Newstead Immigration and Refugee Law was founded by Celia White, with the vision of providing legal services grounded in rigorous research, personalized representation, and compassionate advocacy.
Celia is an accomplished researcher, writer, activist, and community leader with an extensive background in human rights work and critical legal thinking. Originally from Nanaimo, Celia attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Ontario, and graduated with a combined Juris Doctor and Master’s Degree focusing on systemic racism in the law governing migrant farmworkers.
Celia’s volunteer experience has been vast, including leading the local Nanaimo chapter of WUSC, where she supported refugee communities with resettlement; completing practicum placements at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, and the Community & Legal Aid Services Program, where she represented clients seeking refugee status; participating in the Fair Change Legal Clinic, where she represented unhoused clients experiencing discrimination under the law; and volunteering with the Osgoode Hall Law Union, the Osgoode Disability Collective, the Osgoode Outlaws 2SLGBTQIA+ club, the Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy, Justicia for Migrant Workers, the Global Labour Research Centre, the Migrant Workers Centre Legal Clinic, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Celia’s work has been recognized by multiple awards and honours, including the Faculty Association Scholarship for the top academic student in her undergraduate faculty; the Global Studies and Anthropology Awards for the top academic student in both of her undergraduate departments; the Pat Placzek Award for excellence in research in her Master’s Degree; and the national CSA Group Graduate Scholarship for innovation and excellence in applied research.
Prior to law school, Celia worked as a university curriculum coordinator, non-profit manager, published author, farmer, and fisher, and she considers her adventurous and eclectic career experiences to have shaped her compassionate and rigorous legal career today. Outside of work, Celia enjoys gardening, playing the banjo, and sharing joy with family and friends.