Primeau Law
120 Deep River Road K0J 1P0 Deep River, ON, Canada

It is with great excitement that we announce that Dawn Quelch has joined our team here at Primeau Law. Dawn is a Criminal Defence Lawyer with an abundance of experience with vulnerable and marginalized clientele. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University in 2000. Following a Post-Graduate Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing at Centennial College, Dawn worked in the Canadian Publishing industry before earning her LL.B. at Queen's University Faculty of... Law. Having articled at the Office of the Crown Attorney in Kenora, Dawn was called to the bar in 2007. Dawn was born and raised in the small town of Atikokan, Ontario, west of Thunder Bay. For the last 10 years, Dawn has honed her experience in Kingston, Ontario, where she represented her clients at the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice and before the Parole Boards in the Kingston Penitentiaries. Dawn has also represented clients at the ORB and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. She brings an amazing blend of the understanding of rural small town dynamics with a broad experience in criminal, mental health, and prison law. Dawn joins us from Kingston, where she lives with her husband, Colin, and their two daughters. In Spring 2021, Dawn and her family will be moving to the Deep River area to join our community. We are proud to add such a great asset to our team. Please join in welcoming Dawn to our community!

What is Mediation? With Jessica now part of the team, we are able to offer an alternative option to Litigation for our local community. Mediation is a voluntary process whereby two parties discuss their disputes and an impartial third party assists them in reaching a settlement. During Mediation, we address:... Parenting issues Child support Spousal support Property issues If you are curious about Mediation, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Community and creativity are important concepts for Jessica. As an undergraduate student, she was drawn to the idea of law school because of the variety of options a legal education would provide her. She remembers her time at Windsor Law fondly, particularly the supportive, collaborative, and social culture the school worked hard to promote. She maintains that she took her network with her,: a testament to both the school’s ability to foster a community of support and the importance of a social and professional community to her.

Jessica’s focus is on Family Law. Led by Jessica, our Family Law practice is client service-oriented and strives to provide strategic, creative results and efficient and practical resolutions of client family disputes. We are resolution-focused and provide a professional and reasonable approach to our work. Jessica has extensive experience in the field of Family Law representing clients through a range of Family Law dispute resolution processes including Negotiation, Mediati...on, Arbitration, and all Litigation at all levels of Court. At Primeau Law, we now provide legal representation for resolving: Simple Divorces; Decision-making responsibility for child(ren) (custody); Care and parenting time/schedules for child(ren) (access); Child Support; Spousal Support; and, Property issues (including possession, ownership, equalization, and division of property). We also have extensive experience in high-conflict parenting issues, as well as complex and high net worth financial issues. Upon resolution of issues, we can prepare comprehensive: Cohabitation Agreements for unmarried parties, Marriage Contracts for parties intending to marry; Comprehensive Separation Agreements; and, Parenting Agreements. If you need a local Family Lawyer, please contact us at 613-584-4884

Wishing our community a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays! Primeau Law has closed for the holidays and is re-opening January 12. If you have an urgent legal matter, please leave us a voicemail. Otherwise, email [email protected] and we will reply in the new year.

We must open the doors and we must see to it they remain open, so that others can pass through. -Rosemary Brown, politician, activist, and Canada’s first black female member of a provincial legislature September 20 to 26 marks Gender Equality Week in Canada. This week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the important contributions women and gender diverse communities have made to the growth, development, character and identity of Canada; to celebrate the significant ach...ievements and accomplishments that we have made in advancing gender equality; and to reconfirm our commitment to address persistent gender equality gaps in our country. This year’s theme, #BecauseOfYou, celebrates the many trailblazers, activists and advocates who are working to advance gender equality in their communities. Who are you celebrating this week? For more information see: https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/gew-ses/index-en.html

