22 minute read
Celebrating the alumni and friends who support the law school and our programs
SCHULICH SCHOOL OF LAW · DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY DONOR REPORT
This report is a recognition of gifts received between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020
Advertisement
1949 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: David J. Waterbury, Q.C. 1950 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Robert Lyall 1951 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Maj (Rtd) John A. Commerford 1953 Total Class Giving...................... $16,700 Class Participation.............................. 13% Participating Donors: Hon. Justice Hiram Carver Harold F. G. Stevens, Q.C. Hon. Ronald C. Stevenson Herbert Wyman 1954 Class Participation................................5% Participating Donors: Kenneth Lund Joel Matheson, Q.C. 1955 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Hon. A. J. Stone 1956 Class Participation................................5% Participating Donors: Sir Graham Day Hon. Peter Power 1957 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: C. Patricia Harris, Q.C.* 1958 Class Participation................................8% Participating Donors: Edwin Harris June Nudelman Karlin 1959 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Robert K. Carleton 1960 Total Class Giving.......................... $6,213 Class Participation.............................. 16% Participating Donors: F. Garrick Homer Hon. Arthur M. Lutz Hon. K. R. MacDonald Stuart MacKinnon Hon. J. A. MacLellan 1961 Total Class Giving......................... $3,520 Class Participation.............................. 19% Participating Donors: George Caines, Q.C. Richard Cashin Hon. Paul Creaghan Milton H. Grant Boyd Lowery David Matheson, Q.C. 1962 Total Class Giving..........................$2,575 Class Participation...............................17% Participating Donors: Hon. Robert Ferguson Hon. Charles Haliburton Larry Hebb, Q.C. Robert E. Radford, Q.C. Hon. Eugene A. Scheibel Wayne R. Smith Hon. Clyde K. Wells, Q.C. 1963 Class Participation..............................10% Participating Donors: Harold MacKay, Q.C. G. Brian Purdy, Q.C. 1964 Class Participation................................6% Participating Donors: Hon. William Fitzgerald David Morris 1965 Total Class Giving......................... $2,650 Class Participation.............................. 18% Participating Donors: George Cooper Arthur Donahoe, Q.C. Hon. Gerard Hawco, Q.C. C. Thomas LeBrun, Q.C. Ian H. MacDonald, Q.C.* Hon. Theodore E. Margeson, Q.C. 1966 Total Class Giving........................ $11,030 Class Participation.............................. 16% Participating Donors: Peter Dey, Q.C. Paul Murphy, Q.C. John Myers Richard Thompson 1967 Total Class Giving.....................$208,431 Class Participation.............................. 18% Participating Donors: Hon. Leo Barry John C. Lovett, Q.C. Janette M. MacDonald Arthur Miller, Q.C. Hon. George J. Mullally Ernest G. Reid, Q.C. David Ritcey, Q.C. Dennis M. Starzynski, Q.C. John A. Yogis (LLM), Q.C. 1968 Total Class Giving........................$27,475 Class Participation............................. 20% Participating Donors: Donald R. Brown, Q.C. Heather Grant Richard A. Henderson Hon. Arthur J. LeBlanc, Q.C. Hon. D. William MacDonald, Q.C. William R. McColm David H. Reardon, Q.C. David H. Sohmer Harry D. Thompson, Q.C. William E. Wells 1969 Total Class Giving..........................$4,765 Class Participation.............................. 14% Participating Donors: Brian Bruce Morris J. Haugg, Q.C. Steve Konchalski Paull N. Leamen Ronald A. MacDonald Robbie MacKeigan, Q.C. John McFarlane, Q.C. David A. Milner Robert B. Waind 1970 Total Class Giving.........................$4,344 Class Participation.............................. 15% Participating Donors: Hon. Douglas Cook Hon. Pat Curran Mary Dawson, Q.C. Pierre M. Hebert Clifford Hood, Q.C. Ceri Hugill George MacDonald, Q.C. James (Skip) Oliver Dennis Y. Perlin John M. White 1971 Total Class Giving........................ $12,225 Class Participation.............................. 13% Participating Donors: Tom Boyne, Q.C. Hon. M. A. Cameron Donald W. Clark Hon. Judge Bill Digby Donald Gibson Walter A. McEwen, Q.C. Derry Millar Peter A. S. Milliken Douglas Moores, Q.C. Tarcisio Nella Hon. H. J. Puddester David Wallace, Q.C. Hon. Justice Robert Wright 1972 Total Class Giving.........................$9,930 Class Participation............................... 11% Participating Donors: Cherry G. Ferguson William J. Leslie, Q.C. Hon. J. Vernon MacDonald Hon. Justice George Macintosh Hon. Thomas Marshall, Q.C. J. Fraser B. Mills Dolores M. Morrell Jeffrey L. Schelew Clifton Prowse, Q.C. Hon. Janet Prowse Hon. Justice Greg Warner Hon. Judge Jim Wilson
1973 Total Class Giving..........................$1,950 Class Participation................................8% Participating Donors: Michael Bird Brian Gibson Raymond F. Glennie, Q.C. Hon. Robert B. Hyslop Thomas W. Patience Hon. Justice Jamie Saunders Hon. Justice Nicoll M. Scaravelli Hon. Maurice G. Smith, Q.C. 1974 Total Class Giving.......................$46,433 Class Participation.............................. 14% Participating Donors: Prof. Bruce Archibald, Q.C. John W. Chandler, Q.C. Mary Clancy Hon. Brent Cotter Hon. Tamarin Dunnet Hon. Deborah Gass James Gregg, Q.C. Paul D. Jardine Mark Johnson Hon. Beryl MacDonald Hon. Justice James MacPherson Hon. A. Anne McLellan David Meadows, Q.C. Connie Munro Dan O’Connor John Plowman, Q.C. Hon. Elizabeth Roscoe Paul Stokes, Q.C. Robert C. Strother 1975 Total Class Giving.........................$5,840 Class Participation................................9% Participating Donors: Bruce M. Graham Gregory S. Hildebrand Beatrice Fejtek Hines Brian Langille Laurie S. Pascoe Hon. Paul J. Pearlman F. T. Mark Pujolas Hon. Justice Heather Robertson Wendell Sanford Michael Schelew 1976 Total Class Giving........................ $12,010 Class Participation...............................12% Participating Donors: Hon. Jean-Louis Batiot Roberta J. Clarke, Q.C. Linda M. Gaudet David C. Hicks Mary A. Kimball Andrew Love V. A. (Bud) MacDonald, Q.C. Brian MacLellan, Q.C. Hon. M. Clare MacLellan Timothy Matthews, Q.C. Stephen Mattson, Q.C. Hon. Linda Oland Robert M. Purdy, Q.C. Lynne Redden Gerry Roy John Stringer, Q.C. Anthony L. Sweet Jim Titerle 1977 Total Class Giving..........................$11,417 Class Participation.............................. 14% Participating Donors: Hon. Robert Barnes Harold Barnett Hon. Nancy Bateman Robert Booth, Q.C. Janice M. Bruni Steven Enman Hon. Justice Kenneth C. Haley Peter A. Love Alison Taylor Love, Q.C. Colin Patrick MacDonald, Q.C. Robert G. McNeil Susan C. Potts Hon. Judge Michael B. Sherar Elizabeth J. Shilton Hon. Justice Frans F. Slatter Harold M. Smith, Q.C. James W. Stanley Robert Stewart Hon. Judge Tim White 1978 Total Class Giving..........................$4,381 Class Participation.............................. 13% Participating Donors: Robert D. Annett Frank Archibald James G. Battin Bernard J. Butler Elizabeth Callaghan Joseph A. Cameron James A. Chisholm Elizabeth Ellis Anne Emery David S. Green Kari J. LeLacheur Valerie Macdonald Mary E. Meisner, Q.C. Don Roger Hon. Judge Peter Ross Claude Samson (LLM) Hon. Margaret J. Stewart Shirley Strutt, Q.C. Tom Strutt 1979 Total Class Giving........................$19,285 Class Participation...............................12% Participating Donors: Andrew Brands Hon. Judge Marc Chisholm Kim L. Chong (LLM) Hon. Judge Anne E. Crawford John Cuthbertson, Q.C. Keith R. Evans, Q.C. Randall C. Fleming D. Suzan Frazer S. Donalda MacBeath Brian Maltman Marian McGrath Paul D. Michael, Q.C. Hon. Justice Rosemary Nation (LLM) Maureen O’Connell David N. Ross Alan Tufts Raymond Wagner 1980 Total Class Giving..........................$7,476 Class Participation..............................10% Participating Donors: Kenneth L. Baggs, Q.C. D’Arcy DePoe Valerie Dyer Anna Fried P. R. Hames Stuart Koskie Mark MacDonald, Q.C. James MacLean Donald MacLennan Anthony Pylypuk Patricia L. Reardon Mark S. Rosen Alison W. Scott Randy Smith 1981 Total Class Giving.......................... $8,123 Class Participation.............................. 