How the Schulich School of Law is training future legal professionals for a tech-driven society.
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CONNECTIONS
20 James MacDuff balances his career in law with a life of
22 Schulich Law alum lend their legal knowledge in service to Canada’s Senate 24 Marissa Prosper uses her legal and lived experience to encourage students to study law
36 How Takdir Rahmadi has helped shape Indonesia’s environmental rule of law
INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT
26 Morgan Meade reflects on her summer internship at Irving Shipbuilding Inc.
30 How the law school is training future legal professionals for a tech-driven society DONOR PROFILES
38 Find out what inspired these donors to give to Schulich Law DONOR
42 Celebrating the alumni and friends who support the law school and its programs
WELDON PROFESSORS
45 Learn more about our dedicated professors and research leaders
GRAPEVINE
49 Find out what your classmates are up to
IN MEMORIAM
53 Remembering the alumni and friends we lost this year
DEAN
Sarah Harding
EDITOR
Stephanie Hurley
DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Sarah Orford
ILLUSTRATIONS
Midnight Oil
CONTRIBUTORS
Suzanne Bowness
Emm Campbell
Emily Coll
Sarah Harding
Tammi Hayne
Stephanie Hurley
Amanda Kirby-Sheppard
Allison Lawlor
AnnMarie MacKinnon
We welcome editorial contributions and ideas from alumni. Please direct your submissions to:
As dean, I’m often asked what a typical day at the law school we know and love looks like for me. My time is spent on a variety of activities ranging from taking part in meetings to writing reports and recommendations to introducing a lecture to teaching a class. No matter how busy my schedule gets, I always aim to spend a few moments of each day meeting with the people that make up our law school community: students, faculty, staff and alumni.
This past year, I’ve incorporated something new into my routine —taking a few moments to sit with some of the marvelous art that has recently been installed in the Weldon Law Building. Just outside my office is a collection of the work of acclaimed Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy, which you’ll read about in this issue. The art is visually captivating and the story of how it ended up at the law school is beautiful.
In the atrium is a stunning new quilt by African Nova Scotian artist Anja Clyke. The quilt comprises twelve panels, each capturing a symbol that was used to communicate information to fleeing slaves. Clyke’s quilt is thought-provoking yet also adds a touch of artistic warmth and vibrancy to the space. And finally in the Class of ’63 Student Common Area is a series of Cape Dorset prints by well-known Inuit artists. These are both whimsical and peaceful in their representation of contemporary Inuit communities.
These works of art represent so much about the law school today. We are a diverse community, and this artistic enhancement of our gathering areas enables students, faculty, staff and visitors to see their own traditions and histories reflected in our public spaces. This is critically important. It also brings space for contemplation into what is otherwise an intense learning environment, providing a brief diversion from screens and books and a respite from the long days and late nights spent studying.
Creating a warm and welcoming environment at the Schulich School of Law is essential to the overall wellbeing and success of our community. In the pages that follow are examples of successes from this past year, including faculty conferences, milestone anniversaries, impressive visitors and lecturers, student accomplishments, donor-driven scholarships and new faculty. I would like in particular to extend a warm welcome to Violet Ford (’91), our first Inuk colleague.
I also want to highlight the retirements of former Deans and Professors Camille Cameron and Richard Devlin. Their commitment to helping my transition to dean went above and beyond all expectations. I will miss them very much.
As I look through the pages of this magazine, I am struck by the ability of this great law school to build on its 142-year history and tradition, while nimbly moving forward with important initiatives. Like the art I previously mentioned, we are grounded in reflection and a commitment to the development and wellbeing of our community. We rely on our history and the valuable contributions of our community for stability, but we look to the future for inspiration and meaning in an ever-changing and increasingly technology-driven legal landscape. We hold fast to age-old foundational concepts like the rule of law while recognizing that we need new tools and perspectives to ensure its survival and relevance.
My job is to balance our rich past with an exciting future. How lucky I am to have this work be part of my typical day.
With gratitude for the past and an eye to the future,
Sarah Harding (’89) Dean, Schulich School of Law
MESSAGE FROM DLAA PRESIDENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
As we reflect on another exciting year at the Schulich School of Law, we begin by extending our heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2025! Completing your Juris Doctor is a tremendous accomplishment and we are incredibly proud of the dedication, perseverance and growth you have demonstrated throughout your time here. Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see the meaningful impact you will have in the legal profession and beyond. Welcome to the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association (DLAA) family!
This past year has been filled with energy, connection and momentum. We had the honour of celebrating some truly exceptional members of our community: Robbie Shaw received the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service, four alumni were inducted into the Bertha Wilson Honour Society and we proudly recognized our first Emerging Leader Impact Award recipient. Each of these individuals embodies the values we hold dear— unselfish public service, excellence and community leadership.
Our 2024 Law Alumni Reunion Weekend was a true highlight, bringing together graduates from across the decades. The weekend overflowed with meaningful reconnections, lively conversations, laughter and plenty of photo-worthy moments.
Our Weldon Open House and Champagne Brunch drew record attendance, as alumni explored familiar hallways, raised a glass together and shared memories that have stood the test of time. The warmth and camaraderie throughout the weekend were a testament to the strength, pride and enduring spirit of our alumni community.
Beyond the law school, our team hit the road, connecting with alumni across the country at receptions and meet-and-greets. These moments we shared, whether reminiscing about classes and classmates or hearing about your professional milestones, were a joy and a reminder of the powerful shared bond among our graduates.
We continue to be inspired by the many ways our alumni give back to the Weldon community. From participating in Orientation Week to offering internship opportunities to taking the time to speak to students, your contributions are deeply appreciated. Our students often tell us how impactful it is to learn from, and be supported by, those who came before them.
With more than 8,000 graduates in our alumni network, we recognize and appreciate the strength of this remarkable community. We encourage you to nominate a fellow graduate for a DLAA award, become a mentor or share ideas about how we can continue to support and celebrate one another.
Thank you for being such a valuable part of the Weldon community. Here’s to another year of staying connected, making a difference and growing together.
JOIN THE NEW WELDON CONNECTS NETWORK!
Weldon Connects invites alumni to share their insight, experience and support with current students through flexible, meaningful connections. Whether you’re interested in ongoing mentorship or offering one-time guidance, the program can be tailored to your availability. A small-time commitment, a big impact!
Tony Amoud (’09) President, Dalhousie Law Alumni Association
Ally Howard Director, Alumni Relations, Admissions and Recruitment
Learn More
SCHOOL NEWS
ABORIGINAL AND INDIGENOUS LAW STYLE GUIDE
In September 2024, Associate Professor and Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy Naiomi Metallic (’05), in collaboration with Schulich Law’s Truth & Reconciliation Committee, launched a style guide for Aboriginal law and Indigenous law.
