A Champion and Voice of the Profession
By Judge Richard O'Gorman
Judge Richard O'Gorman was Editor of Law Matters and Chair of the CBA Alberta Editorial Committee from 2002 to 2004.
As we all do our best to navigate these unprecedented times, I think it is helpful to embrace those core values that identify the society we wish to live in. Real and true leadership is so important in maintaining confidence and respect for our communities, our organizations and, especially, our legal system. I have always looked up to the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) as a champion and a voice of the profession, an effective advocate of the rule of law and just about everything that makes Canada a great leader in the free world.
I use the phrase “free world” deliberately because I am concerned that the recent toxic erosion of so many legal and ethical principles in so many places has, unfortunately, permeated our new world. Chief Justice Roberts of the United States Supreme Court recently confirmed that the threats to the rule of law and democracy are real, multiple and urgent (2019 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary).
An independent bar and judiciary creating unity and stability have always been the foundations of the CBA. The rule of law supports our democracy, it creates a social contract and is the arbiter of disputes, as well as the insurer of basic human rights (Mark A. Cohen, February 20, 2017). As lawyers and judges, we serve the public and it is in the public good that we should advance the rule of law. Without the necessary checks and balances, we could lose the values and fortitude that holds everyone accountable under the law. Therefore, it is important that the profession, as a whole, takes the lead in defending the rule of law. Through civil education and good advocacy, we can hopefully restore the public faith and confidence. I am certain that an inclusive CBA will always stand for these principles.
You've Come a Long Way Baby!
By Dragana Sanchez-Glowicki
Dragana Sanchez-Glowicki was Editor of Law Matters and Chair of the CBA Alberta Editorial Committee from 2007 to 2013.
My first memory of the Canadian Bar Association (“CBA”) and the Alberta Publication of Law Matters was in 1994. I was an articling student with the Calgary law firm of Walsh Wilkins (as it then was). The firm paid for my CBA and Alberta Young Lawyers Section Memberships. I was new to the profession, excited, eager, and thrilled to be integrating myself into one of the oldest and noblest of professions. I didn't think it got any better then a free membership to what I considered, and still consider to be, the most prestigious legal association in Canada. The speaker at my very first meeting of the Young Lawyers section was none other than the late Honourable Madame Justice Cecelia I. Johnstone. I'll never forget the experience. 12 to 15 young lawyers attended the meeting on that warm day in mid-October. We were fortunate enough to enjoy lunch, sitting around a table with a senior female Q.C. lawyer, in a beautiful CBA meeting room, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The structure of the meeting was an informal discussion with her Ladyship, about her experiences in the legal profession, from her first year of practice, all the way up the ladder to becoming a partner in a prestigious law firm. Had I known only 2 years later she would be appointed as a Queen’s Bench Justice, I likely would have been too nervous to eat my lunch. Justice Johnstone was poised, polished, friendly and real. When the meeting concluded, she gave each of us a grab bag! In the bag, amongst many treasured goodies from her firm, was a copy of both the March & June 1994 publications of Law Matters. I read both magazine at least 5 times from cover to cover. The educational component was invaluable to me. But, gazing at the black & white pictures and carefully reading all the names beneath the pictures, while imagining myself one day involved with the organization was exciting & dreamy. It was on that October day I learned the value of the CBA and Law Matters. Little did I know my dream would come true and shape my career and my practice for the next several decades. The CBA, and my involvement in the organization and particularly Law Matters, changed the trajectory of my career. I owe the CBA and Law Matters so much.
Through the decades, my involvement with the CBA was continuous, varied, meaningful and super fun. Unequivocally the highlight was sitting on the editorial committee of Law Matters for over 10 years, and, being the editor for 7 years. The first time I was asked to be a “Guest Editor” was in June of 2005. Unbeknownst to me at that time, I had been passed a torch. It was some two years later, in the fall of 2007, I was officially told that the title “Guest Editor” had been changed to “The Editor”. Replacing the words “Guest Editor” with “The Editor” gave me constant stomach butterflies. I took my new roll very seriously, and considered my second first publication as "My Baby”. I must have put in over 200 hours labouring over every word and making sure the publication was perfect. All I could think about was if I screw anything up, people have the option of “re-read, forever”! It was scary to say the least. I was rewarded very quickly when I received a note from Eugene Meehan, Q.C. saying “Dragana, Really good issue, Regards, Eugene”. Those few words, from a senior and accomplished lawyer from Ottawa (who’s second home is the Supreme Court of Canada) confirmed I had not bitten off more then I could chew, and that the 200+ hours of sweating was worth it. Thank you Eugene, I still have your note in my Archives. Over the years the committee and I developed, changed and grew the publication. The publication took on a new look, a quarterly theme, a consistent table of contents, photographs of the editorial committee, several new columns such as “Back to Basics”, the “Unsung Hero”, “Health Matters”, just to name a few. As Law Matters evolved and changed, we all evolved, changed and learned so much from our service to the publication. Education was a huge component of the publication, and the committee continuously scoured the profession to ensure experts in the various areas of the law wrote the educational pieces. The contributors explained the law succinctly and eloquently, helping lawyers across the province be on the cutting-edge. The education components were always timely, relevant and helped me with my Estate Litigation Practice. "Practice Pointers" was always an invaluable read. Judge A. A. Fradsham’s "View from the Bench" was always an enjoyable read. "What's Happening" kept the profession in the loop. The publication had something for everyone.
