Jennifer Stairs (centre), winner of the 2024 CMLA Freedom of Expression Award. CMLA President Danielle Stone (left) and former President Nancy Rubin (right), presented the award on October 25, 2024.

The CMLA Freedom of Expression Award is awarded every year to a person who has promoted and protected freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Canada. This year, the 2024 award has been given to Jennifer Stairs, former Communications Director for the Nova Scotia Judiciary. In particular, the award acknowledges Jennifer’s work to support a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation between Nova Scotia courts and the media, and for facilitating an ethos of court transparency.

In presenting the award, CMLA President Danielle Stone, highlighted Jennifer’s reputation for being the “gold standard” for communications directors across the country. Former President, Nancy Rubin, emphasized Jennifer’s constant focus on efficiency and court openness, going above and beyond to assist journalists in accessing publicly available proceedings and court files.

One NS journalist said it best: “Jennifer has pushed a broader culture of openness and helpfulness in the court system – an understanding that access isn’t just a right in theory, it is a right to be exercised and encouraged. That is quite an accomplishment. It is a tremendous public service.”