2014 – L’honorable Me Antonio Discepola

Mtre Discepola completed his Bachelor's degree with joint honours in Political Science and Economics in 1974, with the hope of making a career in public life, politics, diplomacy, or perhaps a military career. He was a reservist in the Armed Forces of Canada, “Royal Canadian Hussars".

Mtre Antonio Discepola received his law degree from McGill University in 1977 and was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1978.

After a few years of practice, in 1980 he founded a legal firm, with Mtre Antonio Di Ciocco, then mayor of the City of St-Léonard, and Mtre Michel Bissonnet, member of the National Assembly of Quebec. Mtre Carmine Mercadante joined the firm in 1981. This thriving law firm still exists today.

In 1991, Mtre Discepola was appointed commissioner at the Occupational Injury Appeal Board. He was then receiving training from the National School of Public Administration in Quebec. In April 1992, Mtre Antonio Discepola was the first lawyer of Italian origin to be appointed judge of the Municipal Court of Montreal, where he presided over trials in criminal, penal and civil law.

As soon as he arrived at the Municipal Court of Montreal, several of his judgments were published in legal reviews. He is also involved in the training of judges of the court.

With Mtre Discepola's thirteen (13) years of private practice in civil law and his twenty-four (24) years as a judge in criminal and penal law, he has certainly acquired the expertise to preside over civil and criminal trials, an exceptional quality in a jurist.

On June 2nd, 1999, he was appointed, by the Republic of Italy, Knight Officer of the Order of Merit.

In 2002, he received "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Commemerative Medal" for his social implication.

In 2005, he received a distinction of merit from Casa D'Italia for his implication in the Italian community.

In late April 2002, he became co-founder of the Association of Italian-Canadian Jurists of Quebec, which brings together Judges, Jurists, Lawyers, Notaries, law professors and law students of Italian origin.