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Bencher election results [posted November 17, 2009]
The 2010-2011 Bencher election results are in: five Benchers were elected for the first time (one by acclamation) and 17 were re-elected (four by acclamation).
Members had previously elected the following Benchers as President, First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, respectively, for 2010:
- G. Glen Ridgway, QC (President and Bencher for Nanaimo)
- Gavin H.G. Hume, QC (First Vice-President and Bencher for Vancouver)
- Bruce A. LeRose, QC (Second Vice-President and Bencher for Kootenay)
Ridgway, Hume and LeRose continue as Benchers for their respective districts by virtue of their executive office.
President Gordon Turriff, QC congratulates the elected and re-elected Benchers, and thanks all those who stood for election. Turriff also acknowledges the dedication of the Benchers who will be stepping down at the end of this year, in particular Bill Jackson, Terry La Liberté, QC, Jim Vilvang, QC, David Zacks, QC, and Appointed Benchers Patrick Kelly and Dr. Maelor Vallance — who become Life Benchers on January 1, 2010 — for their many years of dedicated and effective Bencher service.
Here are the Benchers who were elected on November 16, 2009 for the 2010-2011 term:
District No. 1 Vancouver (12 to elect)
See also: full election results for this district |
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Rita C. Andreone |
Re-elected |
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Joost Blom, QC |
Re-elected |
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Patricia Bond |
Elected |
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Robert C. Brun, QC |
Re-elected |
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E. David Crossin, QC |
Elected |
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Leon Getz, QC |
Re-elected |
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David Mossop, QC |
Re-elected |
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Thelma O'Grady |
Re-elected |
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Alan M. Ross |
Elected |
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Catherine A. Sas, QC |
Elected |
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Herman Van Ommen |
Re-elected |
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Art Vertlieb, QC |
Re-elected |
District No. 2 Victoria (two to elect)
See also: full election results for this district |
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Kathryn A. Berge, QC |
Re-elected |
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Richard N. Stewart, QC |
Re-elected |
District No. 4 Westminster (three to elect)
See also: full election results for this district |
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Carol W. Hickman
|
Re-elected |
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Jan L. Lindsay |
Re-elected |
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David M. Renwick, QC |
Re-elected |
| District No. 6 Okanagan (one to elect) |
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Marguerite (Meg) Shaw, QC |
Re-elected by acclamation |
| District No. 7 Cariboo (two to elect) |
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Lee Ongman |
Elected by acclamation |
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Ronald Stephen Tindale |
Re-elected by acclamation |
| District No. 8 Prince Rupert (one to elect) |
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Suzette J. Narbonne |
Re-elected by acclamation |
| District No. 9 Kamloops (one to elect) |
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Kenneth M. Walker |
Re-elected by acclamation |
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Referenda results [posted November 17, 2009]
November 16 was also a referenda day. Members were asked to vote on two questions that would authorize the Benchers to amend the Law Society Rules:
1. to clarify the term of office of appointed Benchers
Question 1. Are you in favour of the Benchers amending the Rules respecting the term of office for Benchers to clarify that Benchers may be appointed under section 5 of the Legal Profession Act effective at dates other than January 1?
The members voted 96% (3,926 : 155) in favour.
2. to apply Bencher term limits more fairly
Question 2. Are you in favour of the Benchers amending the Rules respecting term limits for Benchers so that one or more partial terms of service as a Bencher do not count toward the term limit unless the aggregate time in service exceeds one year or half of a term?
The members voted 92% (3,740 : 332) in favour.
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Bencher Art Vertlieb receives Goyer award [posted November 9, 2009]
 Bencher Art Vertlieb, QC (right) and Jerry McHale, QC, Acting Deputy Minister, Ministry of Attorney General were the recipients of this year's Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award. The award was presented at the November 4 Bench & Bar Dinner in Vancouver.
Created in 1992, the Goyer Award is an honour awarded by the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch to recognize exceptional contributions to the legal profession, to jurisprudence, or to the law in British Columbia. The award was established in memory of Georges A. Goyer, QC, an exceptional lawyer who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
A Bencher since 2004, Vertlieb was recognized for his contributions to the legal profession, particularly his founding role with the Lawyers Assistance Program and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC. In addition to sitting on the Law Society's Executive Committee, Vertlieb is chair of the Discipline Committee and Delivery of Legal Services Task Force, and a member of the Independence and Self-Governance Advisory Committee and Civil Justice Reform Task Force.