14% Participating Donors: Jeff Berryman (LLM) Barbara H. Campbell Patrick I. Cassidy, Q.C. Hon. Judge Steven D’Arcy Margaret Dickson K. Sara Filbee Marjorie Hickey, Q.C. Peter K. Large J. Scott MacKenzie, Q.C. Arthur Oliphant Paul Radford, Q.C. Barry J. Ryan Clifford J. Shaw, Q.C. Philip J. Star, Q.C. Paul L. Walter, Q.C. Vance Wirth Rhonda Wishart 1982 Total Class Giving..........................$4,775 Class Participation................................9% Participating Donors: Clare F. Barry Brian W. Downie, Q.C. Kenneth Godfrey Scott P. Gray Kerry M. Harnish Hon. Justice Lois Hoegg Ian MacKay Linda Rankin Toshimi Sembo Shauna Sullivan Curley, Q.C. Hon. Chief Justice Michael Wood 1983 Total Class Giving.........................$8,003 Class Participation............................... 11% Participating Donors: Colin D. Bryson, Q.C. Brian W. Derrah Guy Desmarais Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C. Daryl Fridhandler, Q.C. James A. Graham Elizabeth M. H. McCormick Donald Allan Landry Christopher W. Morris M. Lynn Murray, Q.C. Scott Norton, Q.C. Charles Reagh Hon. Geoff Regan Hon. Robert T. F. Smith A. Christina Tari Art Theuerkauf, Q.C. Natalie Vukovich 1984 Total Class Giving....................... $29,535 Class Participation............................... 11% Participating Donors: Janet M. Chisholm Clare Christie John S. Fitzpatrick, Q.C. Peter Gorgopa Mark A. Greenberg Shirley Lee Robert R. MacArthur Hon. Justice Gillian Marriott Douglas McLean Ken Mills Jim Musgrave, Q.C. Mary C. Parker Maureen Reid Penelope Tham Jeremy A. Thomas (LLM) Hon. Chief Judge Pam Williams 1985 Total Class Giving......................... $9,395 Class Participation............................... 11% Participating Donors: Deborah Amour Brenda Christen Prof. Steve Coughlan Hon. Judge Pamela Goulding Charlotte Hatfield Karen Hudson, Q.C. Mark Knox, Q.C. Hon. Justice Mona M. Lynch Jim MacAulay Kevin MacLean Brian E. McConnell Francine McIntyre Celia J. Melanson Dean D. Pietrantonio Samy F. Salloum
1986 Total Class Giving..........................$5,925 Class Participation................................ 7% Participating Donors: Hon. Judge Michelle Christopher Linda Dolan Barry G. Fleming Hon. Justice Theresa Forgeron Ian Hanomansingh Donald B. Jarvis Alex MacFarlane Ronald M. Snyder Nancy Trott Ian C. Wallace 1987 Total Class Giving......................... $2,550 Class Participation................................6% Participating Donors: Robert A. Balcom Charlotte Davis Harvey Delaney Margery Fowke Christopher Hale Paul R. Ives John Kulik, Q.C. Yvonne R. LaHaye, Q.C. R. Alexander Neve 1988 Total Class Giving.......................... $7,150 Class Participation................................5% Participating Donors: Marianne L. Alto-Bond E. W. Scott Dickieson, Q.C. Donald J. Dow Gordon Manuel Alnasir Meghji Mark Schmidt Ann G. Wilkie 1989 Total Class Giving..........................$9,100 Class Participation................................6% Participating Donors: Hon. Chief Judge Peter Chisholm Hon. Judge Stephanie A. Cleary Richard J. Freeman Jessie M. Frost-Wicks Nathalie Goyette Siobhan A. Hanley John R. Manning Sylvain Rigaud Marilyn Sandford
1990 Total Class Giving......................... $11,597 Class Participation................................9% Participating Donors: James K. Arends Diana Belevsky Leonard P. Bosschart Todd Burke Christopher English James E. Fisher Gareth C. Howells Donald MacDiarmid Colonel Bruce MacGregor Donald K. MacKenzie Diane L. McInnis Hon. Justice George L. Murphy Hon. Justice Francis P. O’Brien David H. Taylor James D. H. Wood 1991 Total Class Giving.........................$3,509 Class Participation................................6% Participating Donors: Steven Baldwin Simon P. Barker Colin J. Clarke Jane Fitzpatrick Myrna L. Gillis Jeffrey Hunt Sean F. Layden, Q.C. Celine Levesque Hon. Justice Diane MacDonald Susan MacKay Andrew C. Staples 1992 Total Class Giving...........................