For me, the cherries on the cake were the people I was fortunate enough to get to work with, both on the Editorial Committee, and at the CBA offices. The committee members I am so grateful to, as they then were, and in no particular order; Justice E. I. Picard, Terrance Cooper,Q.C, Jason Schlotter, Scott Watson, Q.C. Devin Mylrea, Robert Harvie, Q.C., Tony Young, Q.C., Justice Gillian Marriott, Justice Michelle Hollins, and the late Shannon McGinty. These brilliant people took their volunteer position as seriously as their paid jobs. The dedication, devotion and energy the committee members, the CBA staff we worked with, Terry Evenson, Lindell Larson and Heather Walsh, and all the contributing writers brought to the publication, was over the top. Each time I looked at a final proof, I remember thinking, "this edition is the best one yet, I don't know if it's possible to make it any better next time”. But, each time it was even better.
Every publication was memorable, but I fondly remember a few special publications. Of course my first publication as Guest Editor in June of 2005, and equally as important was my second first publication as The Editor in the fall of 2007, when I realized this was “my baby”. The January 2007 publication when I interviewed our then Premiere, Ralph Klein. Then there is the fall 2008 publication when my twins came a bit early and Tony Young received a very late Friday night SOS call from the maternity ward asking for his help in order to meet the Monday morning deadline. And, of course, the last publication in the summer of 2012, as I walked down memory lane and reflected on all the good our committee was responsible for, and officially passed the torch onto Shannon McGinty.
I never thought I would walk down memory lane a second time, until Jessica Robertshaw, the current co-editor of Law Matters contacted me and asked me to write a piece for this, the last and final print edition of Law Matters. This baby is now moving to an entirely digital publication format. Of course I said yes to walking down memory lane a second time. And, although this baby is no longer mine, I am proud to have helped it grow, evolve, and watch it graduate to become the first CBA provincial publication to go entirely digital in September 2020! Congratulations to each and every Editorial Committee member and Editor from the 1st publication and into the future. We all had an influential role and we should all be very proud.
Musings from a Past Editor
By Robert G. Harvie, Q.C.
Robert Harvie, Q.C. was Editor of Law Matters and Chair of the CBA Alberta Editorial Committee from 20013 to 20017.
I have been asked to give a few words regarding my past experience working as a contributor, a committee member and for some time as Editor of Law Matters Magazine. I have been quite blessed, really, firstly to be a lawyer. After 34 years of practice, I still have great pride and appreciation for being a member of what I consider to be the finest of all professions and to be the cornerstone of a functioning free and democratic society. We often lose track of this as a profession in my experience as we tend to see law as a business and as a commodity. However, it is worth reminding ourselves that, often, a lawyer is the only thing standing between freedom and tyranny. What we do matters, greatly.
So, to begin with, there is that.
However – I have been further blessed – to have been able to have given back to my profession through work with several groups and organizations which have all focused on making that profession better in some fashion. One of my most rewarding experiences, clearly was the work that I was able to do with Law Matters – as a contributor, as a Board Member, and for some time as the Editor of this publication.
While the topics varied greatly, at their core, each and every issue of Law Matters exemplified some of the best of our profession taking time to share their knowledge, their perspectives and their advice on making the practice of law and the justice system as good as it could be – and in the bargain, making our Province and our Country a better place as well.
My experience was that difficult questions were frequently tackled by Law Matters without resort to political boosterism (though we all obviously have political perspectives), without resort to polarization in the effort to attract attention or readers, and with an eye to understanding and examining the complexities of justice and the practice of law.
In an age where so much of our media, and most certainly social media, seek to drive wedges between our citizens – and in doing so, often leading our politicians in the same direction – Law Matters has always taken a higher road. It has always, without exception, sought to educate and inform. As such, Law Matters and publications like it are fundamental to providing a nuanced and considered perspective on difficult issues central to question of whether our justice and political systems truly serve all persons.
These are difficult but critically important issues – and when social media, mainstream media and our own politicians tend to drive people apart with views often devoid of nuance or, in fact, substance – I have been so proud to have been a part of what I consider to be a group of incredibility dedicated staff and volunteers that took the better path.
Thank-you so much for having given me the opportunity to have been a part of such an incredibly important group and thank you to all the staff and volunteers who have made Law Matters work and who have made the experience so enjoyable.
The Honourable Judge Richard O'Gorman is judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta in the Calgary Family and Youth court. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge O'Gorman was editor of Law Matters from 2002 to 2004 and was president of the CBA Alberta in 2005-06.
Dragana Sanchez-Glowicki is a justice of the peace for the Provincial Court of Alberta in Edmonton. Prior to her appointment, Dragana practiced primarily in estate law with an emphasis on litigation and dispute resolution. Dragana was editor of Law Matters from 2007 to 2013.
Robert G. Harvie, Q.C. is a partner at Harvie denBok Pollock in Lethbridge, where he practices divorce and family law. Rob is a current member of the CBA Alberta Board of Directors, and a past Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta. He was editor of Law Matters from 2013 to 2017.