The Law Society of Upper Canada has recognized Edwarda De Oliveira Castro (Dena) for her extraordinary dedication and exemplary work ethic as a paralegal at a criminal law firm.

She received the 2017 William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award at the Law Society’s annual awards ceremony on May 24th.

“To the Law Society benchers, to the awards committee, to its members, I sincerely thank you for the privilege of this award,” she said at the ceremony.

Licensed in 2012, Dena Castro is a paralegal at the Antoniani Law Professional Corporation in Hamilton, where she assists in prosecuting cases.

She played a critical role in establishing the Drug Treatment Court Program for the Ontario Court of Justice in Hamilton, which offers offenders who are suffering from substance abuse an opportunity to engage in rehabilitation programs. She is the Executive Administrator as well as a member of the Steering and Strategic Planning Committee.

She also volunteers at numerous community and charitable organizations in Hamilton, including The Good Shepherd, Hamilton Environmental Initiatives, Hamilton Victory Gardens, and Stoney Creek Athletics.

The Distinguished Paralegal Award was created in 2011, and was renamed in 2014 in honour of William J. Simpson. It recognizes a paralegal who has demonstrated one or more of the following criteria:

outstanding professional achievement;
contribution to the development of the profession;
devotion to professional duties;
adherence to best practices and mentoring of others in best practices;
a history of community service;
personal character that brings credit to the paralegal profession.