Ottawa lawyers made the kindest cut of all last week to brighten the lives of women touched by cancer. Organized by Borden Ladner Gervais, the Locks for the Law event involved lawyers from across the city who cut their hair and donated their shorn off ponytails. The ponytails are to be transformed into wigs and given free of charge to women affected by cancer.
Event organizer Sybil Johnson-Abbott from Borden Ladner Gervais founded the event three years ago after she had her hair cut while on maternity leave. She donated her locks and found five other colleagues who met the criteria to make a wig – hair that has not been bleached or permanently dyed, contained less than five-per-cent grey and was 23 centimetres in length. Lawyers from Gowlings, Crystal Cy law firm and Kelly Santini and others participated in this year’s event.
Lawyer Diem Nguyen from Kelly Santini LLP said donating hair was easy and it was something she had always wanted to do. “If it makes someone feel more positive, then why not? “Nguyen said. Another lawyer Leanna Olson from Gowlings said she was excited to be part of the event. Olson had previously donated her hair while a student in Edmonton. “It is exciting that the legal community in Ottawa is doing this event.” Olson said.
