Dalhousie University a Bachelor of Law degree, followed by a Master of Law degree in 2001.

She served on the Canadian Bar Association’s Gender Equity Task Force and was the 2020 recipient of the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service. She was instrumental in launching the judicial mentorship initiative at Dalhousie to support African Nova Scotians and Indigenous lawyers in applying to become a judge. She lectures globally, teaching with the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute.

In her own words, Justice Sparks eloquently captures the essence of her judicial philosophy, stating:

You are dealing with human beings. In order to be an effective judge you need to employ many skills on a daily basis. You need knowledge of the law, human compassion, and empathy. . . .

This commitment to balancing legal expertise, a deep understanding of servant leadership and the social context of the law defined her career and made her a respected figure in the legal community.

After 34 years of dedicated service, she retired from the bench, but continues her service as a commissioner with the Nova Scotia Land Titles Initiative, adjudicating land claims for clear title over land in five historic African-Nova Scotian communities.

In closing, colleagues, although I stand to recognize Justice Corrine Sparks’ achievements during Black History Month, let us realize that this is Canadian history, and that as we share our stories with each other, we can become what we imagine — a truly equitable and inclusive society.

Thank you, meegwetch.