Durham College (DC) faculty member Dalton Burger’s lifetime of dedication to the justice system and education was recently recognized at the Educational Foundation for Children’s Care Canada’s MLK ConnexUs Awards.

A Deputy Judge in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and faculty member in the Paralegal – Honours Bachelor program at DC, Burger received the Martin Luther King Leadership and Community Award. Alongside fellow honourees, including former Toronto Mayor John Tory and former Speaker of the House of Commons Greg Fergus, he was chosen for exemplifying the renowned civil rights leader’s vision of leadership, justice and empowerment.

“It’s one of the greatest awards that I’ve received, because it really reflects my commitment to teaching and practicing law,” said Burger. “Dr. King talked about his dream of seeing people judged on the content of their character, not the colour of their skin, and that’s the way I’ve always led my life and my career. I judge someone on their kindness and their integrity, and how they try to improve the society that we live in.”

His desire to give back and prepare the next generation of legal professionals was born in high school, when a lawyer would run mock trials with his class. That sparked his interest in the law, and when he was a young lawyer preparing for his career, he made sure to provide local students with a similar opportunity.

After enjoying a successful legal career for decades, his goal to pay it forward led him to teaching at DC, where he has been passing on his knowledge and experience ever since.

“I always understood the need for a mentor in your life, and I had people that opened the door for me. So, when I had the chance to teach, I thought, here’s a way for me to actually open that door for others,” he said. “The people that I was surrounded by were always interested in teaching in the later parts of their career and helping develop the skill of the next generation, and that’s what we have to do as a community.”

Burger was a driving force in the creation of the Honours Bachelor program, which complements the two-year Paralegal – Diploma and one-year Graduate Certificate programs. Students in all three programs benefit from the experienced legal professionals who teach their classes, and Burger is always pleased to see his former students excelling in their own careers.

“I was at a courthouse last week, and I saw three students who came up to me and gave me updates on where they’re at. That connection is what Durham College is all about.”