Paying it forward:
Thomson Rogers’ real-life legacy
IN Partnership with
To celebrate its 90th anniversary, Thomson Rogers LLP donated $90,000 across three organizations that reflect the firm’s core practice areas and values – demonstrating a deep-rooted culture of paying it forward and a commitment to meaningful community impact
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If Thomson Rogers LLP is known for one thing – other than superb advocacy – it’s a deep-rooted culture of paying it forward.
To mark the occasion of its 90th anniversary, Thomson Rogers donated $90,000 to groups either connected with or representing the values of the three pillars of the firm, namely the personal injury practice, the family law practice, and the municipal planning practice. An internal committee decided to gift $30,000 each to Camp Dawn, StepStones for Youth, and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI).
The mindset behind these donations is the same one that drives the firm’s tagline: Real Life Counsel. Thomson Rogers believes deeply that their collective role isn’t confined to the courtroom. Clients are more than case files, and legal outcomes can affect a family or a whole community.
Celebrating 90 years of advocacy, Thomson Rogers LLP is one of Ontario’s most trusted and long-standing law firms. Since 1935, the firm has represented individuals and families facing life-altering injuries and complex legal challenges. Our lawyers lead high-stakes cases in personal injury, medical malpractice, family law, and municipal planning and expropriation. Known for shaping precedents at all levels of court in Ontario, Thomson Rogers is ranked by numerous respected legal publishers and directories, including The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and The Best Lawyers™ in Canada for multiple practice areas. On this 90th anniversary, we look ahead to the next 90 years, guided by the voices of those we advocate for, and the real-life counsel we aim to deliver in every case.
“Whether our planners are working in a law firm, working for a municipality, or working for a private consultant, they need that support. Recognizing someone that is very actively involved as a mentor for others will also provide the value of encouraging more people to jump on board and share their skills”
ANDRIA LEIGH, OPPI
Deanna Gilbert, the partner overseeing the internal committee, says the reason the firm chose to celebrate this way is simple: it’s important to give back.
“We got here because of the hard work and determination of our staff, and also because of the incredible clients we serve, the groups we work with, and the relationships we’ve built over time,” Gilbert says. “Those things matter. These donations are meant to recognize that and to ensure that the people who have made us successful understand we know their role in that success, and that they share in it.”
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Published November 24, 2025
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Authors
External contributors
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Copyright © 2025 KM Business Information Canada Ltd.
Advertise
About us
Contact us
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Camp Dawn
A welcome boost for Stepstones’ young mothers
Out of the 480 youth that StepStones served in 2024, 27% have children of their own
100% of StepStones youth live below the poverty line
The role of mentors at OPPI
Currently, OPPI has about 900 candidate members, all of whom need mentors to earn their designation
To become an RPP, you need to be mentored for at least one year
Beyond Camp Dawn’s wildest dreams For Camp Dawn, which provides an annual four-day camping retreat for adult brain injury survivors, the $30,000 couldn’t have come at a better time. Julie Dickison, president of Camp Dawn’s board of directors, says the camp has grown exponentially, welcoming just under 100 people last year and requiring a wait list to manage the overflow of applicants. Earmarked to cover application fees for next year, this is the first donation of its kind in the camp’s history.
“Every year we look for support, but not in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine something like this would happen to us,” Dickison says. “We were blown away.”
What the camp does “struck a chord” with Thomson Rogers, Sandra San Martin, a member of the board, explains. While it’s one thing to hear about the program, it’s another to see it in action. One partner, Matt Sutton, spent the full four days as a camp counsellor participating in everything from night watch shifts and mess hall dining to karaoke, canoeing, and bingo.
“That’s not atypical of our involvement with Camp Dawn over the last couple of years,” Sutton adds, noting the firm was already an exclusive legal contributor. “It’s a project we’ve taken on with a lot of gusto.”
Sutton, Gilbert, and other representatives from the firm were in attendance when the donation was announced, and they both recall that the joy in the room was palpable. Removing financial barriers for a cohort of people who face enduring challenges was a win for all, he says, “and we’re so grateful to have been able to do it.”
