Landscape photo of the city of Thunder Bay

Visit to Thunder Bay, Ontario

On November 17 and 18, Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justices Malcolm Rowe and Michelle O’Bonsawin will participate in a unique visit to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Through various events and activities, judges will meet with members of the legal and academic communities and engage with students, the public and the media. Participants will have a chance to learn more about the Court and reflect on how its decisions have shaped our democracy.

Building on the success of the Court’s visits to Winnipeg in 2019 and Quebec City in 2022, this is the last in a series of 5 visits that took place throughout 2025 as part of the Supreme Court’s 150th anniversary commemorations. Members of the Court had highly productive visits to Victoria, British Columbia in February, to Moncton, New Brunswick in March, to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in September, and to Sherbrooke, Quebec in October.

Visit schedule

Monday, November 17 Tuesday, November 18

Media availability

A media availability will be held. Preregistration is required. Journalists may contact media@scc-csc.ca for more information.

Visit to the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic

Welcome ceremony and public event at the Thunder Bay Courthouse

Members of the public are invited to attend–either in person or online–a welcoming ceremony with Indigenous leaders, followed by a special public forum with judges of the Supreme Court of Canada. This event will take place on Monday, November 17, at 9:30 am at the Thunder Bay Courthouse. Questions for the judges can be submitted prior to the event. Read more about the public event.

Visit with law students from Lakehead University

Judges will meet with students and faculty members at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University.

Visits with local secondary school students

Justices will interact with local secondary school students and answer their questions on our judicial system. Read more about meetings with young people.

Event with the local legal community

Judges will take part in an event with members of the local legal community.

Event with the local judiciary

Judges will take part in an event with representatives from local courts.

Beyond the bench: a dialogue with Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada is one of the country’s most significant institutions. Judges have the responsibility of deciding legal issues of public importance, and their decisions have an impact on the lives of all Canadians.

How do the judges of the Supreme Court decide Canada’s most difficult legal questions?

Chief Justice Richard Wagner, Justices Malcolm Rowe and Michelle O’Bonsawin will explore this and more at a free town hall-style public event.

With decades of experience between them, the judges will answer questions from the public on a wide range of topics, such as:

  • What does it mean to be a judge? How did your career path lead you to where you are today?
  • How does the Court balance competing rights and opposing interests?
  • How do you maintain the Court’s independence and integrity, in light of pressures in society today?
  • What are some of the challenges and opportunities facing judges, and how do you approach them?

Submit your questions to ThunderBay150@scc-csc.ca and you could have them answered directly by judges of the Supreme Court.

Date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Thunder Bay Courthouse, 125 Brodie St. North, Thunder Bay, ON

Reserve your seat today or register to attend this event online: ThunderBay150@scc-csc.ca.

The event will begin with a welcoming ceremony with Indigenous leaders.

Please note that this is not a legal information clinic and the judges will not be able to give legal advice or answer questions about specific cases.

Journalists and official photographers will be on site and you may, therefore, be photographed.

Photos taken during the event may be used on the Court’s social media platforms, its website and various publications.

Download a PDF version of the invitation.

Engaging with young people

In addition to the public session, judges will also meet with students from local secondary schools and from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University.

“Building trust in the justice system begins with education,” says Chief Justice Richard Wagner. “We are excited for the community to learn more about the Court and how it serves them. See you in Thunder Bay!”

Latest news

  • November 19, 2025

    On their second day in Thunder Bay, Justice Côté joined Justices Rowe and O’Bonsawin during a visit to the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic to better understand the work it does to support access to justice. They then headed to the Faculty of Law at Lakehead University to meet with students and faculty members. The judges had compelling conversations with students about judicial independence, constitutional law and Indigenous law. To end the day, the judges exchanged with the local legal community. Thank you to all for a great visit!

    Justices Rowe and Côté listen to speakers at the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic
    Group photo of the judges with representatives from the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic.
    Justice Côté and Chief Justice of Ontario Michael Tulloch speak to students in a classroom at Lakehead University.
    Justice Rowe and representatives from local courts speak to students in a classroom at Lakehead University.
    Justice O’Bonsawin speaks to Lakehead University students in a large room with Indigenous decorations.
    Group photo of the judges with representatives from the Lakehead University Faculty of Law.
    Justice Côté and Chief Justice Tulloch speak on stage during a reception.
    Justices Rowe and O’Bonsawin speak on stage during a reception.
    Group photo of the judges with representatives from the local legal community.
    Chief Justice Wagner and Chief Justice Tulloch shaking hands.

  • November 18, 2025

    Yesterday, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Rowe and O’Bonsawin were delighted to connect with so many people during their first day in Thunder Bay. The judges took questions from the media about the work of the Court and its 150th anniversary. At the welcome ceremony and public event, the judges had fascinating exchanges with many of you on topics such as access to justice and judicial independence. The judges also had the opportunity to visit local secondary schools to speak to students about their career paths and the role of the Supreme Court of Canada. They concluded the day engaging with members of the local judicial community.

    The judges and Chief Justice of Ontario Michael Tulloch take questions from the media in a conference room.
    The judges, Chief Justice Tulloch and Senior Regional Justice Danial Newton watch from a stage while Indigenous drummers and jingle dancers perform.
    Chief Justice Wagner, Justice Rowe and Justice O’Bonsawin sitting on stage during the public event.
    Justice O’Bonsawin speaks to high school students in a school gym.
    Justice Rowe standing at a podium in front of a classroom of students.
    The Chief Justice takes questions from students in a classroom.
    The judges sitting in a conference room with representatives from local courts.
    Representatives from local courts discuss in a conference room.
    Justice Rowe discusses with members of the local judiciary during a reception.
    The Chief Justice discusses with members of the local judiciary during a reception.

  • Media advisory of November 10, 2025
    Itinerary for the Supreme Court of Canada Visit to Thunder Bay

  • News release of November 3, 2025
    Supreme Court of Canada justices to visit Thunder Bay as part of 150th anniversary commemorations

  • News release of October 3, 2024
    Supreme Court of Canada will commemorate its 150th anniversary in 2025