Tomas Jirousek awarded Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize by Royal Society of Canada

University of Toronto alumnus Tomas Jirousek has been awarded the Royal Society of Canada’s (RSC) Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize for 2023.

The RSC awards 24 prizes to a graduating student in each of Canada’s law schools, who will significantly impact equity and social justice in Canada or globally. Each recipient receives $1,000.

Established by the RSC in 2022, the prize honours Abella, a retired Supreme Court of Canada justice and changemaker celebrated for her visionary intellectual contributions and commitment to building equality and equity. Abella is a graduate of U of T’s University College and Faculty of Law.

Jirousek, who graduated from the Faculty of Law’s juris doctor (JD) program this past spring, was a coordinator of the Indigenous Human Rights Program, served as senior editor of the Indigenous Law Journal, and was co-president of both the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA) and Out in Law, an association for 2SLGBTQIA+ law students. Jirousek is currently a clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Founded in 1882, RSC comprises the Academies of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, and The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. The RSC recognizes excellence, advises the government and the larger society, and promotes a culture of knowledge and innovation in Canada and with other national academies around the world.