Toronto, ON – The red carpet was out at Toronto’s beautiful Arcadian Court for the 2016 Lexpert™ Zenith Awards: Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Inclusion. Litco Law was honoured to be the only award recipient from Alberta, along with other winners from law firms, law societies, academia, and corporations across Canada.
The firm was founded in 1976 by Larry and Marianne Litwiniuk, and is now run by their sons: Managing partner Todd and Director of Business Development and Marketing Fred. Todd and Fred are committed to continuing the tradition of serving clients of all ethnicities and walks of life. Having grown up in the firm and in the area, the boys and their younger sister Holly were exposed to the foods and traditions of clients who would invite the Litwiniuk family into their homes. The firm itself is the picture of diversity, with nearly 45% of the team being comprised of visible minorities and recent immigrants to Canada, from 7 different countries, speaking 10 different languages.
Todd and COO Kristen Au were both on hand for the event which featured a keynote speech from Dierdre Stanley, Executive VP, General Counsel and Board Secretary for Thompson Rogers.
Litco Law was recognized for serving a multicultural clientele from its location in Calgary’s southeast neighbourhood of Forest Lawn, also known as International Avenue, a vibrant business and residential district. Due to the firm’s longstanding history in Calgary’s most diverse area, many of its clients are new Canadians who speak little English and can be among the most vulnerable members of society. The firm works solely on contingency fees and pays for clients’ disbursements, ensuring that access to justice is available to all regardless of ability to pay.
The tradition of service to the Forest Lawn community continues; since 2014, Fred has served as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the International Avenue Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ). The mission of the BRZ is to promote, improve and create a more pleasant community in which to shop and live, while preserving the unique cultural mosaic of the area. Litco Law is the proud title sponsor of the BRZ’s annual “Best of the East” Stampede breakfast, which showcases unique international breakfast foods. The entire firm volunteers at the event setting up, serving food, cleaning up, and tearing down.
“We are grateful and honoured to have been chosen by the Lexpert panel of judges for this award,” said Fred Litwiniuk.
Within the Calgary area the Litwiniuk family has also supported through membership or sponsorship the Italian Sportsman’s Dinner, the Austrian-Canadian Club, the German-Canadian Club, the Hungarian Canadian Cultural Association, the Slovenian Canadian Club, and St. Stephen’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre.
