The Canadian Bar Association – Yukon Branch (CBAY) was unable to hold its Law Day Fun Run and Walk last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 event would have marked the Law Day Fun Run and Walk’s 30th anniversary. Although meeting in a crowd goes against public health guidelines, the CBAY moved the run, or walk, online so the 30th could be celebrated.

“We had cool stuff planned for the 30th anniversary,” said CBAY president Sylvie McCallum Rougerie. “We ended up having to cancel everything.”

The Law Day Fun Run and Walk is a charity event. Each year, a different charity is chosen to receive funds raised from sponsorships and donations to the run.

The recipient this year is the Yukon Conservation Society – which was the chosen charity for the cancelled 2020 event.

“It is the same charity,” said McCallum Rougerie. “We had the theme of climate justice chosen so we rolled everything over. We are happy to keep them as our charity.

“We hope to make a significant contribution to the Yukon Conservation Society because we couldn’t last year.”

The Law Run has already begun. Participants have from April 17 to May 17 to run or walk the five-kilometre distance anywhere they like.

Registration is $25 and those interested can sign up at lawday.eventbrite.ca. The link can also be found on the Canadian Bar Association - Yukon Branch Facebook page.

McCallum Rougerie said all funds, except a few dollars to Eventbrite, go directly to the charity. The CBAY receives none of the raised money.

The Law Run tends to be the first race of the season and people are keen to get out and run and walk the five kilometres, said McCallum Rougerie.

“Pre-COVID, it was a popular event every year,” said McCallum Rougerie. “It is a way for the CBAY to reach out to our community. Most of our activities are for our members but this highlights the links of the legal community to the broader community.”

McCallum Rougerie said the run usually gets 100 registrants. The first 100 people will receive some swag they can pick up at the law library.

“This year, instead of t-shirts we have tote bags,” said McCallum Rougerie. “They are more useful and environmentally conscious.”

McCallum Rougerie said there were big plans in 2020 for the 30th anniversary. Some of the ideas had to be cancelled, but she said there is still an exciting Zoom talk anyone can attend.

“We will still be doing our speaker event,” said McCallum Rougerie. “Chris Rider of CPAWS Yukon and Kluane Adamek, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Yukon Regional Chief, will be the speakers.

“It will be a conversation to highlight the role that law can play in tackling environmental challenges.”

The talk will be from noon to 1 p.m. Those interesting in registering can email cbayukon@northwestel.net.

After completing a five-kilometre run or walk, McCallum Rougerie said people are encouraged to share their photos on Facebook with CBAY’s page.