Supreme Court of Canada – 150 Years
The University of Ottawa Faculty of Law is working on creating a multimedia learning experience for the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2025. The project aims to produce an ecosystem of interactive media that will showcase the history and workings of the Court, allowing Canadians to learn more about the role of this important institution in Canadian society.
A multidisciplinary team, working at the intersection of research, education, and media production, is currently developing multimedia content that will be integrated, either in whole or in part, into two innovative digital platforms.
Producer Étienne Trépanier presents the main focuses of this ambitious legal knowledge mobilization project currently being developed at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.
An interactive digital experience at the Supreme Court of Canada
This interactive virtual experience will allow Canadians to immerse themselves in a realistic digital environment that replicates the iconic Supreme Court of Canada building. Participants will be able to explore and navigate through a virtual replica of the Court and take part in a short, playful adventure.
This component of the project is being developed by Jurivision in collaboration with the creative team at Studio Affordance.
An innovative open online course on the history and functioning of the Court
This modern and accessible open online course will be based on interviews with judges, scholars, legal professionals, and litigants. This "visual course" will allow Canadians to discover the structure and functioning of the Court as a legal institution and learn more about the experience of a hearing at the Supreme Court of Canada. Learners will be exposed to the Court's internal workings and will be able to explore some of the important and groundbreaking decisions made by the Court over its 150-year history.
This component of the project is being developed by Jurivision in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of academics, educational technologists, and audiovisual creators.
OUR PARTNERS
This initiative is made possible through the financial support and collaboration of our institutional and creative partners.
We need to do more to provide legal information to citizens in courthouses, through justice organizations, and also online. With the technology and communication tools available today, we have access to a wide range of ways to improve access to information.
- The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada was established by an Act of Parliament in 1875. As the highest appellate court in the country since 1949, it has the authority to adjudicate disputes in all areas of law. Its judges rule on a wide range of issues, including child support, criminal law, corporate restructuring, treaties, and constitutional rights. The Court hears cases in both French and English and applies both Quebec civil law and common law, while also considering Indigenous legal traditions. Most cases come from provincial, territorial, federal, and military appellate courts.
This institution stands at the pinnacle of Canada's judiciary, one of the three branches of government. Since its creation, its role and composition have evolved significantly. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the Court's evolution, from its early days under the authority of the British Privy Council to its current position as Canada's highest court.
Canadians are invited to celebrate an institution that, for 150 years, has played an impartial and independent role as the guardian of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the rights and freedoms of all. In 2025, we will honor one of the world's most esteemed courts.
PRODUCTION TEAM
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