We are honoured to share that FCJ Refugee Centre Board of Directors’ President, Sharry Aiken, is the 2025 recipient of the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) J. Shirley Denison Award, bestowed annually in recognition of significant contributions to access to justice and/or poverty issues.

“For more than 30 years, Aiken has been a steadfast advocate for human rights and access to justice for the most marginalized members of society — in her scholarship, the classroom, the courtroom, and the public square,” said in a statement Queen’s University, where Aiken is a professor.

“Aiken has made exceptional contributions to advancing social justice, human rights, and access to justice for individuals and communities across Canada throughout her career,” the University added.

Reflecting on this recognition of her work, and quoted by Queen’s University, Aiken stated: “This award is not ‘my’ award. It is rather a testament to all the incredible people, campaigns, and organizations I’ve had the great privilege of working with and supporting over the course of my career.” She also said that she views the award as a testament to her late mother, “who was a fierce and courageous advocate herself and the best possible role model.”

Following is the full announcement of the 2025 J. Shirley Denison award:

Called to the Bar in 1986, Professor Aiken has distinguished herself as an advocate, legal scholar, teacher and community leader.

In the 1990s, she was the director of a legal literacy project in Sioux Lookout and then worked as a staff lawyer in South Etobicoke Legal Services and the Refugee Law Office in Toronto.

In 2002, she joined the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University as a full-time professor. At Queen’s, she has been an award-winning educator as well as the architect and founding academic director of a new graduate diploma in immigration and citizenship law – an innovative online program that has significantly raised the bar on education, skills training and professionalism for immigration consultants.

Professor Aiken’s leadership in the non-profit sector has been transformative, from guiding the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic through organizational change to serving as co-chair of the Equality Rights Program of the Court Challenges Program of Canada to decades of service with the Canadian Council for Refugees, including serving as president and Legal Affairs Committee co-chair.

She is currently president of the FCJ Refugee Centre, a refugee-and migrant-serving agency that was recognized with the City of Toronto Community Champion Award in 2023.

Across their disparate mandates, these organizations share the common goals of making a difference in the lives of equity-seeking individuals while working to amplify and empower marginalized voices and advance systemic change. Professor Aiken’s leadership of these organizations has made a profound difference for the many communities they serve.

Sharry Aiken, who worked closely with late FCJ Refugee Centre co-director Francisco Rico-Martínez on the “Refugee Help in Refugee Hands” workshops, has been a member of the Board of Directors of the FCJ Refugee Centre since 2021 and has served as President since 2023.

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Read more: Aiken honoured for access to justice leadership (Queen’s University)