Best Practices for Writing About Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian Legal Context: An Evolving Style Guide for the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, was prepared with the help of Kelti McGloin, JD/MI student, and Kate Anderson (’24), under the supervision of law librarians Jennifer Adams, David Michels and Hannah Rosborough. The guide was authored in Mi’kma’ki and created primarily for the use of students at Schulich Law.
“Since legal writing often engages with topics and terminology that may not be discussed at length in other areas, this resource seeks to assemble guidelines that are helpful to those in the legal profession,” explains Metallic.
FACULTY PROMOTION
Karinne Lantz is taking on a new role as an assistant professor at the Schulich School of Law. Already an established member of the law school community as a Schulich Fellow and PhD candidate, she will teach Tort Law, Family Law and Law in its National and International Context in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Her doctoral research explores the domestic and international dimensions of the human right to health and how international law can be used to implement and secure the right for vulnerable populations in Canada and abroad.
“This academic appointment means the world to me. I get to teach and contribute to the development of the legal profession while being able to research and write on topics I find fascinating. It is truly a privilege,” says Lantz. “I am looking forward to making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.”
SMITH SHIELD MOOT
In October 2024, more than 150 people gathered at the Weldon Law Building for the premiere event of the academic calendar, the Smith Shield Moot. With a tradition dating back to 1927, competitors are chosen from the top mooters in the compulsory second-year moot.
This year, Schulich Law students argued the case of Sylvia Vaughn v. Derrick Chandler. Alex Harrison and Machel Maxwell represented the appellant, Derrick Chandler; while Rachel McMillan and Anu Sidhu represented the respondent, Sylvia Vaughn. The moot examined when and how a person should have control over their images and personal information. Assistant Professor and Acting Director of the Law & Technology Institute Suzie Dunn served as coach and drafted the problem. McMillan and Sidhu were named the winners and awarded the A.S. Pattillo Prize in Advocacy. The runners-up, Harrison and Maxwell, received the Leonard A. Kitz Prize in Advocacy. David Gouws served as the alternate.
TEACHING KIDS THAT CARING CAN BE COOL
Ashoke Mohanraj is a Schulich Law student, a best-selling children’s book author and a soon-to-be animated filmmaker. Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, he is turning his book Dolphin Dude into a short film that he hopes will someday be used as an educational tool in classrooms and eventually become a fulllength movie.
The story centres on the importance of marine conservation, a topic close to his heart as he pursues a Marine and Environmental Law specialization.
“I believe young audiences identify with Dolphin Dude because he is just an average, everyday dolphin,” explains Mohanraj. “He doesn’t have any special powers or abilities. He just does his best to protect his home, the ocean. Ultimately, my goal is to show that caring about something you are passionate about is the coolest thing you can do.”
SCHULICH LAW APPOINTMENTS
In 2024, Schulich Law named Associate Professor Olabisi D. Akinkugbe as the Purdy Crawford Chair in Business Law and Professor Robert J. Currie, K.C. (’98) as the Viscount Bennett Professor of Law.
The Purdy Crawford Chair, established in 2001, supports scholars in business law. “Building on the foundations of the previous holders in our business law program, I hope to deepen the law school’s position as a leading academic institution for convening research conversations and the study of business law and policy in its national, regional and international economic contexts,” says Akinkugbe.
The Viscount Bennett Professorship, established in 1944, supports great teaching and meaningful contributions to scholarship and international affairs. “I’m grateful to take on this role, which has been filled by many distinguished colleagues in the past,” says Currie. “It will provide shortterm support for my continuing work on the suppression of transnational criminal networks and Canada’s role in that fight.”
BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE LEGAL PROFESSION
Schulich Law student
Crystal Witter helped plan a successful Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) of Canada’s National Pre-Law Expo in September 2024 at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
BLSA Canada is a studentrun organization committed to supporting and enhancing academic and professional opportunities for Black law students. Witter served as its national mentorship director and facilitated a mentorship program that connected Black law students with Black lawyers and pre-law students with law classes.
The event was the largest of its kind in Canadian history, providing over 200 prospective Black law students with the mentorship and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the law school application process. “We are deeply committed to creating pathways for Black students to enter and thrive in the legal profession, and events like the Pre-Law Expo are contributing to a more equitable and inclusive future in the legal field,” says Witter.
SCHULICH LAW HOSTS LAW GAMES
In January 2025, Schulich Law welcomed more than 300 law students from 14 Canadian law faculties for four days of camaraderie, competition and community at the annual Law Games.
Ailin Chant, Alexandra Doane, Lucas Paniak, Andrew Weir and Wendy Yang, co-chairs of the 2025 Law Games, were happy to play host. “Halifax is such a welcoming and vibrant city,” says Weir. “When we first moved here, we all felt embraced by the collegial spirit ingrained in the fabric of Schulich Law and the good old Maritime hospitality offered by the city and its residents. We hope the Law Games’ participants got a taste of that spirit, had an amazing time and want to return to visit.”
The LAWST AT SEA theme incorporated a nautical twist through a variety of activities ranging from sporting events to a moot court to a talent show. Congratulations to the more than 30 students who proudly represented the Dal Legal Eagles!
PROFESSORS RECEIVE TEACHING AWARDS
Schulich Law faculty are known for their extensive knowledge of law, their pursuit of excellence in interpreting legal issues and their impassioned approach to engaging students. The winners of this year’s Teaching Awards made a lasting impression on their classes.
Assistant Professor Matthew Dylag received the DLAA & LSS Award for Excellence in Teaching Law. It is given in recognition and appreciation of excellence in teaching demonstrated by enthusiasm, commitment, dedication and outstanding service to students. Nominations are made by current law students and a recipient is selected by a committee comprised of students and alumni.
Professor Steve Coughlan (’85) was awarded the Hannah and Harold Barnett Excellence in Teaching Award given by the Law Students’ Society to a professor who teaches firstyear law. Each first-year section collectively puts forward a nomination and a winner is chosen by a committee of students. This is Coughlan’s third time receiving the award.
WRITING THEIR NEXT CHAPTERS
Farewell and best wishes to Schulich Law’s exceptional faculty members retiring this year.
Camille Cameron
Professor Camille Cameron, K.C., retired from the Schulich School of Law, where she served as dean from 2015-2023. She came to Dalhousie after a career practicing law in Halifax and teaching law in Hong Kong and Australia. She also worked as a consultant with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, AusAid and other organizations for many years on justice reform projects throughout Asia, including judge and lawyer training and legislative reform.
