Angela Swan is a lawyer, author and educator who has been practising law in Ontario since the 1960s. With over 50 years of experience, Angela has received numerous accolades for her work. She is a 2021 recipient of an honorary degree from McGill University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the Law Society of Ontario in 2019. She received the Ontario Bar Association’s 2016 Award for Distinguished Service. Her book Canadian Contract Law, which was awarded the Walter Owen Book Prize in 2007, is used in law school classrooms around the country and has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada on a number of occasions.

In 2008, Angela announced that she is a transgender woman and she made the transition to live her life in accordance with her gender identity. She did this with complete transparency amongst her colleagues, friends and family. Angela is a true trailblazer within the legal profession and is a humble leader in the broader transgender community. A well-respected lawyer and a loving parent and grandparent, Angela is an inspiration to all.

One person that is especially proud of Angela is her daughter, Ellen Swan. Ellen supported Angela's journey while embarking on her own career in the legal sector. She proudly followed in Angela’s legal footsteps and became a lawyer in 2005. Her experience includes working in private practice at leading firms within Canada and abroad, and as Corporate Counsel at The Home Depot Canada. Today, Ellen is an experienced lawyer representing clients on commercial and civil litigation, employment and human rights matters.

Join us for an interview with Angela and Ellen as they share their perspectives on transgender inclusion in the Canadian legal community.