$11,115 Class Participation...............................12% Participating Donors: J. Gordon Allen Mike Brady Sheila J. Cameron Peter D. Crowther Andrew M. Grant Dale E. Ives John T. Kalm Geoffrey Litherland Rhea McGarva Toby D. Mendel Dr. Stephen G. A. Pitel T. A. Pratt Karen A. Rose Jorge P. Segovia Darren Stratton Hugh Wright Samira G. Zayid Rodney J. Zdebiak 1993 Total Class Giving......................... $15,212 Class Participation............................... 11% Participating Donors: Brent W. Barrie Brian Beck Subrata Bhattacharjee Eric Bremermann Matthew Certosimo Gary B. Dukeshire Andrea J. Duncan Graham Flack John F. Fox Frederick L. Glady Joan Hatch Erin Iles Roger Lee Leonard J. MacKay Peter MacKenzie Sarah L. MacKenzie Vicki Stokoe Scott Warwick 1994 Total Class Giving..........................$5,210 Class Participation...............................12% Participating Donors: Mary Birdsell Cynthia L. Chewter Glenn C. Dodge Jane D. Harrigan (LLM) Lale N. Kesebi John Le Blanc Daphne C. Loukidelis Jennifer A. MacLellan, Q.C. Tyna Mason Mik Maxino (LLM) Garry A. McCay S. L. McCurdy Heather A. McNeill, Q.C. Patricia A. Neild David C. Perlmutter Greg Shirley Robert K. Smithson Eric Taylor 1995 Total Class Giving...........................$3,173 Class Participation................................3% Participating Donors: Jennifer G. Carmichael Anneke Driessen van der Lieck Jay Maw Andrew Stephens John Underhill 1996 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Zarah E. Walpole D. Scott Worsfold 1997 Total Class Giving............................$1,175 Class Participation................................4% Participating Donors: Cheryl Canning Susan E. Carruthers Vincent C. Kazmierski Robert F. MacDonald Lisa C. Osoba Duaine W. Simms 1998 Total Class Giving.........................$2,005 Class Participation................................4% Participating Donors: Paula Boutis Prof. Robert J. Currie Paul Falvo Sean Foreman Julienne Hills Peter J. Salah 1999 Total Class Giving........................ $4,003 Class Participation................................4% Participating Donors: Sunny Ho Harry Korosis Blair I. Levinsky Kevin K. Rooney Prof. Sheila Wildeman 2001 Total Class Giving..........................$3,100 Class Participation................................3% Participating Donors: Joe Burke Andreas E. Kuntze Hon. Sandra Oxner (LLM) Andrew Wilson 2002 Total Class Giving.......................... $2,261 Class Participation................................3% Participating Donors: Level Chan Patricia E. Doyle-Bedwell (LLM) Leigh Lampert Andrew J. Wadden 2003 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Maegen Giltrow Chris Peddigrew Julia Tremain 2005 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Naiomi S. Metallic Matthew Owen-King 2006 Total Class Giving............................ $450 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Francis Durnford Lisa Filgiano Michelle Kellam Julien Ranger 2007 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: Peter Dostal Aaron Hirschorn Jennifer Ko 2008 Class Participation................................2% Participating Donors: William Callaghan Jarvis Googoo Mark Watton 2011 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Teresa-Anne Martin 2012 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Laura Neals
2013 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Cameron L. Foster Jalana Lewis 2014 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Elizabeth Marie McIsaac 2016 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Kelsey Croft 2017 Class Participation.................................1% Participating Donors: Christina Macdonald Mary B. Rolf Kathleen Tanner ESTATES Estate of Alex Ross Estate of R. B. Viscount Bennett Estate of Douglas Coombes Estate of Eleanor Joyce Dickey Estate of C. Patricia Harris Marie MacInnes Alter Ego Trust Estate of Sarah Wolff
While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this report, we apologize if your name has been misspelled, omitted or incorrectly listed. Please let us know so that we can correct our records.