McHale was recognized for his commitment to alternative dispute resolution, his contributions to jurisprudence, and for his dedication as a public servant. He practised as a barrister and solicitor, and mediator in family and commercial law. before joining the Ministry of Attorney General. He served six years as Director of the Dispute Resolution Office and was a founding board member of the Mediation Development Association of British Columbia, the University of Victoria Institute for Dispute Resolution and the CBA's Alternate Dispute Resolution (Victoria) Section.
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Bench & Bar Dinner in Yale County [posted September 21; updated October 27, and November 2 and17, 2009]
The Law Society and the CBA are joining with the Kelowna Bar Association to invite lawyers and judges to attend the 6th annual Yale County Bench & Bar Dinner. It’s happening on Thursday, November 19 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna.
To download program and registration form for the dinner, see the Calendar.
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Law Society welcomes new Chief Justice [posted October 22; updated November 2, 2009]
 The Law Society welcomes The Honourable Robert J. Bauman, who was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on September 10, 2009. He replaces the Honourable Chief Justice Donald Brenner who retired on September 7.
Chief Justice Bauman was born in Toronto. He completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario in 1971 and Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Toronto in 1974, graduating second in his class. He articled at Wilson, King & Co. in Prince George, where he became partner within six months of completing his articles. It was during this period that Chief Justice Bauman gained a reputation for excellence in administrative law, advising towns and municipalities throughout Northern BC.
In 1977, Chief Justice Bauman moved to Kelowna with his wife and two young sons. The next four years were spent at the firm of Wilson Bauman. The family moved to Vancouver in 1982 where he joined Bull, Housser & Tupper, and continued to specialize in administrative and municipal law. In 1996, Chief Justice Bauman was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of BC and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2008.
During his years practising law, Chief Justice Bauman always found time to share his expertise. He has been a member of the Provincial Attorney General Rules Committee, Chair of the Supreme Court civil law committee, Chair of the CBA Municipal Law Section, and a panellist at Continuing Legal Education. He also lectured at BCIT and was an adjunct professor of administrative law at UBC. He performed these, and other professional duties, in tandem with enjoying family life. Chief Justice Bauman is described as having an outstanding mind and an unwavering sense of fairness and compassion.
The Welcoming Ceremony for the Honourable Chief Justice Robert Bauman was held on Friday, October 30, 2009 at the Vancouver Law Courts.
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President’s speaking tour rolls on [posted October 14, 2009]
President Gordon Turriff, QC took his message about the critical importance of the rule of law and the independence of lawyers to Australia. Speaking at the Conference of Regulatory Officers in Perth, Western Australia, Turriff gave a keynote address, “Self-Governance as a Necessary Condition of Constitutionally Mandated Lawyer Independence in British Columbia.” Arguing strongly for the importance of an independent legal profession as a necessary component of the rule of law, Turriff firmly asserted that “we can’t be partners in lawyer regulation with [a government] we are bound to challenge on behalf of clients to whom we owe a duty of undivided loyalty.”
His speech at the conference in Perth is just the latest in more than 30 presentations Turriff has made since the beginning of his year as President to help to educate the public about the Law Society’s public interest mandate, the rule of law, the vital importance of independent lawyers and the need for self-regulation.
Turriff’s speaking tour began in February and will continue through the Fall. The latter part of the tour will focus on students and community service groups.
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Law Society presents business case for retention of women lawyers in private practice [posted August 14; updated October 27, 2009]
 An exodus of women from the legal profession and a looming shortage of lawyers has prompted the Law Society to develop a business case for keeping women lawyers in private practice.
In 2008, the Retention of Women in Law Task Force was charged with preparing the business case and presented its final report at the July Benchers meeting this year.
Kathryn Berge, QC, who chaired the task force, reported that “one third of new women lawyers called in 2003 had dropped out of the profession by 2008. This happened during a time when a record number of women entered the profession, yet today women lawyers still represent only 29 per cent of private practice lawyers in the province.”
The business case explains the demographic issues facing the legal profession in BC and explains the business advantages of retaining and advancing women in private practice. However, it does not suggest that women should receive special treatment. It stresses the competitive advantages of creating firms that retain and advance talented lawyers, with a focus on serving clients in effective ways that make business sense and people sense.
“The benefits of retaining women lawyers are significant,” said Berge, who practises in a small firm in Victoria. “Keeping and developing talent increases efficiency, client service, lawyer morale and future recruitment ability. This holds true in both good and bad times. There is also the benefit of a stronger and more sustainable firm culture based on merit, flexibility and diversity.”
The business case has already received considerable attention in the media. Over the next few months, members of the task force will be speaking to law firms, law-related organizations and others to promote the business case and increase awareness of the benefits of retaining women lawyers in private practice.
Download the business case (PDF). Email diversity@lsbc.org for more information.
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