Meet Loralie, our Office Manager here at Primeau Law. Loralie is the friendly face clients meet when they come through our doors. Her kind, cheery and helpful disposition always ensures our clients feel comfortable and at ease. Loralie is proud to say she was born and raised in the Upper Ottawa Valley, and that her life has been deeply rooted in small-community living. After college, she began her career working with at-risk and troubled youth in group homes and closed custod...y facilities in the Ottawa area. After moving back to the Valley, she began a new chapter as an educational assistant with the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board. For 18 years, she tirelessly dedicated herself to the rewarding role of working with students with special needs in the school system. She was also keenly involved in many extra-curricular activities helping provide students of all ages opportunities for success outside the confines of the school day. In 2017, Loralie decided to head back to the classroom; but this time, she was the student. After graduating with honours from the Office Administration Program at Algonquin College, she accepted a position working alongside Jodie Primeau as legal assistant in 2018. Loralie has always taken pride in being a lifelong learner, and has continuously pursued additional courses that assist her in better understanding her life and work experience. Currently, she is studying with the University of Alberta in Indigenous Studies, learning of the rich history as well as past and current challenges that Indigenous people face. She is also working toward her Associate Program Certificate through the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario. I enjoy working at Primeau Law because I love being part of a strong team that is doing meaningful work for people at significant points in their lives. I also appreciate the many opportunities for learning and growing as a professional and as a woman.

Primeau Law is proudly located in Deep River, ON.

Primeau Law is proudly a feminist firm. What does that mean? Feminism, at its very core, examines the inequalities and injustices faced by women and by those not in positions of power in our society. By incorporating feminist values and beliefs into our practice, we are making a promise to work from an anti-oppressive framework. We recognize and challenge the inequalities in society such as violence, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. and approach each of our cas...es with this understanding. We also recognize that the criminal justice process can perpetuate many of these dominant systems of power. As a feminist law firm, we not only fight for the equality of women but for all those who experience discrimination and underrepresentation in our society. We work to empower those we serve, to raise their voices, and to value their experiences. Finally, we bring our feminist values to our workplace. We strive to make the practice of power visible, democratic, legitimate and accountable, at all levels, and in both private and public realms. We embrace a collaborative approach to work, and focus on building diverse and inclusive spaces at work, keeping operations transparent, and doing all we can to acknowledge the needs and desires of everyone our decisions impact.

Why do you represent someone who is guilty? The role of a defence lawyer is to zealously protect the presumption of innocence for each and every client within the bounds of the law. The criminal justice system depends on the competence and diligence of defence lawyers to arrive at a fair and just conclusion. We represent every client we have at bail hearings, trials or guilty plea and sentencing hearings to the best of our ability.

At Primeau law, our actions are always motivated by a client-centered approach. In criminal law, it is important to understand the things that matter most to our clients and prioritize our actions based on the most important aspects of their lives. This is a tailored and holistic approach: no two cases are the same. We approach your case with careful consideration of our client’s individual circumstances to ensure that we minimize the impact a criminal charge has on the rest of your life.

We talk a lot about our wonderful community and community partners. Today we want to thank Natalie Surette Photography for our beautiful new photos. We love working with Natalie and we highly recommend her for any of your photography needs.

Meet Andrea, part of our Primeau Law Team. Andrea is a summer student here at Primeau Law and we are so thrilled to have her. She has always loved mathematics and problem-solving and is now putting those passions to the test while she tackles her next puzzle: choosing which courses she will apply to in University. She will be taking a law course because of her experience with us and we know she is going to rock it! We asked her what she liked about working with Primeau Law a...nd we were blown away by her response: I really respect and appreciate the morals and motives of this corporation and its employees. All of the employees come into the office with the same goal of helping others. I feel honoured and privileged to be trained in and to work in an environment that is built on the foundation of helping the community. The all-female staff provides an empowering atmosphere and we are confident in each other, and most importantly it allows clients to feel confident in us. Another reason why I enjoy working at Primeau Law is that everyone is always learning and growing. Each day, phone calls, greetings, emails, files, etc. bring new questions to the table, as no two matters are the same. The team here is helpful, informative, and encouraging which creates this super powerful learning environment. You walk into this building and feel strength because you know you have a comprehensive and capable team by your side. Thank you for being a part of our empowering team, Andrea. You have a very bright future ahead of you, whichever path you may choose!