Total Class Giving amounts are excluded for those classes with three or less donations, to protect confidentiality. The names of those who wish to be anonymous are also excluded. FRIENDS OF THE LAW SCHOOL Quenta Janine Adams Colin R. Arnold Edward Badovinac Jennifer K. Bankier Mary Lynn Campbell Daniel M. Campbell Sarah Nichole Chiasson Jennifer Chow George Clarke Constance M. Darby Kelly Dodge Stanley Dwyer Gordon S. Earle Jo-Anne Embree Dick Evans Tommy Faulkner Jeanne Fay Patricia Fordham Jane Fraser & Paul Deveau Brennen Geller Gerald* Godsoe, Q.C. & Dale Godsoe, CM Hans Gosine Bill Hayward Robin Hunter John Joyce Marsha Kagan Karen Kavanaugh Lucy Kerr Jean F. Knickle Jean K. Lawrence Rita Levato Christine M. MacInnes Audrey Macklin John MacLatchy Lana M. MacLean Roy Matsui Elizabeth Marie McIsaac Janet C. McKinlay Virginia Gayle Minnaar Geoffrey K. Mitchell Michael & Barbara Morin Rob Murray Wendy Parker Beth Parker Alison & Gordon Patterson Darrel Pearson Phil Pothier Gillian Pullen Isabel M. Reid Claudine (Pothier) Renault Sherrolyn Muriel Riley James A. Rooney Risa Rotenberg Leslie Sigurdson Joan Simpson Donna Smythe Jennifer Strasberg Thomas H. B. Symons Lisa Tanner Susan Wayne Anne Lambert & Tom Welch James Welch Margo Welch Frederick* & Eve Wickwire Michelle Williams Mitch Williams ORGANIZATIONS Bereskin & Parr LLP Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (ON) Boyne Clarke LLP Burnet Duckworth Palmer LLP Canadian Energy Law Foundation Canadian Judicial Council Cape Breton Barristers’ Society Canadian Bar Association Dalhousie Faculty Association Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP Deveaux International Governance Consultants Inc. Dinyar Marzban Law Corporation E. W. Scott Dickieson Barrister & Solicitor Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Gowlings LLP Henderson & Henderson PC International Association of Women Judges - Canadian Chapter J. S. Fitzpatrick Law Inc. Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal Law Foundation of Nova Scotia Lenczner Slaght Lenehan Musgrave LLP McCall MacBain Foundation McCarthy Tetrault McInnes Cooper Michelle C. Christopher Barrister & Solicitor Miller Thomson LLP Moores Andrews Collins The Black Female Lawyers Network Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Patterson Law Philip J. Star Q.C. Inc. Pink Larkin Schwab Charitable Fund Shodan Investments Ltd. Smithson Employment Law Corp. Stewart McKelvey Subrata Bhattacharjee Professional Corporation The Calgary Foundation The Donald R. Sobey Foundation Thomson Reuters Tiller Holdings Ltd. Torys LLP W. Donald Goodfellow, Q.C. Waind Management & Consulting
A TARGETED APPROACH John Wilmot and John Cuthbertson fundraise for the James S. Palmer Chair
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
John Wilmot (’80) and John Cuthbertson (’79) learned quickly that if you want to raise a large sum of money, it helps to have a remarkable person behind your cause.
When Dean Camille Cameron asked the partners at Calgarybased Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP to raise close to $1 million to help establish the James S. Palmer Chair in Public Policy and Law and bring its endowment to $4 million - it was an easy decision.
“You just could not say ‘no’,” says Wilmot.
Not only were all three men graduates of the law school, but Palmer was a mentor at their firm and a leader in business, tax and international law. Having helped develop Alberta’s oil and gas industry, Palmer was a trusted advisor to governments and corporations. He was passionate about progressive public policy and above that - he was exceptionally generous, giving to schools, the arts and social service groups.
After the law school announced a $3-million gift from the Palmer Family Foundation to establish the Chair, Wilmot and Cuthbertson set out to raise another million for the endowment to ensure its longevity. In 2017, they enlisted the help of a successful business leader in Calgary who was a major fundraiser and knew Palmer. His advice: target your fundraising.
The first step in their campaign was to compile a list of about 40 of Palmer’s friends, business associates and political connections. Next, they crafted a letter to send them, with the law school’s help.
