Every year, Queen’s Ban Righ Centre supports hundreds of women who have returned to university studies after a break. These students come from diverse backgrounds and have unique stories, but what they have in common is the support network that flows from the centre, across campus and into the Kingston community.

To honour that network, the Ban Righ Foundation, the centre’s volunteer Board of Directors, has established special awards. One is the Ban Righ Foundation Mentorship Award, which recognizes a Queen’s faculty member who has inspired and supported women in achieving their goals.

This 2017 recipient is Karla McGrath, LLM’13, Executive Director of the Queen’s Law Clinics.

“The Ban Righ Foundation is pleased to recognize the significant contributions that Karla … has made to student life at Queen’s and to the community,” says Erin Clow, Equity Advisor, Equity and Human Rights Offices, and co-chair of the foundation’s Board of Directors. “There are so many women at Queen’s and in Kingston who provide incredible amounts of support to others and inspire our students to succeed.”

McGrath, who also teaches children’s law and is the founding director of the Queen’s Family Law Clinic, was nominated by current and former students who described how her mentorship, advice and support helped build their confidence and to thrive, professionally and personally.
 
She will be honoured at the Ban Righ Foundation’s Inspiring Women event on October 20 at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts that will feature musical performances and a talk by Amma Bonsu (Artsci’02, Artsci’03).

“Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Inspiring Women Event, this year’s event is shaping up to be equally as dynamic and entertaining,” says Clow. “Event attendees will be treated to a night filled with music, laughter and community building.”

Founded in 1974, the Ban Righ Centre at 32 Bader Lane, is a welcoming, safe space and resource centre for mature women students, providing advice, financial assistance, daily soup, female faculty mentors, quiet study spaces, and community. Visit the Ban Righ Centre website for more information.