A busy spring for CBA Alberta featured the Court of Appeal Centennial Gala & Symposium, Law Day activities across the province, and continuing engagement with the provincial and federal governments.
This year’s CBA Executive term began with a promise of increasing communication with members, partners and stakeholders. I must say this has become increasingly challenging, with all that has been going on, especially if I am to remain within the word-count of this report.
Thankfully, a new look and design of CBA’s publication, Law Matters will advance this goal, along with a brand new website, redesigned with you in mind. I hope that you have found the online publication Legal Brief, helpful, and I was delighted to see a recent tweet at a CBA event, marked “favourite” or if you prefer, “favorite.”
In the wake of the Alberta Law Conference, each of our major cities played host to significant events. The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association spring conference took place in Calgary where Steve Mandziuk QC, CBA Vice President and I joined Michele Hollins QC, CBA National First Vice President in welcoming colleagues from across the country. The appropriate theme was Energy Matters, and a nod to Calgary as the fastest growing population of in-house counsel in Canada.
Later that week, Edmonton hosted Chief Justices from across Canada, marking the Centenary of Alberta’s Court of Appeal. A gala dinner and symposium brought the bar and judiciary together with innumerable distinguished guests. Justice Eric Macklin set the tone for a dignified and delightfully funny evening. Special thanks to the organizing committee, led by Greg Harding, QC with Heather Walsh and Maureen Armitage and the CBA staff, speakers and volunteers who ensured the celebrations commemorated our rich history of People, Principles, and Progress of justice in Alberta.
It was also a proud moment for Wayne Barkauskas, Treasurer and I, to attend the University of Calgary William Howard Memorial lecture, and hear the Honourable Peter MacKay, Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General, acknowledge the work of the CBA in the context of addressing issues affecting the profession, improving the justice system, and contributing to public service. It was an opportunity to thank Minister MacKay for paying attention to the national resolution moved by CBA Alberta, urging the federal government to appoint sufficient superior court judges to meet the demand of a growing population. This resolution was successful thanks to background work of Wayne Barkauskas, Maureen Armitage and Tamra Thomson, CBA National. With ongoing follow up by the Executive, we are able to convey an assurance by Minister MacKay that additional appointments are forthcoming.
Other advocacy and stakeholder representation that the Executive and dedicated committee and section representatives have been involved with include: reform of civil and family justice, traffic court, and employment standards. Pursuant to CBA stakeholder involvement in proposed changes to Alberta’s land titles system, our members were satisfied by Government’s response to their concerns.
With a view to sharing information and combining resources on the broader issue of access to justice, CBA appointed Ola Malik as Chair of the CBA Access to Justice Committee, to be a standing representative of the Law Society’s own committee on the same subject. We can expect significant advancement in this area building on CBA’s national project, Envisioning Equal Justice.
With a website dedicated to Law Day, I will simply say that this event, designed to engage the public, continues to be an annual highlight. Law Day is proudly hosted in more cities and towns in Alberta than any other province. Personally, I was pleased to welcome 250 citizens to St. Paul’s inaugural Law Day. Bringing the profession and legal services closer to the community, fits within CBA’s goal of ensuring citizens across our vast province have a better understanding of the profession and justice system.
I hope these developments assure you of the value of membership and meet our promise of increased communication and collaboration among stakeholders and with you, our members. Albertans were quick to understand the benefits of Portfolio Plus membership, a level designed to reward participation, as we lead the country in this category. On behalf of the Executive, we value your engagement that is no surprise given the collegiality and spirit of commitment of the Alberta bar. It is my hope that our progress and publication will further inspire you to be involved in your CBA.
Marian is the 2013 - 2014 President of the Canadian Bar Association, and a long-time CBA volunteer, having previously been involved as Section Coordinator and many other capacities. Marian is also the Executive Director of the Alberta Lawyers' Assistance Society, which provides confidential help to lawyers, students, and their families with personal issues.