Barrister / Solicitor / Notary Public, Private Practice, Toronto, ON. Born: UK (raised in Guyana until 19, then immigrated to Canada).
Selwyn A. Pieters is a progressive sole practitioner lawyer committed to providing the highest quality legal services in a respectful and supportive environment. He is also an activist involved in human and civil rights litigation. He’s held positions in the Ontario and Federal Civil Service including registry officer at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Federal Court, refugee protection officer at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, correctional officer,volunteer probation, and parole officer with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services before pursuing his legal career.
Selwyn has a long history representing clients in matters involving human rights law, civil litigation, criminal law, labour and employment law matters. He has been engaged in the representation of clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, The Federal Court, Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and the Ontario Labour Relations Board in a wide variety of matters that touch upon constitutional and Charter of Rights litigation, human rights, administrative law and regulatory law. He has significant experience in Highway Traffic Act offences, extensive experience in community outreach, capacity building, policy development and investigation.
Honours: Gordon Cressy Award for Student Leadership (1997); nominated for the J.S. Woodsworth award (2000); Award of Distinction, Association of Black Law Enforcers (2002); Vision and Leadership Award, Network for Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice (2006); inclusion in Who’s Who in Black 2 (2006); Race Relations Award, Urban Alliance on Race Relations (2007).
Reviews: Online, print, radio, TV; was the subject of Selwyn, a National Film Board short film (2005).
Education: LLB, Osgoode Hall, York University (2003); BA, Criminology, University of Toronto (1997).
Motto: Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
Favourite book? Derrick A. Bell’s Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth. It’s about work/life balance and living and working ethically.
Favourite quote? “The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.” – Khalil Abdul-Malik
Given the chance, what would you love to do that you haven’t done yet? Travel to China, Vietnam, Hong King and Japan.
Who inspires you? Thurgood Marshall, Derrick Bell, Barack Obama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Why do you do what you do? It’s in my DNA.
Contact: Website