Message to the New Notaries from The President of The Society of Notaries Public

This is such a special day for our new Notaries; it is a double celebration. The day began with the formal presentation before The Honourable Justice Hinkson of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Now at this luncheon, we present the awards and you receive your commissions.

Your success in the program and that of our previous classes is a tribute to the vision and perseverance of those who worked to establish our partnership with SFU to provide a sound, in-depth legal education for BC Notaries. Some of the people on that first committee include Bob Reid, Rick Evans, Todd McKendrick, Marny Morin, Ruth Price, George Cadman, and of course Wayne Braid.

Your graduating class marks the 10th anniversary of our MA ALS education program . . . the Master of Arts degree in Applied Legal Studies at Simon Fraser University. Over those 10 years, our Society has grown. With the addition of all of you to our membership roll, we now have over 400 members.

The Society you have joined is diverse and our membership is spread across the province. We provide services in many different languages Over 50 per cent of our members are graduates of the MA ALS program and over 50 percent are women. The average age of a practising BC Notary is 52.

The formal education part of your Notary journey is complete. Although you have a strong foundation in the relevant noncontentious legal matters in our province, your education is just beginning. We as a Society are here to support and assist where we can and to provide a framework for you. To be successful, you will have to find your legal niche in your neighbourhood.

Being a Notary is not a static occupation. We have survived as a recognized Society by adapting to the world around us to provide many of the legal services that the people of our province want and need. Through our many long years of service, we have established a legacy of trust.

Throughout the centuries, people have trusted their Notaries, trusted them to provide legal advice in our areas of expertise, trusted them to draft important documents, trusted them to hold and secure their money and homes, and trusted them to look after their affairs in many cases. As new Notaries, you have inherited that trust. Use it wisely.

The Notary Public has been a respected and valued part of society dating back to before Roman times. We have changed throughout the centuries; today we have adapted to the new digital world. The face of the Notary is changing, the way we practise is changing, and change is accelerating each year. Some of the things we have learned to do will be automated or eliminated. The ways we handle client monies will change. Expectations from our clients will change.

I want to assure you that clients will seek your professional legal services. Enjoy helping the people of British Columbia.

Congratulations to each of you and welcome to The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia! s