Cameron has enjoyed being part of the Weldon community and working with colleagues and alumni to contribute to its mission and growth. Some key highlights include a successful, collaborative strategic planning process that included students, staff, faculty, alumni and members of the judiciary, establishing the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic and the growth of the law school’s paid summer internship program. She has also enjoyed her community advisory role with Pro Bono Dalhousie, especially learning about the law school’s many community partnerships and the high student participation rates. As dean, she had the opportunity to meet and work with smart, engaged students from across the country who contributed to building a strong Schulich Law community, and to continue those connections when they went on to became alumni.
During her time at Dalhousie, she was chair of the Canadian Council of Law Deans and a member of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments. She is currently a member of the Law Commission of Canada Advisory Council.
Cameron will continue with graduate supervision, research and publishing after retirement. Her current research projects focus on climate change litigation and third-party funding of civil litigation. She is also looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, continuing her volunteer activities, cross-country skiing and reducing the number of books on her ‘must read’ list.
Richard Devlin
Professor Richard Devlin retired from the Schulich School of Law where he has been a faculty member since 1987. He is one of this country’s leading thinkers on legal theory, equality, legal ethics, judicial ethics and the
regulation of the legal profession. He served as acting dean of the law school from July 2020 to June 2021.
A three-time winner of the Hanna and Harold Barnett Award for Excellence in Teaching First Year Law, his areas of teaching include Contracts, Legal Ethics and Graduate Studies. He also received the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Award for Academic Excellence and won Dalhousie University’s Centre for Teaching and Learning “Change One Thing Challenge.”
A Dalhousie University Research Professor since 2005, he has published widely in various journals and has edited a number of books. He has been involved in the design, development and delivery of judicial education programs in Canada and abroad for more than 25 years. He became the founding president of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics (CALE) in 2012 and was later named chair of its Board of Directors. In 2015 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He received CALE’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
In retirement, Devlin will miss the energy of the classroom but will continue with several research projects including co-editing the 5th edition of the Lawyers’ Ethics and Professional Regulation. He also has plans to improve his carpentry skills, get fitter and spend time with family and friends both near and far.
David Michels
Dr. David Michels retired after 25 years as a law librarian in the Sir James Dunn Law Library at the Schulich School of Law. Michels interned at the law library as a summer student in 2000 with every intention of becoming a theological librarian. He discovered that summer that the theological and biblical research skills he possessed were transferable to legal research. He would become the law library’s reference & IT librarian, then the reference & instruction librarian and finally, the public services librarian. He taught research courses as an instructor at the law school and an assistant professor in the Faculty of Management and lectured in courses across the university curriculum. He helped re-vision the Legal Research and Writing program and was an early instructor exploring blended and online learning at Schulich Law.
He actively researched and published on legal librarianship, religious institutions and information, everyday life information behaviour and games in education. He saw his research as part of the wider task of helping people make sense of their information worlds. He witnessed significant changes in legal publishing and libraries during that time but sought to keep people at the heart of the mission of the library.
In retirement, Michels will be working as a library consultant with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, helping them reimagine legal information services for their membership, and he hopes to finally finish writing a book on Bible literacy.
RESTORATIVE LAB AWARDED $1 MILLION BY RESEARCH NOVA SCOTIA
The social impact research project, Creating Integrated Restorative Communities for Locally Engaged Solutions (CIRCLES-NS), is led by Professor Jennifer Llewellyn.
BY STEPHANIE HURLEY
On January 28, 2025, Research Nova Scotia (RNS) announced a $1 million investment in a social impact research project led by Professor Jennifer Llewellyn, director of the Restorative Research, Education and Innovation Lab at the Schulich School of Law, through its Focused Research Investments (FRI) initiative.
The project, titled Creating Integrated Restorative Communities for Locally Engaged Solutions (CIRCLES-NS), will create pathways to healthier communities and better quality of life for Nova Scotians by taking a restorative approach to tackle pressing issues at the community level.
As the idea of community and social connections has changed, Nova Scotians report being less healthy, feeling less safe and less happy—especially among those who are vulnerable or marginalized. CIRCLES-NS will reimagine how communities can work collectively to address complex issues at the local level, such as keeping each other safe, attracting and retaining doctors, addressing child poverty and food insecurity, embracing newcomers and being prepared to respond and recover from emergencies.
This project will build on Nova Scotia’s track record as an international research and practice leader in a restorative approach. It will apply and test this approach to create the relational conditions and capacity needed for communities to face their challenges and thrive.
“It is inspiring to see the excitement and engagement of communities across the province and departments across government committed to CIRCLES-NS and to see the potential it has to make a real difference in the lives of Nova Scotians,” says Llewellyn. “To help find solutions to social challenges, Nova Scotia needs to restore the sense and capacity of community as a problem-solving force. This project will empower communities to build the knowledge, connections, capacity and resources needed to get to the root causes of local issues and to help craft meaningful solutions.”
This investment will seed the first phase of the project that will ultimately establish “living labs” in communities across the province. These living labs will take a restorative approach to bring people together within the community to identify issues, make plans and create the connections required to solve the local challenges they face. They will then implement these plans and apply what they learn to find lasting pathways to well-being and success. The first living lab will be established in the Annapolis Valley with a focus on community safety.
CIRCLES-NS is one of four projects RNS is investing $27 million in through its FRI initiative. This is RNS’s largest and most significant investment to date in community-engaged, outcomes-driven research.
“Research Nova Scotia developed and launched Focused Research Investments to pursue discovery on important matters that are timely, relevant and actionable for those who need it,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of RNS. “The researchers funded through FRIs are driven to search for answers to some of Nova Scotia’s most urgent questions, devoting their expertise in service of their communities.”
Each research team worked with communities to build a research plan that is focused on that community’s needs. Those communities will be active participants in the projects, and RNS will continue to engage with the teams as a collaborator and supporter.
ADVANCING CANADA’S RECONCILIATION
The law school welcomes Violet Ford, an expert in Indigenous rights, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
For Violet Ford (’91), returning to the Schulich School of Law this year as a faculty member and esteemed researcher, 34 years after earning her law degree, is a true homecoming.
“It’s a great feeling to come back to something that feels so familiar. Dalhousie Law School prepared me very well. I will always feel grateful for that,” she says.
As an Inuit woman who survived residential school, became the first female Inuit lawyer in Canada and spent decades making global impacts by negotiating the inclusion of Indigenous rights internationally, Ford is a globally recognized expert on Inuit rights and the international legal dimensions of Indigenous cultural heritage.
“We are pleased and excited that Violet has joined our faculty,” says Schulich Law Dean Sarah Harding (’89). “Her deep knowledge of Inuit law and cultural heritage will enable us to enhance our Indigenous law curriculum and provide a more culturally grounded foundation for research in marine and environmental law.”