Dickison agrees, sharing that the news was met with more than a few happy tears.
“Until you’ve got 100 brain injury survivors cheering, stomping, and yelling thank you, you don’t understand the impact of this donation – or sponsorship in general,” she notes.
As the only organization of its kind in Canada, the camp’s capacity and resources are increasingly stretched. While the camp is lucky enough to have great relationships with various donors, the partnership with Thomson Rogers continues to be unique.
“Thomson Rogers is a source of strength that goes beyond any amount of money,” San Martin says, noting that the firm’s ongoing support – from its hands-on participation to its willingness to weigh in on organizational decisions such as how to more fairly run the application process – is something the camp considers priceless.
“We want to give our campers a spectacular time, where for four days it’s all about them. They’re not brain injury survivors; they’re just people making connections. And Thomson Rogers really believes in that.”
next 15 years, ensuring that the value of mentorship is “underlined and celebrated.”
“Mentorship is in both our [the law firm’s and institute’s] DNAs, and honouring a reflection of such an important part of our values was an easy one for us,” managing partner and municipal lawyer Stephen D’Agostino explains. “We were prepared to step in and, on a long-term basis, provide an incentive for that good work to continue. It reflects the respect of our Municipal, Planning, and Expropriation Law Group, and the values we hold as a firm.”
The importance of learning from more experienced planners can’t be understated, says Andria Leigh, RPP chair. It’s one thing to learn theory in school and another to know how to apply it practically. Mentorship affords newcomers to the profession with the soft skills required to be effective, such as critical thinking, public speaking, analysis, and policy review. Thomson Rogers’ generosity provides OPPI with a way to reinforce the importance of mentorship.
“Whether our planners are working in a law firm, working for a municipality, or working for a private consultant, they need that support,” Leigh explains, adding that the OPPI sees the donation as an opportunity beyond the face value of that initial cheque: a compounding effect going forward.
“Recognizing someone that is very actively involved as a mentor for others will also provide the value of encouraging more people to jump on board and share their skills.”
D’Agostino agrees, noting OPPI’s approach is “very similar to what we do in-house.”
“We too ensure that there’s strong mentoring, we ensure that our lawyers grow, and that there’s that continued legacy of paying it forward.”
This subsection of the population is important to StepStones because without support, children born to those who grew up in foster care are more likely to end up there themselves. One of the reasons StepStones’ founder Heather O’Keefe started the program was to break that cycle of trauma and instability and help these families succeed.
“This gift is extra special to us because it not only has benefits now, but down the road as well,” says Jackson Walker, director of operations at StepStones.
Once again, the firm rolled up its sleeves and got to work. Thomson Rogers staff created an assembly line to hand-pack the items into duffle bags, which will be distributed at StepStones’ annual holiday dinner. Notoriously a tough time for those in foster care, StepStones strives to provide a gift for everyone. What usually takes months to fundraise for and organize was in large part handled by Thomson Rogers’ donation.
“When they offered to do this much, at this level, it’s a huge load off; it allows us to focus on other aspects of the organization,” Walker notes, adding that it was an especially timely boost given more youth than ever are applying for the program, with widespread economic challenges hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest.
“It takes so many people to make even a small amount of change,” Walker says. “We welcome folks who want to contribute and it’s not cookie cutter: like with Thomson Rogers, we’re open to figuring out the best fit for both sides.”
Thomson Rogers and OPPI: ‘mentorship is in both our DNAs’ Thomson Rogers believes deeply in mentorship, a cornerstone of the firm’s ongoing success. It’s also an essential component for the Ontario Professional Planners Institute – which represents all professional planners in Ontario – in obtaining one’s registered professional planner (RPP) designation. The common ground made shining a light on OPPI mentors a natural choice.
The firm will sponsor the Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award, given to OPPI mentors, for the
Top: The Thomson Rogers family law team with Tooba Dawood (far left) from StepStones. Middle left: StepStones’ Tooba Dawood, Thomson Rogers partner Deanna Gilbert and managing partner Stephen D’Agostino, and StepStones’ Jackson Walker.
