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- Published: 29 May 2024
We were deeply saddened to learn that the founding Executive Director of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), Judith Wahl, passed away on May 15 in Toronto, after a short battle with cancer.
Judith will be remembered by all for her fierce advocacy for seniors, her lifetime work on the issues of consent, capacity and substitute decision-making which she fought for until the end, her work in supporting legal clinics throughout Ontario, and her refusal to back down from a fight. Judith was a graduate of the University of Toronto (1974) holding a B.A. with Honours in English Language and Literature, and of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University (1977) with an LL.B. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. She articled and spent five years in private practice with the esteemed Toronto law firm Birenbaum, Koffman, Steinberg (now Birenbaum, Steinberg, Landau, Savin & Colraine LLP, founded by the legendary David A. Croll – Canada’s first Jewish senator – and that counted Norman Borins, Stephen Borins, Jerry Birenbaum and Howard Steinberg among its several partners).Judith went on to become the first employee and the founding Executive Director of ACE in 1984. In this role, she set the tone for the work that continues at ACE to this day. Her voice is heard throughout the legal world, whether it be in elder law; health law; consent, capacity and substitute decision-making; long-term care homes; retirement homes; or the many other areas in which she had an impact as Canada’s first elder-law lawyer.
She continued to work on behalf of older adults after her retirement from ACE in 2017, creating Wahl Elder Consulting, and she continued to speak, write and advocate throughout. Judith's visionary leadership transformed a modest legal-aid clinic into a renowned institution with provincial, national, and international recognition for its expertise in elder law. Her unparalleled commitment to safeguarding the rights, interests, dignity and autonomy of older adults has left an indelible mark on the legal and advocacy landscape. Judith's influence extends far beyond the confines of ACE, as evidenced by her pivotal roles in the development of elder law, the development of legislation, and landmark legislative initiatives.
Judith's colleagues at ACE have shared an In Memoriam Announcement that speaks in detail to Judith’s illustrious service to older adults through the development of elder law as a distinct area of legal practice in Canada.
Judith will be missed by all. She made a significant difference in lives of many. Her legacy will live on through the work of ACE, and through her immeasurable contributions to elder law on behalf of seniors everywhere.
