This award honours the memory and legacy of Dena Moyal, a founding member, past president, and passionate advocate for children’s voices in family justice.
Renamed in 2020 (from President’s Distinguished Service Award), the award is presented annually to an AFCC-O member who has made exceptional and sustained contributions to the organization and to family justice in Ontario. Recipients demonstrate leadership, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Recipient
Katherine Kavassalis
Katherine Kavassalis has dedicated over four decades to advancing family and child protection law in Ontario. Called to the bar in 1984, she currently serves as Deputy Legal Director at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, where she leads training for over 380 lawyers on the Personal Rights Legal Panel.
A passionate educator and mentor, Katherine has taught and lectured across Ontario’s law schools and legal institutions. Her leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to children’s rights and interdisciplinary practice embody the values of the Dena Moyal Award.
Past Recipients
- 2024 – Dr. Dan Ashbourne
- 2023 – Justice Debra Paulseth
- 2022 – Professor Nicholas Bala
- 2021 – Justice Andrea Himel
- 2019 – Tami Moscoe
- 2017 – Justice Eleanor Schnall
- 2016 – Jennifer Suzor
- 2015 – Dr. Barbara Fidler
- 2013 – Vince Ramsay
- 2012 – AFCC-O Outreach Committee (Deborah Moskovitch [Chair], Dena Moyal, Steven Benmor, Linda Popielarczyk, Linda Chodos, Angela Khelem, Maggie Hall)
- 2011 – Patti Cross