Legal Aid Ontario appoints new president to Indigenous Services Dept

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has created the Indigenous Services Department, appointing Fallon Melander as its associate vice president, to tackle the disproportionate number of Indigenous peoples in the justice system. This department aims to unify LAO's efforts into a cohesive strategy, enhancing support for Indigenous clients, with Melander's leadership starting April 8.

Melander, who is of Anishinaabe and settler descent from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation, has dedicated over a decade to bridging gaps between Indigenous communities and settler institutions. A lawyer since 2011, her career includes leading LAO's Aboriginal justice strategy, developing Metrolinx’s Indigenous Relations Office for Ontario's transportation planning, and advising on Indigenous engagement at Sheridan College. She holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa.

The Indigenous Services Department, central to LAO's reconciliation actions, seeks to deliver services more effectively to Indigenous clients by aligning with the Aboriginal justice strategy and LAO's reconciliation action plan. In January, LAO also entered a service agreement with Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS), a key Indigenous legal services provider since 1990, under the Legal Aid Services Act 2020, to further support legal and justice-related services for Indigenous communities.