Earlier this spring, we welcomed a new government to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in over forty years. Your Executive was pleased to share the Branch’s Agenda for Justice with Premier Rachel Notley and Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley. The Agenda for Justice outlines the Alberta Branch’s priority advocacy issues in relation to our justice system. We look forward to meeting with Minister Ganley in the near future to discuss these and other priorities. We are also regularly adding justice priorities to the Agenda for Justice. Most recently, we have outlined the Branch’s comments concerning the increase in court fees that was introduced earlier this year. Members can view the document in its entirety on our website.
In June the ReThink project made a stop in Calgary. An invigorating session brought together CBA members, non-CBA members and non-lawyers to discuss the future of our organization. I was extremely pleased to hear the productive and lively discussions and excellent feedback from attendees, and look forward to sharing the results of this and other workshops held across the country, as well as other information gathered for this project, in the coming months.
It is membership renewal time at the CBA again.
The Alberta Branch continues to lead the country in total Portfolio and Portfolio Plus membership package sales. These packages are available for purchase with your annual membership renewal or on their own online. Portfolio packages provide members with a number of additional benefits, including education credits that can be used towards applicable CBA products and services, complimentary materials-level membership to up to 3 sections, up to a 3% rebate on applicable CBA purchases, free access to the CBA Alberta Legal Directory and much more.
If you are a section member, regularly attend any CBA conference (including the Alberta Law Conference), or regularly participate in other CBA professional development opportunities, I strongly urge you to consider purchasing one of these packages. For more information on packages, and to purchase one for yourself,
visit www.cbamembership.org.
As many of you know, sections are a wonderful CBA offering which provides members with the opportunity to regularly access professional development and engage in timely discussions specific to their areas of practice. Section registration will be available starting in mid-August; we will be contacting members by email once registration is live. Until then, you can visit our website to view the 2015-16 Section Handbook, which lists the available sections and meeting dates for the upcoming year.
As I write this, the conference team at the CBA national office and the Local Host Committee are putting the final touches on the 2015 CBA Legal Conference, which will be held August 14 - 16 in Calgary. For those who have not yet signed up - it is not too late! Space is still available to attend this premier event. Not able to attend all three days of the conference? Day passes are also available for purchase.
With changes in format, and a focus on lawyer well-being, this year’s conference is already looking to be highly engaging and successful. I want to pass along my thanks to the entire Local Host Committee, led by
co-chairs Gillian Marriott, QC, and Ola Malik, for their tireless efforts and diligence over the last year in preparing for this conference. I look forward to seeing the Alberta Branch strongly represented in Calgary, where we will be sure to show off Alberta’s hospitality and our Branch to CBA members and other legal professionals from across the country and around the world.
At the conclusion of the CBA Legal Conference, my year as President of the CBA Alberta Branch will come to an end. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I am so grateful for the support of our amazing CBA staff, my fellow Executives, all of our volunteers and of course, my family. It has been very gratifying to have had the opportunity to give time and energy to our profession as your Branch President - I have received far more back than what I have given.
I welcome Wayne Barkauskas as he steps into the role of President for the 2015-16 year, and wish him the best in his new position. On behalf of the Executive Committee and the entire Branch, I also pass along my sincerest thanks and best wishes to my dear friend and colleague Past President Marian De Souza, QC, who after dedicating the last five years to the CBA will be completing her tenure on the Executive this August.
Your 2015-16 Executive Committee will consist of incoming Secretary Frank Friesacher, Treasurer Jenny McMordie, Vice-President Jeremiah Kowalchuk, President Wayne Barkauskas, myself as Past President, and Executive Director Maureen Armitage.