– Professor Dhanam Kissoon celebrates 30 years of distinguished service to the legal profession
By Frederick Halley
GUYANA-born Touch Professor Dhanam Kissoon recently celebrated 30 years in the legal profession in Canada, and among those who warmly congratulated him in a commemorative magazine on the auspicious occasion was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ontario premiere, Doug Ford; Toronto Mayor John Tory; Toronto Police Service; The Faculty of Law at Queen’s University, where he is still teaching and the Brampton Rotary Club, also extended their congratulations. In his congratulatory message, Prime Minister Trudeau said “The legal profession has benefited greatly from your honesty, experience and knowledge. As a lawyer for the past 30 years, you have fought to promote equality and justice for all while representing your clients with integrity and compassion. In addition to your highly regarded legal career, you have devoted your time to various community initiatives that benefit so many individuals. Over your many years teaching at the Queen’s University Faculty of Law, you have grown the confidence and admiration of your students.
Your commitment to educating the lawyers of the future has won you numerous teaching awards. Thank you for everything you have done to inspire the next generation of legal minds. Please accept my best wishes for your future endeavors. “According to Premier Ford,” Members of the legal profession play an important role in protecting our rights, freedoms and institutions, protecting the welfare of all, and ensuring a fair and just society. Mr Kissoon, I congratulate you on this significant milestone. With dedication and skill, you have represented clients in the fields of immigration and criminal law. You have also found time to give back to the Guyanese community, as well as the wider community, through charity work. In addition, you have shared your knowledge and experience with the next generation of lawyers and legal professionals. You are a role model to your colleagues and a pillar in the community. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. “
EXECUTIVE WORK
Toronto Mayor John Tory said “The milestone anniversary is a chance to look back at the impressive work of Mr. Kissoon in criminal law and immigration. Thank you for your dedicated efforts to protect your clients over the past three decades. Congratulations on starting your company, Kissoon and Associates, in 2000, after a stint on Bay Street. Your practice has also helped many people in the areas of real estate law, family law and corporate commercial law. I also commend you for passing on your specialist knowledge to future lawyers, at Queen’s University for the past 27 years. On behalf of the Toronto City Council, I offer my best wishes on this significant anniversary and continued success. ”
The board and members of the Brampton Flower City Centenary Rotary Club, of which Kissoon is an ardent member and past president, pointed out that Kissoon was a founding member of the club where he held the position of club President twice, in 2005 and again 2015. The club added: You are an inspiration to others. Your dedication to your work is outstanding. Thank you for making a difference. Mr. Kissoon, we commend you, and wish you continued success in your coming years. “
Professor and Dean of Law at Queen’s University, Mark Walters, also congratulated Professor Kissoon.
“This is a wonderful milestone for you. This year marks not only the anniversary of an important achievement, but gives us a moment to reflect on the contributions to Canadian society in the thirty years between them.
“Over three decades, you have served skill and integrity to your clients. You have for 30 years been an educator. For three decades, law students at Queen’s University have benefited from your commitment to teaching, especially your ‘Canadian Racism and Legal Culture’ course. In response, students have honored you with the Law Students Association / Stan Corbett Award on four occasions, ”said Professor Walters.
There are now more than 20 lawyers in the Kissoon family worldwide, one of whom is Dhaman’s uncle, Nandram, a retired Court of Appeal judge in Guyana. The latest example of the Kissoon family’s legal practice activities is Dhaman’s own son, Navan, who was called to the Ontario Bar in June 2020.