Thomson Rogers partners, Deanna Gilbert, Steven Birman, and Matt Sutton, hand over a cheque to Camp Dawn's Julie Dickison.
Recognizing common strengths in StepStones for Youth Another foundational value at the firm is determination. Thomson Rogers is not one to shy away from tough cases. The lawyers recognize that the individuals touched by the 90th anniversary donations are also groups that face big challenges, albeit of different kinds.
“We want to recognize their strengths in our strengths and vice versa,” D’Agostino says, noting that the second recipient of $30,000 – StepStones for Youth, a program for youth involved in and transitioning out of foster care that works to improve educational outcomes, secure stable housing, and build long-lasting support networks – is a prime example.
The family law team represents high-net-worth clients but is cognizant that difficult family circumstances are endured in all walks of life. They wanted to give back to those who have fewer resources to weather hardships. StepStones and the family law team decided that the money would be put to great use for 100 young mothers, providing everything from practical essentials, like bed sheets, socks, and hygiene products, to comfort items for young mothers and their small children.
‘At Thomson Rogers, everyone pays it forward’ As impactful as the contributions are to the recipients, there’s also a huge sense of pride within the firm itself. From the committee during the initial stages to the staff at large when the donations were announced, “you could see the response,” Gilbert recalls.
“Everybody stood tall, they were all smiling, and it’s very apparent they’re proud of what Thomson Rogers stands for and what they’re a part of.”
And that sense of pride has a lasting impact. D’Agostino reflects on a recent event where he spoke to a former partner. Even though he hadn’t been with the firm for over 20 years, he remembered the lynchpin to what makes Thomson Rogers exceptional – past, present, and future.
“He said, at Thomson Rogers everyone pays it forward; that stayed with him,” D’Agostino says, adding that the next major milestone will be the firm’s Centennial in 10 years’ time. There’s no reason to think that the foundational values of the firm will have changed very much at all.
“Looking backwards, sharing our success has always been a significant part of our celebrations, and that feels to me like the appropriate way to celebrate. My hope is that it will continue.”
Beyond Camp Dawn’s wildest dreams For Camp Dawn, which provides an annual four-day camping retreat for adult brain injury survivors, the $30,000 couldn’t have come at a better time. Julie Dickison, president of Camp Dawn’s board of directors, says the camp has grown exponentially, welcoming just under 100 people last year and requiring a wait list to manage the overflow of applicants. Earmarked to cover application fees for next year, this is the first donation of its kind in the camp’s history.
“Every year we look for support, but not in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine something like this would happen to us,” Dickison says. “We were blown away.”
What the camp does “struck a chord” with Thomson Rogers, Sandra San Martin, a member of the board, explains. While it’s one thing to hear about the program, it’s another to see it in action. One partner, Matt Sutton, spent the full four days as a camp counsellor participating in everything from night watch shifts and mess hall dining to karaoke, canoeing, and bingo.
“That’s not atypical of our involvement with Camp Dawn over the last couple of years,” Sutton adds, noting the firm was already an exclusive legal contributor. “It’s a project we’ve taken on with a lot of gusto.”
Sutton, Gilbert, and other representatives from the firm were in attendance when the donation was announced, and they both recall that the joy in the room was palpable. Removing financial barriers for a cohort of people who face enduring challenges was a win for all, he says, “and we’re so grateful to have been able to do it.”
Dickison agrees, sharing that the news was met with more than a few happy tears.
“Until you’ve got 100 brain injury survivors cheering, stomping, and yelling thank you, you don’t understand the impact of this donation – or sponsorship in general,” she notes.
As the only organization of its kind in Canada, the camp’s capacity and resources are increasingly stretched. While the camp is lucky enough to have great relationships with various donors, the partnership with Thomson Rogers continues to be unique.
“Thomson Rogers is a source of strength that goes beyond any amount of money,” San Martin says, noting that the firm’s ongoing support – from its hands-on participation to its willingness to weigh in on organizational decisions such as how to more fairly run the application process – is something the camp considers priceless.