“The initial letter wasn’t the kind you receive every day in the mail,” says Cuthbertson. “It was personalized. It identified the personal relationship they had with Jim.” If they hoped to get a $25,000 donation or more from each donor, they knew they had to make a good case. They emphasized that as a personal friend of Palmer’s their donation would honour him in a meaningful way and help to fulfill his dream of creating a forum for public discourse and public policy research that stretched across the country. In 2008, Palmer and his wife, Barbara established a similar Chair at the University of Calgary. The letter also emphasized the generosity of Palmer and his family, who gave millions of dollars for the Palmer Chair.
“When you’re asking someone for money, they want to know how much you’re giving,” says Cuthbertson.
They thought a direct approach would be most effective and they were right. Of the approximately $870,000 they raised in a year of fundraising, $500,000 came from three donors. In the second stage of their fundraising, they targeted a larger group of people who knew Palmer, but not as well. They were asked for smaller gifts.
When Schulich Law Professor Jocelyn Downie was appointed Dalhousie’s inaugural James S. Palmer Chair in Public Policy and Law in 2018, an evening of thanks for the donors was held in Calgary at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP. Downie and members of the Palmer family were there. Wilmot and Cuthbertson knew then that their fundraising efforts had helped to make a remarkable vision a reality.
“It wasn’t easy,” says Wilmot. “But it was an easy story to tell.”
JOHN CUTHBERTSON JOHN WILMOT
TOP OF THE CLASS Class of ’74 becomes the first law class to raise $200,000
BY STEPHANIE HURLEY
Schulich Law alumni have always been at the top of the class when it comes to giving back to the law school that helped shape their careers and lives.
That desire to support the next generation of students is personified by the impressive contributions of the Class of ’74. This past September, at their 45th anniversary reunion, they were honoured for being the first law class to reach the $200,000 giving milestone.
In 2009, they launched a series of Schulich School of Law bursaries. Presented to students in need, each bursary is named for a beloved law school professor who taught during the class’s tenure: Bill Charles (LLB ’58, LLD ’01), Innis Christie (’62), Peter Darby (’58), Murray Fraser, Hugh Kindred, and John Yogis (’64).
“We picked these professors because they had a special relationship to our class,” says Mary Clancy (’74), who served as a Member of Parliament from 1988 to 1997. “They earned our respect, our admiration, and our lifelong affection and gratitude, and these bursaries are a small tribute for all that they gave us.”
At the 2019 LAWbster dinner in Halifax, lead volunteers Clancy, Jim Coleman (’74) and Brent Cotter (’74) accepted the award from Dean Cameron and one of the 2019 recipients, Addison Leigh on behalf of their class. Leigh then addressed the room.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to know that the program you are currently in has produced so many successful and generous individuals. There is nothing that requires you to give back, and yet here you are at what is truly an exceptional milestone. Although the bursaries are monetary gifts, they really are more than that. It’s a message saying, ‘We made it, so can you, and here’s a little help.’”
The Class of ’74 remains committed to making it possible for the next generation of students to succeed. “We got a great legal education, at a great law school, from great teachers, at a modest cost, and a great start in our careers. The Class of 1974 gift tries to honour all of this and helps students for whom the cost of attending law school is a lot greater now. It is our way of saying ‘Thanks’,” says Cotter.
However, they are not done yet. They have future plans to grow the fund as they know how much their support means to Schulich Law students.
“Although the times are perilous and the sorrows many, it gives respite in this time of isolation to recall the wonderful years at the law school, the generosity of our classmates and the example and expertise of our faculty,” says Clancy. “Let’s hope we can meet again in person at our 50th!”
FROM LEFT: Justice Jill Hamilton, Gordon Greenwood, Connie Munro, Glenn Smith, Jim Coleman, Anne McLellan, Brent Cotter, Mary Helleiner, Mary Clancy, Paul Jardine
CULTURE OF GRATITUDE Class of ’90 reaches $100,000 giving milestone
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
The Law Class of ’90 has reason to celebrate. Through their generous donations, the alumni are not only helping the next generation of students succeed, but they are being recognized for having reached a significant giving milestone.
Leading up to their 30th anniversary reunion, they became the second class in the law school’s history to reach $100,000 in contributions. Since establishing the Law Class of 1990 Memorial Award in 2006, the class has raised $107,345.
“Our class endowment gives us an outlet for meaningful and enduring support to the law school and its students. We’re not done yet!” says Don MacDiarmid (’90). “One hundred thousand dollars is simply a nice round number. It is not a destination. I hope that we will continue to grow the Law Class of 1990 Memorial Award.”
