Sofia Mirza receives Volunteer Recognition Award for her contributions to the CBA’s Immigration Law Section

Fillmore Riley congratulates Sofia Mirza, a partner of Fillmore Riley, for being one of three recipients of the 2020 Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Immigration Law Section’s Volunteer Recognition Award. The annual award recognizes significant contributions — including representing the voices of immigration lawyers — made by members to the CBA Immigration Law Section.

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, presented the award on May 29, 2020, during an online ceremony. “She has made her colleagues very proud,” Mendicino said. “She has always shown patience, kindness, and a great degree of integrity. Thank you for the hundreds of hours you have given, the good work you have contributed, and your collegial professionalism.”

Sofia has a long history of contributing to both the CBA and the Manitoba Bar Association (MBA). She is currently the elected vice-chair of the MBA’s Immigration Law Section Executive and is an elected executive member of the CBA’s National Immigration Law Section. She served a one-year term as president of the MBA from 2014–2015.

A proud Winnipegger, Sofia successfully made the case to bring the national immigration conference to Winnipeg and played a key role in selecting the venues, organizing the content, and making the conference a success.

The award recognizes her “immeasurable time and dedication to the Section.” For almost a decade, she has represented the voices of immigration lawyers and advocated for inclusivity and diversity in the profession. A sought-after speaker, Sofia has delivered presentations in Canada and the United States.

Sofia’s immigration practice at Fillmore Riley focuses on cross-border and business/personal immigration matters. She acts as legal counsel to a number of professional sports teams and leagues, including the Canadian Football League and Canadian Premier League.