“We want to give our campers a spectacular time, where for four days it’s all about them. They’re not brain injury survivors; they’re just people making connections. And Thomson Rogers really believes in that.”
Thomson Rogers and OPPI: ‘mentorship is in both our DNAs’ Thomson Rogers believes deeply in mentorship, a cornerstone of the firm’s ongoing success. It’s also an essential component for the Ontario Professional Planners Insitutite (OPPI) – which represents all professional planners in Ontario – in obtaining one’s registered professional planner (RPP) designation. The common ground made shining a light on OPPI mentors a natural choice.
The firm will sponsor the Thomson Rogers LLP Mentorship Award, given to OPPI mentors, for the
next 15 years, ensuring that the value of mentorship is “underlined and celebrated.”
“Mentorship is in both our [the law firm’s and institute’s] DNAs, and honouring a reflection of such an important part of our values was an easy one for us,” managing partner and municipal lawyer Stephen D’Agostino explains. “We were prepared to step in and, on a long-term basis, provide an incentive for that good work to continue. It reflects the respect of our Municipal, Planning, and Expropriation Law Group, and the values we hold as a firm.”
The importance of learning from more experienced planners can’t be understated, says Andria Leigh, RPP chair. It’s one thing to learn theory in school and another to know how to apply it practically. Mentorship affords newcomers to the profession with the soft skills required to be effective, such as critical thinking, public speaking, analysis, and policy review. Thomson Rogers’ generosity provides OPPI with a way to reinforce the importance of mentorship.
“Whether our planners are working in a law firm, working for a municipality, or working for a private consultant, they need that support,” Leigh explains, adding that the OPPI sees the donation as an opportunity beyond the face value of that initial cheque: a compounding effect going forward.
“Recognizing someone that is very actively involved as a mentor for others will also provide the value of encouraging more people to jump on board and share their skills.”
D’Agostino agrees, noting OPPI’s approach is “very similar to what we do in-house.”
“We too ensure that there’s strong mentoring, we ensure that our lawyers grow, and that there’s that continued legacy of paying it forward.”
Once again, the firm rolled up its sleeves and got to work. Thomson Rogers staff created an assembly line to hand-pack the items into duffle bags, which will be distributed at StepStones’ annual holiday dinner. Notoriously a tough time for those in foster care, StepStones strives to provide a gift for everyone. What usually takes months to fundraise for and organize was in large part handled by Thomson Rogers’ donation.
“When they offered to do this much, at this level, it’s a huge load off; it allows us to focus on other aspects of the organization,” Walker notes, adding that it was an especially timely boost given more youth than ever are applying for the program, with widespread economic challenges hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest.
“It takes so many people to make even a small amount of change,” Walker says. “We welcome folks who want to contribute and it’s not cookie cutter: like with Thomson Rogers, we’re open to figuring out the best fit for both sides.”
This subsection of the population is important to StepStones because without support, children born to those who grew up in foster care are more likely to end up there themselves. One of the reasons StepStones’ founder Heather O’Keefe started the program was to break that cycle of trauma and instability and help these families succeed.
“This gift is extra special to us because it not only has benefits now, but down the road as well,” says Jackson Walker, director of operations at StepStones.
If Thomson Rogers LLP is known for one thing – other than superb advocacy – it’s a deep-rooted culture of paying it forward.
To mark the occasion of its 90th anniversary, Thomson Rogers donated $90,000 to groups either connected with or representing the values of the three pillars of the firm, namely the personal injury practice, the family law practice, and the municipal planning practice. An internal committee decided to gift $30,000 each to Camp Dawn, StepStones for Youth, and the Ontario Provincial Planners Institute (OPPI).
The mindset behind these donations is the same one that drives the firm’s tagline: Real Life Counsel. Thomson Rogers believes deeply that their collective role isn’t confined to the courtroom. Clients are more than case files, and legal outcomes can affect a family or a whole community.
Published November 24, 2025