Landscape photo of the city of Sherbrooke

Visit to Sherbrooke, Quebec

From October 21 to 23, 2025, Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justices Mahmud Jamal and Mary T. Moreau will participate in a unique visit to Sherbrooke, Quebec.

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 4th in a series of 5 visits planned 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, and to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in September.

Visit schedule

Tuesday, October 21 Wednesday, October 22 Thursday, October 23

Media availability

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

Visit to the legal clinic and meeting with the students and the administration of the École du Barreau

Visits with students

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

Visit with law students from Université de Sherbrooke

Judges will meet with students and faculty members at the Faculty of Law at the Université de Sherbrooke.

Visit to the Palais de justice of Sherbrooke

Visit with community organizations at City Hall

Event with the legal community

Judges will meet with members of the local legal community.

Visit with elected Chief and Councillors of the Odanak Abenaki

Public event

Members of the public are invited to take part in this special public forum on Wednesday, October 22, at Bishop University, at 5 p.m. Questions for the judges can be submitted prior to the event. Read more about the public event.

Event with local dignitaries at Bishop’s University

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 Mahmud Jamal and Mary T. Moreau 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 Sherbrooke150@scc-csc.ca and you could have them answered directly by judges of the Supreme Court.

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Centennial Theatre, Bishop’s University, 2600 College St., Sherbrooke, Que., J1M 1Z7

Reserve your seat today.

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 schools and universities, including the Université de Sherbrooke and Bishop’s 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 Sherbrooke!”

Latest news

  • October 24, 2025

    During their last day in Sherbrooke, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Jamal and Moreau answered questions from local high school and CEGEP students about their career paths and the role of the Supreme Court of Canada. Later, the judges met with representatives from local community organizations to learn more about their work and initiatives aimed at improving access to justice. Thank you to all for a great visit!

    The Chief Justice of Canada, Chief Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal Manon Savard, and representatives from the Séminaire de Sherbrooke speak to an audience of students.
    Justice Jamal speaks to students in a classroom.
    Justice Moreau speaks to students in an auditorium.
    Close-up of Justice Moreau speaking with 2 students.
    The judges sitting at a podium in an auditorium.
    The Chief Justice speaking to an audience from a podium.
    Justice Jamal speaking with a representative from a community organization.
    A group photo of the judges with representatives from community organizations.
    Marie-Pierre Robert, Dean of the Université de Sherbrooke Faculty of Law, admires a painting given by the Supreme Court.

  • October 23, 2025

    On their second day in Sherbrooke, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Jamal and Moreau visited the École du Barreau and the Palais de justice, where they met with members of the local bar and judiciary. They then had meaningful discussions with Indigenous students at Bishop’s University, focusing on their lived realities, academic journeys, and successes. Later, during a public event, the judges answered your questions about the role and workings of the Supreme Court of Canada.

    The Chief Justice speaks at an event at the École du Barreau.
    The Chief Justice listens to a discussion at an event at the École du Barreau.
    The Chief Justice smiles during a discussion at the École du Barreau.
    A group photo of the judges and representatives from the local bar and judiciary.
    The Chief Justice shakes hands with Vicky Boldo of Bishop’s University.
    Justice Moreau shakes hands with Vicky Boldo while Justice Jamal looks on.
    The judges discuss with Indigenous students around a table.
    Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Bishop’s University, speaks to the audience during the public event.
    The judges and Sébastien Lebel-Grenier sitting on stage during the public event.
    Close-up of the judges and Sébastien Lebel-Grenier sitting on stage during the public event.

  • October 22, 2025

    Yesterday, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Jamal and Moreau were delighted to connect with so many people during their first day in Sherbrooke. The judges visited the Faculty of Law at the Université de Sherbrooke to meet with law students and faculty members. They then took questions from the students about the work of the Court and its 150th anniversary. They concluded the day engaging with members of the local legal community.

    The Chief Justice shakes hands with a representative from Université de Sherbrooke while Justices Jamal and Moreau look on.
    The Chief Justice speaking with Jean-Pierre Perreault, rector of the Université de Sherbrooke.
    A group photo of the judges with faculty members from the Université de Sherbrooke Faculty of Law.
    The judges take questions from Université de Sherbrooke law students in an auditorium.
    The Chief Justice, Justices Jamal and Moreau, and Chief Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal Manon Savard take questions from law students.
    The Chief Justice and Justice Jamal speak with students at the Université de Sherbrooke legal aid clinic
    The Chief Justice and Justices Jamal and Moreau speak with staff at the Université de Sherbrooke law library.
    The Chief Justice speaking with Marie-Pierre Robert, Dean of the Université de Sherbrooke Faculty of Law.
    The judges sit on stage with other guests while Marie-Pierre Robert addresses the audience at a reception.
    The judges sit on stage with other guests while Marie-Pierre Robert addresses the audience at a reception.

  • Media advisory of October 8, 2025
    Itinerary for the Supreme Court of Canada Visit to Sherbrooke

  • News release of September 23, 2025
    Supreme Court of Canada justices to visit Sherbrooke as part of 150th anniversary commemorations

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