On May 4 and October 19, 2023, LASA hosted our Annual Historical Dinners in Calgary and Edmonton respectively. Both were firsts for the annual events since November 2019 in Edmonton, and January 2020 in Calgary. We were delighted to welcome the Honourable Ritu Khullar, Chief Justice of Alberta, to speak at both dinners.
We were honoured when Chief Justice Khullar, sworn in as Chief Justice of Alberta on February 23, 2023, acknowledged that LASA’s invitation was the first she received and accepted following her appointment.
At both dinners, Chief Justice Khullar used history to inform the future. In the past several years, there has been a generational shift on the bench. This can be an opportunity for adaptation in the fast-changing world we inhabit. However, the courts – as a pillar democracy – must also be a source of stability in that same world. The challenge is finding the balance between stability and change.
She spoke on six precedent-setting Charter cases from Alberta that involved many of her colleagues – before they were appointed to the bench – from across Canada to illustrate that the courts, as an institution, are in good hands. The six cases Chief Justice Khullar spoke on were Mahe v. Alberta, R. v. Big M Drug Mart, R. v. Martineau, R. v. Jordan, R. v. Mills, and Vriend v. Alberta.
It is because of the many notable lawyers, now judges, involved in these cases that the courts and those who populate them are well-equipped to strike that balance between change and stability as they guide the legal system into the future.
The Legal Archives Society of Alberta wishes to thank all those who attended both dinners and who continue to support our work to preserve and promote Alberta’s legal heritage. LASA wants to thank all those who helped organize the dinners in Calgary and Edmonton, as well as all the speakers who made each evening memorable. We also extend our thanks to Chief Justice Khullar, who graciously accepted our invitation.