For several years, Ford represented Inuit interests in international treaty negotiations on behalf of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). As the ICC’s vice-president, she was the leading legal policy advisor on international, environmental and natural resource issues. She negotiated as part of the Canadian government delegation on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources, the first legally binding international framework that establishes a set of rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities over their genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Ford’s professional work has left a lasting impact on Indigenous rights, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation in Canada and around the world. For this, she received an Indspire Award, the highest honour that the Indigenous community in Canada can bestow upon its people, for her dedication to protecting and advancing rights internationally.
Throughout her career, Ford was drawn to scholarship. “I have been interested in academia for a long time, both in teaching and the ability to do research,” she says.
“The most exciting thing for me about joining Dalhousie is the opportunity to work closely with colleagues that have the same passion for marine law that I have, and to learn from them and develop research projects together.”
Collaborating with Inuit communities is also essential to Ford’s work. She stresses how important it is for Indigenous research to begin with community knowledge rather than anthropological writings. Currently a doctoral candidate in international law in Arctic regions at Finland’s University of Lapland, she has developed a new theoretical approach for legitimizing Inuit laws that is grounded in traditional knowledge and uses this lens to examine the application and practices of Inuit laws within legal pluralism. She argues that Inuit and non-Inuit laws should both be part of a legal system to ensure improved governance of the Inuit environment and move toward legal reconciliation.
“There are gaps in existing international laws that provide for marine governance. A lot of those gaps are centered around the lack of recognition for Indigenous rights, for example, the lack of recognition of their worldview into the antiquated Law of the Sea Convention.”
Ford became interested in Inuit law in the 1980s while working with elders on a youth diversion pilot project in Nunatsiavut.
“Inuit law is a complex system of laws that has layers and layers,” she explains.
These laws have evolved and changed over time because the conflicts the Inuit face today are different than those they faced 500 years ago, but they remain relevant.
“The beliefs that determine those laws are still there because of their ongoing relationship to the land. They are living laws. They shouldn’t be archived, and they shouldn’t be considered anthropological. You can apply them to issues that Inuit face today.”
Born in Makkovik, in the Labrador Inuit Land Claims settlement area of Nunatsiavut, Ford attended residential school in North West River near Happy Valley-Goose Bay and went on to study political science at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.
“I felt I needed to gain more skills to understand political systems to be able to go back to my community and advocate for their rights and understand the political dynamics.”
After completing her undergraduate degree, she returned home and worked with the Labrador Inuit Association which advocated for its people’s legal rights. Before making the decision to study law, she also worked under the direction of elders on a pilot project in youth criminal matters. The experience sparked what would become a life-long passion for Inuit laws. The elders recognized this and encouraged her to attend law school, something Ford knew she needed to do in order to affect change.
At Dalhousie, Professors Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a well-known scholar on Indigenous rights, and Patricia Monture, who played a significant role in moving the law school’s Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative forward, inspired and encouraged Ford.
Prior to being called to the Bar in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ford articled with the Department of Justice in Yellowknife and St. John’s. She later became licensed as a lawyer in the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Nunavut. Ford also had an Ottawabased private law practice and worked with several Indigenous organizations, including serving as senior legal counsel on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Before joining the faculty at the Schulich School of Law, Ford was an assistant professor at Carleton University’s Department of Law and Legal Studies and previously held the position of associate vice-president of Indigenous research at Memorial University. She is enthusiastic about her new opportunity to continue teaching and mentoring the next generation of lawyers and to play a vital role in advancing the country’s reconciliation.
“Part of Canada’s reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples requires recognizing and committing to a process where Indigenous legal systems can be practiced within colonial legal frameworks,” says Ford. “You can’t just talk about it; you have to take action.”
Photo: Todd Langille
A GIFT OF CULTURE: MI’KMAQ ART FINDS NEW HOME AT SCHULICH LAW
Law alum Allan Silverman donates Alan Syliboy paintings to Dalhousie Art Gallery.
BY EMM CAMPBELL
There was excitement in the air at the Weldon Law Building on May 8, 2025, for the unveiling of eight Alan Syliboy paintings donated to the Dalhousie Art Gallery by Schulich School of Law alumnus Allan Silverman (’64).
“We need to have more of Syliboy’s artwork in the public sphere, and recognize the heritage of the Mi’kmaq people,” Silverman says. “It’s important for the community, especially the law school, where all kinds of people will now be able to enjoy his works.”
A long-time patron of the visual and performing arts, the law school grad had been looking for a way to make Syliboy’s work available for more to enjoy. An opportunity presented itself in 2024, when he went to the Dalhousie Art Gallery to see Alan Syliboy: The Journey So Far, a 50-year retrospective celebrating the artist’s work. Silverman discovered that several of the pieces in the exhibit were on loan from the estate of Marcia Hennessy, a long-time friend and supporter of Syliboy’s, who collected his art for 30 years.
“She lived in the United States, and I felt that, rather than have these paintings go back there, I should see if there was an opportunity to purchase some of these paintings so that they stay in Halifax and honour Alan and our community.”
Pamela Edmonds, the Gallery’s director and curator, says they had been looking into acquiring works from the Hennessy estate when Silverman approached them. “There’s very little funding support for purchases of art, and it is in our mandate to build on the Gallery’s collection and address historically underrepresented artists, in particular those from Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian communities,” she says. “Meanwhile, it’s challenging for artists like Alan to find the support they need to make art full-time. So, people like Marcia and Allan are like guardian angels.”
Silverman lights up when he talks about Alan Syliboy and the myriad ways that the artist celebrates Mi’kmaq culture.
“I particularly enjoy the topics he chooses—whether it’s petroglyphs or fish life,” he says.
For Syliboy, it was welcome news. Ever since he saw a retrospective of Alex Colville’s work at the Gallery in 1984, he dreamed that one day it would host an exhibition of his work. Now, the works from his 2024 show have a permanent home at Dalhousie.
“It’s exciting that we get to keep some of the work here, but it’s also like Marcia’s here,” Syliboy says. “It was a unique relationship, and it had to be made into something lasting. This is the perfect vehicle for it.”
Silverman says it was his father, Julius, a co-founder and concertmaster for Symphony Orchestra Halifax, a forerunner for Symphony Nova Scotia, who gave him an appreciation for the arts.
Left to Right: Sarah Harding, Allan Silverman, Pamela Edmonds and Alan Syliboy.
“He had a wonderful, successful career, and I feel it’s incumbent upon me to honour his contributions,” he says. “That’s why I’m willing to go to any lengths to support the arts and make them available to the community for everybody to enjoy.”
In making the gift to the Dalhousie Art Gallery and the Weldon Law Building, he was also motivated by fond memories of Dal.
“After my first year of law school, I started articling with Ralph Medjuck’s firm,” he says. “Ralph was my first cousin and one of the reasons why I decided to study law at Dal. That gave me a superior knowledge of property work.”
