Daniel Soberman, emeritus professor at Queen's University was awarded the Milner Memorial Award at the May 1997 CAUT Council meeting.

The award was established by CAUT in honour of James Milner, a former chairperson of the Academic Freedom & Tenure Committee. It recognizes a distinguished contribution to the cause of academic freedom and is given for actions undertaken on behalf of academic freedom, or writings which contribute significantly to an understanding and strengthening of academic freedom in the Canadian community.

There have only been six awards made since Mr. Justice Bora Laskin received the first in 1971.

Professor Soberman has had a distinguished and varied career as an academic, and as an arbitrator and mediator within and without the Canadian academic environment. He has also been a member and chair of various inquiries set up by, amongst others, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.