The police want to question me about a crime, what should I do? The first thing you need to remember is you have the right to remain silent and you have the right to speak to a lawyer. We often think that lawyers are only called in after someone has been charged but in reality, it is in your best interest to contact them sooner. Your lawyer can protect you from accidentally incriminating yourself, will help you learn about the allegations against you, and will strategize a f...orward-looking plan of defence to minimize the damage and disruption of criminal allegations for you and your family. If the police want to question you and you are not sure what to do, please contact us first at (613) 584-4884

Meet Bree, part of our Primeau Law Team. We have asked her to share a little bit about herself and her time with us: I was born and raised in Renfrew County. Being raised in a small town has taught me a lot about community. This is something that influenced me to pursue a career that would allow me to help others. I’ve worked as a licensed paralegal for the past 7 years primarily in the fields of criminal law, civil litigation and provincial offences. My passion for the law ...really developed during that time and I decided to pursue a career as a lawyer. This fall I will be attending the University of Ottawa Law School, Common Law Faculty. I earned a B.A. (Honours) in Human Rights and Law with a minor in Political Science from Carleton University in 2019. I continued to work as a paralegal throughout my undergraduate degree. I also spent 3 months in Kampala, Uganda interning as a research assistant for a human rights organization. I conducted research and completed regular reports on challenges to an international and democratic world order to assist the United Nations expert on democracy with the preparation of a report for the 39th Regular Session of the Human Rights Counsel. I also undertook research on extra-judicial killings in Uganda in order to assist with policy reform and promoting accountability. I have spent time volunteering locally as well for The Grind, the Renfrew County Mental Health Task Force and for political campaigns. These experiences have reinforced for me the importance of advocacy and improving access to justice. I hold a firm belief that the law is a necessary instrument to uphold rights and protect vulnerable individuals. Outside of work and school I enjoy travelling, bicycling, reading and spending time with friends and family. I enjoy working at Primeau Law because of their commitment to making legal services more accessible to the public, their involvement with the community and the team environment. In the short two months I’ve been here, I’ve learned to be a better team member. Communication is key not only for developing trust with clients, but also for working effectively with colleagues to meet client needs. It is truly a treat to have you on our team Bree and we are excited to see your legal career flourish.

Being charged with a criminal offence is a frightening and isolating experience. In Canada, each person is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Facing the full force of the state's power is absolutely intimidating. Navigating the complexities of the Criminal Justice System is a daunting prospect and not without risk. Barriers such as sexism, systemic racism, and poverty can make access to justice extremely difficult. These barriers contribute to the disproportionate rep...resentation of persons from racialized, marginalized, and low-income communities in the courts of the Criminal Justice System. We stand with our client before the Court and against the State. We fearlessly raise every issue, advance every argument, and ask every question to safeguard our client's innocence. In a very real sense, we stand up for the little guy in a huge system when the risks are great and the pressure is high. See more

This is me on my first day back at the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, says lawyer Jodie Primeau of Deep River ON. Pregnant, vigilant, wearing masks an...d popping buttons! What does your work situation currently look like? Share your back to work photos with us at #canadacovidportrait

We consider our new office to be somewhat of a community hub. We are lucky to share it with local professionals.

If you are one of the couples who opted for an intimate ceremony these past few months, congratulations! We know it probably was not the wedding you expected but we are sure it was beautiful nevertheless. If you are recently married, we would love to discuss your Will and Power of Attorney with you. It is important to draft or update these documents when big life changes occur, such as a legal marriage.

Legal Aid provides access to justice for people with low incomes who cannot afford legal representation, which is required to exercise your right to a fair trial. In other words, without the assistance of Legal Aid, many people would not be able to afford a fair trial. As a criminal defence lawyer, working with Legal Aid Ontario is central to my work. We accept "legal aid certificates," which provide us with a pre-determined amount of compensation for the work we do. Due to ...Legal Aid’s funding limitations, we typically are compensated at a much lower rate than the private work we do and often complete hours of work and even some hearings without any compensation at all. Accepting Legal Aid certificates is an important part of our work. It allows us to serve some of the most financially vulnerable community members and to ensure they can exercise their right to a fair trial: women who are fleeing domestic abuse; persons struggling with mental health and addictions; new immigrants who have not yet secured work. I feel that providing high-level representation should not depend on my client's income. While it is far from a perfect system, I choose to work with Legal Aid so that I can work for all of the members of my community.