Following a successful career in law and real estate, Silverman is now enjoying retirement, with more time for sailing and the visual and performing arts. He hopes people will appreciate the opportunity to see Syliboy’s artwork but also believes the donation may contribute to something bigger.
“I think it’s crucial that we expand the connection with Alan and the Mi’kmaq in the reconciliation process,” Silverman says.
“I think we’re all contributing to the process, and hopefully everybody in the community will benefit.”
To see the collection up close, you can visit the Weldon Law Building at 6061 University Avenue.
ROBBIE SHAW RECEIVES 2024 WELDON AWARD FOR UNSELFISH PUBLIC SERVICE
The Schulich School of Law and the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association honour this year’s recipient for his contributions to improving the lives of Nova Scotians.
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
Robbie Shaw (’66) learned early on in his life that philanthropy not only makes you a more caring person, but a better leader. Throughout his illustrious career, he used his roles at public, political, private and philanthropic organizations to help improve the lives of Nova Scotians.
Known for his inclusive and empathetic leadership style, Shaw has focused on not only achieving organizational success but also bringing out the best in the people he worked with.
“All business leaders need to work hard, but should also be focused on public service,” he says. “Non-profit organizations can benefit from our experience.”
For decades, he gave his time generously to countless organizations including the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, the Northwood Foundation and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. At age 82, and living with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, he has pared back his volunteer commitments but remains active with St. Andrew’s United Church in Halifax.
The 2024 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service honours Shaw’s legacy. Named for Richard Chapman Weldon, the law school’s founding dean, this award recognizes law school alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the community and the legal profession. Schulich Law’s commitment to unselfish public service, referred to as the Weldon Tradition, is a guiding principle of the law school community.
“I have received other awards, but this is the most meaningful because it is in recognition of my contribution to the community,” he says. “That makes me feel warm and fuzzy.”
Born in Halifax in 1942, Shaw was raised in a loving family who had “roaring debates” around the dining room table. His wife, Jean, grew up in a similar household. “Our parents were activists who were interested in the country and politics,” he says. They credit their families for providing them with the tools they needed to raise their own children, and give back generously to their community.
His father, Lloyd Robert Shaw, inspired his son’s commitment to public service. “My father was the best role model anyone could ask for,” he adds.
A businessman who believed in progressive politics, Lloyd Robert led the family’s 163-year-old business, now called the Shaw Group, and served as the first research director for the federal New Democratic Party’s (NDP) predecessor, the national Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. He was also an early financial backer of the NDP when it was formed in 1961. Shaw’s sister, Alexa McDonough, became leader of the federal NDP in 1995.
It was at Queen Elizabeth High School that Shaw got his first taste of leadership. He became involved in the Hi-Y group, sponsored by the YMCA, and before long began leading its 600 members as the local branch president. Eventually, he stepped into that role for the national organization. “My high school years had a significant impact on the rest of my life.”
After graduation, Shaw attended Queen’s University in Ontario. He studied politics and history, but his grades suffered because he focused on student politics instead of studying. Uncertain about his future career path, he followed his friends and attended law school at Dalhousie University. “It was an incredible experience,” he says of his time there. “I loved it.”
He dove back into student politics becoming president of the Dalhousie Student Union and the first student on the Dalhousie Board of Governors. He and his childhood friend, retired Senator Jim Cowan (’65), also initiated a successful project to build a new Student Union Building on campus.
Following law school, Shaw articled with Halifax firm Stewart McKelvey. He left after three months knowing he didn’t want a law career but instead wanted to use his law degree as a stepping stone to other opportunities. He maintains his belief that a law degree holds tremendous potential for students with varied professional dreams.
I have received other awards, but this is the most meaningful because it is in recognition of my contribution to the community.
ROBBIE SHAW
“Law school is a good foundation for doing anything, especially business, because you learn to be an analytical thinker.”
Drawn to the business world, Shaw’s next job was with the firm Hardman, Bryson and Associates, where he worked on the development of Halifax’s Scotia Square. For four years, he took notes from local business icons like Frank Sobey and Roy Jodrey, who both sat on the company’s Board of Directors. “Watching that Board of leading businessmen was such a great learning experience,” he says.
In 1970, Shaw joined his family’s business, becoming president and general manager of Clayton Developments. He grew its Halifax housing development from a few streets in Clayton Park to a community of thousands and then started the development of Colby Village in Dartmouth.
Most proud of his work with Clayton Developments, Shaw stepped away in 1976 to allow other members of his extended family to grow the company. He went on to work in the public sector as assistant to the Premier of Nova Scotia, Gerald Regan.
Calling his own career “eclectic”, Shaw harnessed his executive leadership skills to move seamlessly between the business world and the non-profit sector. He served as Dalhousie University’s vice president of finance and administration and developed its first major capital campaign, was executive vice president of National Sea Products and managed a $123-million expansion project of the Nova Scotia Community College.
“According to my wife’s count, I’ve had at least nine different jobs,” he says. “I don’t know why I moved from job to job except that I liked the stimulation.”
Despite his many professional and community commitments, Shaw has always been deeply devoted to his family. While Halifax is home, he and his wife spend several months each year in Chester Basin on Shaw Island, a place named after his great uncle. “It is kind of like heaven on earth,” he says. “When we cross the causeway to the island, our shoulders just relax.”
Last summer, they gathered with their three children, seven grandchildren and dozens of other family and friends to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. “It’s hard to adequately express my gratitude,” says Shaw. “My wife and I have been so lucky in so many ways.”
BERTHA WILSON HONOUR SOCIETY
The Bertha Wilson Honour Society was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary alumni and showcase their geographic reach and contributions to law and society. The award is named for the Honourable Madam Justice Bertha Wilson (’57)—the first woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and the first female Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
INTRODUCING THE 2024 BERTHA WILSON HONOUR SOCIETY INDUCTEES:
Megan Longley, K.C. (’94)
NOVA SCOTIA
Executive Director, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service
James Michael, K.C. (’92)
NOVA SCOTIA Lawyer, Pink Larkin
Marian McGrath (’79)
QUEBEC
Retired General Counsel, Department of Justice
Dr. Bill Rand (LLB ’66, LLD ’11)
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Senior Business Advisor, Cassels
REDEFINING THE CULTURE OF A FAMILY LAW FIRM
Jessica Chapman and Vanja Mitrovic’s boutique law firm champions mental health, mentorship and the advancement of women.
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
Jessica Chapman (’11) and Vanja Mitrovic (’19) are creating a culture at their family law firm that prioritizes health and fosters work-life balance. In a legal field with high rates of burnout, they are thinking far beyond the parameters of their boutique business.
