LEAF is pleased to welcome three new summer students for 2024—Shanzay Amjad, Cassandra Spade, and Alexandra Beck! Learn more about them below.
Shanzay Amjad – John S. Poyen Intern
Shanzay (she/her) was raised in Ottawa, Ontario and is an incoming 3L law student at the University of Calgary. Prior to law school, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Ottawa and worked as a software developer and product owner. In her spare time, she has volunteered with Amnesty International, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization, Student Legal Assistance and PBSC’s Human Rights Project. During her 1L summer, Shanzay interned with the United Nations at the International Organization for Migration in Geneva, Switzerland where she drafted a guide for developing labour migration policy. In 2L, she participated in a competitive moot at the Alberta Court of Appeal where she argued a violation of an indigenous woman’s s. 15 rights. For her 2L summer, Shanzay is excited to be interning with LEAF where she will have the opportunity to further engage with equality rights and develop her legal skills. In her spare time, Shanzay enjoys hiking, skiing, painting and reading biographies.
Cassandra Spade – Indigenous Summer Scholar
Cassandra (she/her) is a human rights activist from the Mishkeegogamang First Nation, located in Northwestern Ontario. She is the founder of Gaa-Minwaajindizowaaj (“GAAM”), a grassroots organization that provides Anishinaabe language and cultural programming. Currently, she is a law student at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. To learn more about GAAM please visit: http://northernvoices.ca/.
Alexandra Beck – 2024 Donner Fellow
Alexandra (she/her) is entering her second year of law school at the University of Toronto. Outside of the classroom, Alexandra volunteers with METRAC where she delivers public legal education workshops to women in shelters across the GTA and serves as Vice-President Operations for her law faculty’s Women and the Law group.
Before law school, Alexandra earned a Bachelor of Arts at McGill University, majoring in Art History and International Development Studies, with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies. After three years of active involvement, Alexandra co-chaired McGill Collective for Gender Equality. Alexandra also volunteered with Sex and Self, where she created and facilitated research-based sex education workshops amongst other volunteer roles with local non-profits.
Outside of work and school, Alexandra enjoys travelling, canoe-tripping, and spending time with her loved ones. She is looking forward to learning more about feminist litigation, law reform, and public legal education throughout the summer.
