FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto – March 10, 2025
Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) is pleased to announce a generous donation from Torkin Manes to establish The Ron Manes Justice in Action Fund in honour of Ronald D. Manes, a founding partner of the firm and a key figure in the creation of PBO. This gift comes as Ron is awarded an honorary doctorate from the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and access to justice.
Ron played a pivotal role in launching PBO in 2001 and served on its inaugural Board of Directors. In honour of his enduring commitment to legal services for low-income Ontarians with nowhere else to turn for their unmet legal needs, PBO will use the donation to relaunch its court-based programs for unrepresented litigants, which have been paused since 2020 due to the pandemic.
In April 2025, PBO will restart its Amicus Program at the Court of Appeal. This program provides unrepresented litigants with assistance from volunteer lawyers who serve as “friends of the court,” helping them navigate procedural complexities and improving the administration of justice. PBO also hopes this donation will act as seed funding to expand services back into other courts where it previously provided duty counsel, including small claims court.
“Ron has always championed access to justice,” said Lynn Burns, Ron’s spouse and former Executive Director of PBO. “He believes deeply in making the legal system fairer for those without representation, and this donation will continue the work he started more than two decades ago.”
Sarah Armstrong, Chair of PBO’s Board of Directors, expressed gratitude for the donation and its impact: “This gift is a testament to Ron’s longstanding commitment to pro bono and will help us provide desperately needed services for unrepresented litigants. It is a step toward fulfilling our shared vision of ensuring 100% access to justice in this province.”
Jeffrey I. Cohen, Managing Partner at Torkin Manes, emphasized the firm’s commitment to the work done by Pro Bono Ontario: “We are proud to honour Ron by supporting PBO’s vital work. His continued dedication to public service is an inspiration to us and the broader legal community, and we hope this contribution helps advance the mission of making legal services more accessible to those who need them most.”
PBO extends its heartfelt thanks to Torkin Manes for this meaningful contribution and looks forward to working with the legal community to expand access to justice in the courts. To donate to The Ron Manes Justice in Action Fund in honour of Ron receiving his Honourary Doctorate, please visit: www.probonoontario.org/donate (select Fund #3).
Ron Manes
About PBO: Pro Bono Ontario is an access to justice charity that leverages lawyers’ skills and goodwill to help low-income Ontarians address the civil legal challenges that interfere with their ability to lead secure, healthy and productive lives. PBO is generously funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario.
For more information, please contact:
Kirsti McHenry, Executive Director
Pro Bono Ontario
416-977-4448 ext. 914
kirsti@probonoontario.org
www.probonoontario.org
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