Calgary Courts Centre open to public for Law Day

Throngs of onlookers watched as Cinderella, Batman and the minions from the movie Despicable Me stood trial Saturday at the Calgary Courts Centre.

The mock trials were all part of the 34th annual Calgary Law Day festivities, in which members of the public were invited to the Calgary courthouse to get a glimpse of the legal system in a “fun, interactive environment.”

“Oftentimes, when people come to the courthouse, it’s not for a good reason and it’s not necessarily a pleasant experience for people,” said Sylvie Welsh, Calgary Law Day committee co-chair.

Activities included self-guided tours of the building, including the holding cells and the high security courtroom, as well as displays and booths. 

Featured exhibitors included the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking Alberta (ACT Alberta), the Alberta Securities Commission, Calgary Crime Stoppers Association, the Calgary Humane Society, the Calgary Public Library, and many more.

But by far, the most popular events were the demonstration trials.

About 4,000 people attended last year’s event, and Welsh said she estimated similar numbers for the 2016 event. The courthouse was already packed by Saturday morning, she added.

On top of all the fun and games, the event also aimed to promote access to justice by offering ask-a-lawyer sessions, Welsh said.

“For 15 to 20 minutes, you get free legal consultation on a variety of legal issues,” she said. 

For those who couldn’t make it, organizers also held a concurrent event called dial-a-lawyer, offering the same 15 to 20-minute legal sessions over the phone. 

cho@postmedia.com

Twitter/clara_ho