“One of our goals at Chapman Family Law is for the advancement of women in the legal profession,” says Chapman, who launched the Dartmouth-based firm in 2021. “Part of what we’re trying to do is create, in a small way, a trickle effect within the industry. We want to attract talent to our firm by having realistic targets and creating a work-from-home model that provides more balance and sustainability. The hope is that other firms will say ‘OK, we are going to have to make changes to our model because there are other options out there.’”
The firm, made up of four lawyers, two paralegals and an office manager (all of whom are women), offers more than a permanent, work-from-home model. Chapman prioritizes mentorship and sets each lawyer’s billable hours at 1,100 a year—a number that she says is lower than the 1,300 to 1,600 hours she sees at bigger firms.
“Even though we don’t see each other daily, we are constantly connected, and our goal is to foster an ‘open door’ policy, be it to chat out a complex question or a tough day in court,” says Mitrovic, a partner in the firm.
After years of practicing family law, Chapman has redirected her focus to mentoring and supporting her firm’s lawyers who do that work. Each day she provides them with guidance by exchanging voice notes, phone calls and messages about files and clients, something she believes is especially important for lawyers during their formative years.
“In family law, the work we do is so intimate, complex and emotional. To have a colleague who you trust who is knowledgeable about this area of law, at your disposal, is essential to creating a sustainable career. There is such burnout and attrition in family law because it is so emotional,” says Chapman. “We are less profitable without me having a full practice, but this model allows us to be more sustainable and operate in a way that’s true to our mission.”
The pandemic showed Chapman that doing things differently was not only possible but necessary. In 2021, she was practicing family law at BOYNECLARKE LLP, the Dartmouth firm where she had worked since graduating from the Schulich School of Law in 2011. She was busy with her thriving practice, and raising her two children, when she made the bold move to leave.
“I was on the brink of partnership, and it just got to the point where I realized ʻI think there is something else for me.’ I knew I had this entrepreneurial spirit inside of me,” says Chapman.
At first, Chapman Family Law consisted of just Chapman and Kelly Campbell, her long-time legal assistant who is now the firm’s office manager. “Very quickly we were inundated with demands and hired more lawyers.”
With a thriving practice and a new business, everything suddenly changed after Chapman had routine blood work done in April 2023. At age 36, with two children under the age of seven, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She immediately started chemotherapy and spent the next four months in and out of hospital. “It was very traumatic,” she says. “It flipped my whole world upside down.”
Mitrovic stepped in and with the help of the firm’s committed team they kept the business running. Chapman recovered, her cancer went into remission and she pursued her goal of scaling back her practice to focus on mentorship.
Raised on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, in the St. Margarets Bay area, Chapman is the eldest of four sisters. “I grew up in a feminist household. We all felt very empowered. My mother was a stay-athome mom who was a huge empath and gave us the sense that we should want to give back as part of our profession,” she says.
Chapman studied psychology and women’s studies at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and excelled academically. Not interested in a career in academia, law school was a natural next step. At the Schulich School of Law, she led Pro Bono Students Canada, providing free legal support to people and communities facing barriers to justice, worked with Professor Jennifer Llewellyn, director of the Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab, received the Constance R. Glube Bursary for Leadership in the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession and spent a semester at Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (DLAS) at the end of her second year.
“The experience helped solidify my desire to practice family law,” she says. “I shadowed legal aid lawyers and helped them on real cases.”
Mitrovic had similar experiences at DLAS. “Without question, the Clinic was the most rewarding experience during my three years at law school,” she says. “It gave me the opportunity to connect what I was learning in the classroom by seeing it applied in practice to real people in real, often extremely challenging, circumstances. Beyond that, it was inspiring to see the passion and dedication with which the Clinic staff approached their work.”
The experience fueled her passion for family law. After growing up in Fredericton, as a refugee from former Yugoslavia, Mitrovic studied political science at the University of New Brunswick and competed on the UNB REDS Women’s Volleyball team. She went to Dalhousie interested in environmental law, but it was Professor Rollie Thompson (’78) who sparked her curiosity in family law.
After graduating from law school, Mitrovic worked at Burchells LLP, a Halifax firm where family law made up about a third of her practice. When Chapman offered her the opportunity to exclusively do what she loves in a nurturing environment, she jumped at it, knowing that together they could make a real difference in the lives of others.
“My motivation is helping families navigate some of the toughest times they will ever face. I consider that job a privilege and I’m lucky to be surrounded by a team who also recognizes that responsibility and approaches it with immense care,” says Mitrovic.
In family law, the work we do is so intimate, complex and emotional. To have a colleague who you trust who is knowledgeable about this area of law, at your disposal, is essential to creating a sustainable career.
JESSICA CHAPMAN
As female lawyers in private practice, they also feel a sense of responsibility to demonstrate that it is possible to sustain a rewarding career in family law. “We hope that the success we’ve experienced will spur positive change in the legal community.”
Jessica Chapman (left) and Vanja Mitrovic (right).
CHARTING HIS OWN COURSE
James MacDuff navigates a life of law and adventure.
BY ANNMARIE MACKINNON
James MacDuff (’04) is unafraid to change course—whether in the literal sense, sailing as a crew member aboard a tall ship, or in a more metaphorical sense, working with the legal intricacies of regulating the always-evolving energy industries. His willingness to be flexible has enabled him to create a balanced life of his choosing.
Like many Maritimers, the urge to explore further afield struck MacDuff after high school, leading him to venture from his hometown of Moncton to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. By the time he finished, however, he was ready to head back to the Maritimes and move on to another challenge. He wrote his LSAT and was accepted at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Law.
“I wasn’t really planning on working for a corporate law firm, but I was encouraged at an event to apply for a summer student position at McInnes Cooper in Halifax,” MacDuff says. “I was lucky enough to be accepted as one of three first-year students. It was the only application to a firm I submitted that summer.”
The application turned out to be a fortuitous one. At the end of that first summer, he was offered an articling position and is still at McInnes Cooper, now as a partner, more than 20 years later. MacDuff leads the Nova Scotia Energy and Natural Resources Group at the firm, with a practice that focuses on corporate and regulatory law for public utilities and energy projects. He had been interested in environmental law from the start of his studies and began his career working on some of Nova Scotia’s early wind power projects. MacDuff recognizes that addressing climate change is one of the biggest issues of our time.
“I’m certainly on board with the idea that this is where the world needs to go, but the mechanics of how the structural comprehensive changes will be implemented are complex and significant. So, understanding and playing a role in how that all works in Atlantic Canada, how it’s priced, how it will be delivered and how the decisions get made, is fascinating.”
That summer application to McInnes Cooper allowed him to work in an area of law that he found interesting. It also offered him the flexibility to teach a course part-time at the Schulich School of Law from 2010 to 2022, as well as pursue other avocations. MacDuff, an avid traveller, has been able to carve out chunks of time throughout his career to backpack around the world in between regulatory proceedings. But it was one trip in particular that would change the trajectory of his life.
