PROFILE OF A BC NOTARY SHOWCASING THE WINNERS OF THE PRESTIGIOUS DR. BERNARD W. HOETER AWARD

Showcasing the Winners of the Prestigious Dr. Bernard W. Hoeter Award Year 2018, BC Notary Roman Svirshchevs'kyy, Vancouver and Langley Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life

Iwas born an only child in a small town in Ukraine.

Always a keener, I spent my formative years every Saturday participating in an extracurricular class on the basics of law and government. That sparked an early interest in law for me.

After I completed my law degree, my best friend persuaded me to go on an adventure to Canada with him where I met my wife Lauren. She and her family convinced me to pursue my passion as a BC Notary.

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Tarlok and Akash Sablok at Sablok & Sablok Notaries Public for 2-and-a-half years while I was a Notary student. I gained a deep understanding of conveyancing and how to manage a business office. There is great responsibility in every aspect of a BC Notary practice; I am thankful to have learned and observed from such natural mentors and experts in the field.

Thanks to Dr. Hoeter’s vision and efforts, the Notary profession in British Columbia is diverse and multilingual.

It was my dream to become a BC Notary. The work of a BC Notary has meaning and heart. Thanks to Dr. Hoeter’s vision and efforts, the Notary profession in British Columbia is diverse and multilingual. I am proud to be part of this Tradition of Trust and equally proud to able to represent the BC Notaries organization and connect with the community in a meaningful way through language. In addition to English, I speak Ukrainian and Russian fluently.

I have always pushed myself to work very hard and those efforts have paid off in school. The Notary education program, however, was one of the biggest challenges of my life. I had to complete my studies in my third language while caring for my young family, with another baby on the way.

In addition to being a full-time student, I worked full-time to obtain the solid practical work experience that is part of the BC Notaries education program, the Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies (MA ALS) through Simon Fraser University.

I am so honoured to be the recipient of the Bernard Hoeter Award for 2018 for achieving the highest overall marks in all six of the highly challenging statutory exams. I couldn’t have done it without the steady love and support of my family who are my pillars of strength and continue to give endlessly. Moreover, I could not have done it without the great friendships and camaraderie of my cohort. I am still astounded as each of us worked tremendously hard on the exams and are all so deserving. I will fondly recall our bond and many intense study sessions intermixed with lots of laughs and even an oyster dinner!

I enjoy helping people using my professional knowledge and experience. Every client has his or her own personal story . . . they invite