Landscape photo of the city of Yellowknife

Visit to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

On September 14 and 15, 2025, Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justices Nicholas Kasirer and Michelle O’Bonsawin will participate in a unique visit to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

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 third 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, and to Moncton, New Brunswick in March.

Visit schedule

Sunday, September 14 Monday, September 15
Media availability
A media availability will be held. Preregistration is required. Journalists may contact media@scc-csc.ca for more information. 		Meeting with employees of the Wellness Court and the Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Option Court
Public event
Members of the public are invited to take part in this special public forum on Sunday, September 14, at 10 am. Questions for the judges can be submitted prior to the event. Read more about the public event. 		Visit 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.
Visit with Elders at the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation Camp Visit with students and members of the debating club at the Courthouse
Event with the legal community
Judges will take part in an event with members of the local legal community. 		Event with new lawyers
Judges will interact with lawyers recently called to the bar.

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, Justice Nicholas Kasirer and Justice 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 Yellowknife150@scc-csc.ca and you could have them answered directly by judges of the Supreme Court.

Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
Time: 10 am
Location: Legislative Assembly, 4570 48th St., Yellowknife, N.W.T., X1A 2L9

Reserve your seat today: Yellowknife150@scc-csc.ca.

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, participate in a mock trial and talk with lawyers recently called to the bar.

“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 Yellowknife!”

Latest news

  • September 16, 2025

    On their second day in Yellowknife, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin met with employees of the Wellness Court and the Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Option Court to better understand the work of these specialized courts. They then exchanged with local secondary school students and answered their questions on a wide range of topics. Students from the debating club impressed the judges with their advocacy skills during a mock trial at the Yellowknife Courthouse. The day concluded with an informal dinner with new lawyers. Thank you to the local organizing committee for helping make this event such a success!

    The organizing committee

    A group photo of Chief Justice Wagner, Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin, and the Yellowknife organizing committee.

    Meeting with employees of the Wellness Court and the Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Option Court

    Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin sitting around a table with employees of the Wellness Court and the Intimate Partner Violence Treatment Option Court.

    Visits to local secondary schools

    Chief Justice Wagner speaking to students in a classroom.
    Justice Kasirer, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Shannon Smallwood and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories Ritu Khullar speaking to students in a classroom.
    Justice O’Bonsawin speaking to students in a school gym.

    Mock trial with students from the debating club

    Chief Justice Wagner and Chief Justice Khullar sitting at a courtroom bench.
    Students from the debate club participating in a mock trial in a courtroom.
    Justice Kasirer and Justice O’Bonsawin sitting at the courtroom bench during the mock trial.

    Event with new lawyers

    Chief Justice Wagner speaking to new lawyers at a reception.
    Justice Kasirer speaking to a new lawyer at a reception.
    Justice O’Bonsawin speaking to a new lawyer at a reception.

  • September 15, 2025

    Yesterday, Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin were delighted to connect with many people during their first day in Yellowknife. The judges took questions from the media about the work of the Court and its 150th anniversary in 2025. They then met with the public and discussed the Court’s role, judicial independence and access to justice. The judges also had the opportunity to speak with Elders at the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation camp to learn more about the practice and benefits of land-based healing. They concluded the day engaging with members of the local legal community.

    Media availability

    Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin speaking at a table.
    Chief Justice Wagner, Justice Kasirer, Justice O’Bonsawin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Shannon Smallwood and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories Ritu Khullar speaking to the media.

    Public event at the Legislative Assembly

    Chief Justice Wagner, Justice Kasirer, Justice O’Bonsawin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Shannon Smallwood and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories Ritu Khullar speaking on stage during the public event.
    Chief Justice Wagner, Justice Kasirer, Justice O’Bonsawin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Shannon Smallwood and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories Ritu Khullar speaking on stage during the public event.

    Visit with Elders at the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation Camp

    Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin listening to an Elder speak in a tent.
    Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Kasirer and O’Bonsawin listening to an Elder speak in a tent.
    A group photo of Chief Justice Wagner, Justice Kasirer, Justice O’Bonsawin, Justice Smallwood and Justice Khullar with Elders from the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation, in front of a tent.

    Event with the legal community

    Justice O’Bonsawin speaking with members of the legal community at a reception.
    Justice Kasirer speaking with a member of the legal community at a reception.
    Chief Justice Wagner answering questions during a reception with the legal community.

  • Media advisory of September 4, 2025
    Itinerary for the Supreme Court of Canada Visit to Yellowknife

  • News release of August 6, 2025
    Supreme Court of Canada justices to visit Yellowknife as part of 150th anniversary commemorations

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