“I had done a lot of travelling, but one place that I hadn’t gone yet was Antarctica,” says MacDuff. “I had seen the Picton Castle, a tall ship based in Lunenburg, and often dreamt of what it would be like to go sailing for an extended period of time. I found another ship based in Europe, the Bark Europa, that sails all around the world. Each winter it undertakes one “Cape-to-Cape” voyage from Argentina, down to Antarctica, then across to Cape Town, South Africa. Immediately I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to do that trip.’”
He set sail in March 2018 as a paying trainee crew member. At the end of the 52-day solo adventure, days out from his scheduled return to Halifax and his practice after a three-month leave, MacDuff had an unlikely encounter with Mirriam Mweemba, a fellow traveller from Zambia, who he would eventually marry.
Since then, they have also become co-authors, collaborating on The Illogical Adventure: A Memoir of Love and Fate. Their book won the 7th annual Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction in July 2024 and was published in February 2025. Alternating between each of their perspectives, it tells the story of what happens when two people from vastly different backgrounds connect during a chance meeting, but whose lives then take them in different directions. The memoir describes how the two stayed in close contact over the years following that initial meeting in Cape Town. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, MacDuff leapt at the opportunity to work remotely and spend time with Mirriam. They were able to meet in Tanzania, the only country open to travellers in the summer of 2020. They got engaged in Zanzibar on that one-month trip, and later that year married in Zambia.
“Ironically, it took a global pandemic to create the opportunity to travel and be with my wife in Africa while continuing to work,” he says. “Nobody at the office knew that I was there. Everybody was locked down and working from home. No one thought to ask, are you at home or are you in a foreign country?”
As someone who values travel and a variety of viewpoints, MacDuff says one of the things that struck him about his time in law school was the diverse perspectives among his classmates. He found it enriching to be around people from all over Canada who had different backgrounds and interests.
“The philosophy we had at law school fostered a great community in which to study and to embark on a new career,” he adds.
Being steeped in this type of environment further supported MacDuff’s ability to recognize an opportunity when he sees it, a quality that has been instrumental in enabling him to have an enriching career without compromising the experiences that bring him joy.
“A lot of the story in The Illogical Adventure is about coming to terms with career and work/life balance. In law, you have an opportunity to choose the type of practice and the type of clients you work for and find your own way in building a career that works for you. That’s different from so many other professions, where you just don’t have the same flexibility.”
His experience has informed his perspective as a partner, as he watches newer lawyers join the practice.
“As a firm we’re doing everything we can to retain great lawyers, and I like to say, ‘Look at my example.’ You really can do whatever you like if you are committed to being responsive to clients and providing excellent work.”
This outlook has served MacDuff well. When faced with choices about which direction to take, whether in work or in life, his
viewpoint has been, “You should just go for it and see where it takes you.”
And while he acknowledges that none of us knows how things are going to turn out from year to year, he is fortunate that his work is intellectually challenging and allows him to work with people he enjoys.
As MacDuff puts it, “How wonderful to know that a legal career can offer a platform to live an adventurous life limited only by your imagination.”
Find out more about MacDuff and Mweemba’s joint memoir at IllogicalAdventure.com
James MacDuff and family.
THE WELDON TRADITION IN ACTION
Schulich Law’s presence in the Canadian Senate
BY AMANDA KIRBY-SHEPPARD
Richard Chapman Weldon, founding dean of the Schulich School of Law from 1883 to 1914, envisioned a law school unlike any other. He sought not only to provide students with a strong foundation in the practice of law but also to instill a deep sense of responsibility, inspiring them to use the law as a tool for social change.
Dean Weldon believed that every lawyer, regardless of their area of practice, had an obligation to use their legal knowledge in service to the community and the greater good. This belief became known as the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service.
More than 140 years later, that tradition continues to inspire Schulich Law alumni to uphold the highest standards of professionalism while making meaningful contributions to the communities where they work, improving the broader social, cultural, economic and legal systems that shape our lives.
One way they achieve this is by leveraging their lifelong expertise in service to the Senate, ensuring Parliament acts in the best interests of Canadians. Established to counterbalance representation by population in the House of Commons, Canada’s Senate has evolved from primarily defending regional interests to providing a voice for underrepresented groups such as Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and women.
More than 30 Schulich Law alumni have been appointed to the Senate to date, including three graduates who are sharing how the legacy of the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service has guided their lives and careers.
The Honourable Brent Cotter, Retired Senator for Saskatchewan
The Honourable William Brent Cotter, K.C. (LLB ’74, LLM ’79), was appointed as Senator for Saskatchewan on January 31, 2020, serving until December 2024 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Before his appointment, Cotter was widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading scholars and early pioneers in the field of legal ethics. He co-authored foundational textbooks and taught university courses on the subject well before it became a required part of legal education nationwide. He is a founding and lifetime member of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics.
Cotter’s career has long been tied to legal education and public service. He spent 14 years as a professor at the Schulich School of Law, where he also served as associate dean and director of Dalhousie Legal Aid Service. He later returned to his home province to become dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, a role he held until his Senate appointment.
Earlier in his career, he held several senior roles in the Saskatchewan public service, including Deputy Minister of Justice, Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. During this time, he led the development and implementation of a nationally recognized program of services for First Nations and Métis peoples. His professional and community contributions have been widely recognized through numerous awards.
“Whether it is the culture of the law school, the attitude of the professors, the role of Dalhousie Legal Aid Service or the stories told about the contributions of our graduates to public life, the impact of the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service kind of creeps up on you,” he shares. “And I think for many of us, it has inspired us to think to ourselves, maybe I can contribute too.”
The Honourable Kim Pate, Senator for Ontario
The Honourable Kim Pate (’84) was appointed as a Senator for Ontario on November 10, 2016.
Pate has spent her career as a fierce and courageous advocate for marginalized women in Canada, particularly Indigenous women, women with disabilities, young women, racialized and immigrant women and those criminalized by poverty, abuse and systemic injustice.
An honours graduate of Schulich Law’s Clinical Law program, she began her legal career working with youth and men in conflict with the law through the John Howard Society in Calgary and at its national office. She then served as executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies for nearly 25 years, leading a volunteer network dedicated to supporting and advocating for women in prison.
In addition to her advocacy work, she is a respected educator and law reformer. She has significantly contributed to the public understanding of issues surrounding women’s incarceration, parole and criminal responsibility.
In 2003, she received Schulich Law’s highest alumni honour, the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service. Pate is also a Member of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, the Canadian Bar Association’s Bertha Wilson Touchstone Award and countless other accolades. Her published work, public speaking and legal advocacy reflect a lifelong dedication to advancing substantive equality and social justice.