The class was scheduled to be awarded the Dean’s Cup in recognition of their achievement at their 30th anniversary class reunion in October. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event had to be cancelled.
Fourteen years ago, several graduates of the Class of ’90 were searching for a meaningful way to commemorate a classmate who died tragically in a ski accident when the idea to create the memorial award was hatched, says MacDiarmid.
After Linda Putnam was killed in 2005, when an avalanche roared down a mountain near the Austrian resort of St. Anton am Arlberg, law school friends and classmates discussed how they could honour her memory. Instead of creating an award in Linda’s name, they decided to establish one that would commemorate the class.
The award was first granted during the 2012-2013 academic year; the recipient received $2,000. Having grown substantially since then, MacDiarmid expects the annual award to be close to $5,200 this academic year. “In the coming years, I would like to see the endowment grow to a level that would support granting meaningful awards annually to one student in each of the three undergrad classes of the law school,” says MacDiarmid.
Recent grad Reagan Siedler (’20) was so thankful for having received the Law Class of 1990 Memorial Award in 2020, he wrote a thoughtful letter to the class.
“I was thrilled to be the recipient of your scholarship this year as it became more or less the entirety of my net worth,” says Siedler. “I am very appreciative for the support I’ve received through the school as I know this degree would be impossible without it. I will remember your help in future years when I, hopefully, am in a position to give back as well.”
Siedler’s letter was a poignant reminder to MacDiarmid of why the award is important and how it inspires a culture of gratitude and giving among Law students and alumni.
FROM LEFT: Roger Proctor, Leonard Bosschart, Peter Rumscheidt, Sarret Smith
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION Grateful for his legal education, Ronald Stevenson has been loyally supporting Dal for 50 years
BY FALLON BOURGEOIS
Ronald Stevenson (’53) can’t recall the specifics of his first gift to his alma mater. Not surprising as it was nearly 60 years ago. He does however remember what motivated him to do so. And it’s the same reason he’s been a loyal Dalhousie donor for a half century.
“I’ve always been grateful to Dalhousie for the grounding I got in legal education,” says Stevenson. “It contributed to the success I had practicing law and as a judge. To me giving back is a way to show my appreciation.”
In December, Stevenson was recognized as the newest gold member of the MacLennan Society. Only the fourth living person to reach the milestone, gold members are recognized for 50 years of consistent giving (in a 60-year span). It’s an honour Stevenson appreciates.
Stevenson has loyally supported the law school and in recent years has been inspired by his youngest daughter, Sarah Stevenson, associate university librarian at the Killam Memorial Library to expand his giving to Dal libraries.
A native of New Brunswick, where Stevenson has spent most of his life, he graduated from Dalhousie’s School of Law in 1953. That same year he was admitted to the New Brunswick bar and began his legal career.
Stevenson describes his early career working in a “small practice” where the most rewarding part of his work was helping people. “In those days we didn’t worry about billing hours, we were more concerned about finding the most inexpensive way to fix our client’s problems. That’s where I got the greatest satisfaction from my work.”
And just as Stevenson reached nearly 20 years practicing law, he was appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench in New Brunswick in 1972. He welcomed the new challenge and savoured the opportunities that came with moving from a small practice to the court room.
RONALD STEVENSON PICTURED WITH HIS GRANDDAUGHTER
“As a judge you face a new problem every day. Over the course of your career you face a variety of cases and each one brings a different challenge. You never stop learning as a lawyer—I’ve been a law student for 70 years now,” Stevenson says reflectively.
Stevenson remained a judge for 22 years before retiring at 65. A father of three daughters and several grandchildren and great grandchildren, Stevenson says he’s been fortunate to enjoy a long, healthy retirement. He’s displayed the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service as an active and dedicated volunteer with the Anglican Church, including serving as the Chancellor of General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Over the years he’s kept in touch with classmates and still recalls the camaraderie amongst the class of 39 students, likely the reason for the connection they’ve maintained, adding that survivors still get together from time to time.
“Last year we had a mini reunion and Dean [Camille] Cameron joined us. In fact, just yesterday I had a phone call from one of the fellows who attended.”
As for his years of loyal giving to Dalhousie, Stevenson hopes the example set by those recognized by the MacLennan Society, at any level, may inspire younger alumni to support Dalhousie regularly however modestly or generous.
