Honouring Two of our Best
LASA hosted its annual fundraising dinner in Calgary on November 12, 2015 at the Palliser Hotel. The well-attended evening was a great success. Along with two delightful speakers, the Legal Archives honoured two of Alberta’s finest lawyers and jurists while also celebrating the centennial of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch.
Gordon Brown, Q.C., spoke about the political and legal career of Canada’s eleventh Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. R.B. Bennett, K.C. Mr. Brown discussed Bennett’s influence on politics, including his service to Canadians during the Great Depression. During this difficult time in Canadian history, Bennett was generous, giving millions of dollars (in today’s terms) to charities and even individuals who petitioned him. During his time as Prime Minister, Bennett established the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1932 and the Bank of Canada in 1935.
Bennett’s legal career was no less impressive. He was the founding partner of what is now Bennett Jones LLP. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the partnership between him and Senator James Lougheed, his influence as a leading member of the Calgary bar remained significant. He was a principal figure in the establishment of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, and served as its first President from 1915 to 1928. This organization has had a lasting and important role in the development of the law in Alberta.
There have been sixty-eight Presidents of the CBA, Alberta since his term. Of that number several have gone on to prominent careers inside and outside the law, including many firm founders, five Chief Justices, and a number of jurists appointed to all levels of courts in Alberta. Cecilia Johnstone, the first female branch President, went on to become the first female President of the CBA’s national body.
When the CBA, Alberta was formed there was an estimated population of 213,096 people living in Alberta. There were 658 practicing lawyers, which included one female lawyer, Lillian Ruby Clements. Over the past one hundred years, things have dramatically changed. Alberta now has a population of approximately 4.2 million people with 9,526 lawyers practicing, including 3,707 women.
The Honourable Clifton O’Brien, Q.C., spoke about the legal and judicial career of the Honourable J.H. Laycraft, Q.C., former Chief Justice of Alberta. Chief Justice Laycraft was a titan of the Alberta legal community having spent four decades as a litigator and judge, where he helped shape the post-Charter world. His legacy went beyond the courtroom. Chief Justice Laycraft, was a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta, including chairing the Education Committee. Together with the Honourable William Stevenson, he rewrote and updated the Alberta Rules of Court.
Justice O’Brien addressed Chief Justice Laycraft’s lasting legacy on Alberta’s legal heritage, including his support for the Legal Archives Society of Alberta. He recalled a letter by the former Chief Justice supporting the establishment of the Legal Archives Society of Alberta: “the programme to be essential for the preservation of the history of our Province…these records [stored at LASA] are not only an interesting part of our history…they are the evidence of past policies, events and issues, an understanding of which is vital for the future progress of our Province. The Archives will provide the source material for many aspects of the…history of Alberta.”
A big thank you on behalf of the Board of Directors and staff at the Legal Archives Society of Alberta to all those who continue to support LASA’s Historical Dinner. Also a thank you to all the speakers who added their own unique contributions to the evening. And, last but certainly not least, a big thank you to Gordon Brown, Q.C., and the Honourable Clifton O’Brien, Q.C., who helped make the Calgary dinner a great success.