“Both at law school and in my professional career, my most profound learning has come from taking risks and embracing the lessons of my mistakes,” she says. “I have learned to act with courage and conviction by forging deep, abiding alliances and friendships with those who are most marginalized and dispossessed.”
The Honourable Paul Prosper, Senator for Nova Scotia
The Honourable Paul ‘PJ’ Prosper (’84) was appointed to the Senate as a representative for Nova Scotia on July 7, 2023.
Prosper is a Mi’kmaq lawyer with more than 25 years of experience working on Indigenous legal issues, including governance, land use and occupation, project management and community development.
A lifelong advocate for Mi’kmaq rights, he previously served as Chief of the Paqtnkek (Afton) Mi’kmaw Nation. In 2020, he was elected Regional Chief for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), representing 17 Mi’kmaw First Nations in Atlantic Canada and over 600 First Nations across the country.
That same year, Prosper was inducted into the Bertha Wilson Honour Society at Schulich Law in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the legal profession and community. He was also named Wika’paltultimk (Counsellor) by the Eastern Door L’nuk Lawyers Group, honouring his leadership and service to Indigenous Peoples in the legal field.
Prosper has served on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, the Eastern Door L’nuk Lawyers Group, the Ta’n Etli-tpi’tmk Association and the AFN Chiefs Committee on Child and Family Services.
From 2010 to 2013, he also taught courses on Mi’kmaq governance and Aboriginal and treaty rights at Cape Breton University, where he had previously earned his Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
“Growing up, my mother, Anne Prosper, instilled the importance of giving back to community. My focus on advancing Indigenous rights extends to my work as a federal parliamentarian and reminds me to never lose sight of my roots,” he says. “It’s a privilege and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and uphold the Weldon Tradition.”
PAVING THE WAY
BY STEPHANIE HURLEY
When Marissa Prosper (’20) was growing up in Pictou Landing First Nation, a Mi’kmaq community located on Nova Scotia’s Northumberland Strait, becoming a lawyer was something she could have only dreamed of.
“I have always been driven to make a meaningful difference in my community and Nation, and I saw education as a powerful tool to achieve that,” she shares. “However, it wasn’t until I was in my final year at StFX that I saw law school as an option. Up until then, I hadn’t seen myself reflected in the legal profession, so it never felt like a space where I belonged.”
Prosper says that discovering the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Initiative at the Schulich School of Law changed that. The program, established in 1989, works to increase representation of Indigenous Blacks and Mi’kmaq in the legal profession to address racism in the justice system.
“It showed me that we belong in these spaces and our voices are needed,” she says. “Before learning about the IB&M Initiative, I had never met an Indigenous lawyer.” This shift in perspective allowed her to see the value she could bring to the legal profession, and that a legal education could be a powerful way to achieve her goals.
She applied to Schulich Law and was accepted in 2016. As the first person from her family and her community to pursue a law degree, she recalls the culture shock she felt when she arrived at Weldon.
“Being the first to do anything isn’t easy, and the transition was harder than I expected,” she admits. “Community is such a large part of Mi’kmaq identity and I found myself further away from home, my family and supports. I often felt isolated, had an overwhelming sense of self-doubt and questioned whether I belonged.”
She was able to find her community through the IB&M Initiative and a welcoming faculty at the law school who helped her navigate the new environment. Prosper turned to cultural teachings and ceremony to reconnect and ground herself. She began smudging and beading, which served as a way to support herself financially through the program. “I learned to embrace my identity and lived experiences and see the strength in that,” she says.
She was also a member of the Dalhousie Indigenous Law Students Association, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee and worked as a research assistant to Professor Naiomi Metallic (’05), Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, contributing to the creation of the Aboriginal and Indigenous Law Certificate now offered at the law school. She remains an active committee
member, serving on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s (NSBS) Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the Public Prosecution Service’s Equity and Diversity Committee and the Eastern Door, a committee of Mi’kmaq lawyers.
“Earning my law degree and getting called to the Bar was more than just a personal goal—it was a way to empower and encourage others,” she adds. “Becoming a first-time mother during the Bar Admissions Program only deepened that commitment. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that our voices matter and that she comes from strength as a Lnu’skw (Mi’kmaw woman).”
Prosper, a Crown Attorney with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service and the first Indigenous Crown in the Pictou office, is now passing on that knowledge to the next generation interested in law.
This year, the NSBS introduced a new internship program, Inspiring Future Indigenous Black & Mi’kmaq Lawyers Internship Pathways (IB&MIP), decades after the Marshall Inquiry recommended steps to increase the representation of Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotians working in the justice system. The program offers Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq high school students in grades 10-12, from across the province, the opportunity to be exposed to the legal profession through a week-long intensive program.
“Helping to create spaces to encourage others to see themselves reflected in law has always been a passion of mine, and my role with IB&MIP is another way for me to do that,” says Prosper, who serves as the project coordinator. “Encouraging and welcoming youth at the earliest opportunity is also a way to honour the late Donald Marshall Jr. and the Inquiry’s recommendations.”
In 2025, during March Break, 20 students—10 Mi’kmaq/Indigenous students and 10 African Nova Scotian/Black students—took part in the inaugural program in Halifax, where participants gained hands-on experience while meeting lawyers and judges from diverse areas of the legal profession.
Students visited the law courts, law firms, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute and the law school. They attended a mentor mixer where they connected with judges, lawyers, law professionals and law students in a more relaxed setting. They even spent a fun-filled evening at Action Laser Tag. The week culminated with a moot where participants had the opportunity to showcase what they learned. “It was so rewarding to see the moot play out with such a passionate and intelligent group,” adds Prosper.
The pilot program was funded by a grant from the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia, with participants receiving a half credit toward their high school education. Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback, plans for next year’s program are already underway.
She recalls a particularly rewarding, full-circle moment when she learned that a member of her community would be a participant in this year’s internship program cohort. Her advice for students thinking about applying to IB&MIP and law school? “Do it! Submit those applications. You are meant to be there.”
For Prosper, the work to make a difference in her community and Nation continues. “To use my legal education and my personal background to serve the public, as well as my community, is a dream come true.”
The negotiations were enlightening. I observed how seasoned lawyers navigate complex conversations, weigh risks and negotiate terms—soft skills you can’t learn in a classroom.
MORGAN MEADE
LEARNING THE ROPES
JD student Morgan Meade spent her summer internship learning from Irving Shipbuilding Inc.’s in-house legal department.
BY AMANDA KIRBY-SHEPPARD
When Schulich Law student Morgan Meade arrived at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) for her first day as a summer intern in the Legal Department, she was eager to help contribute to the largest defence project in Canadian history.
“The immense scope of the shipyard’s daily operations, from the physical size of the buildings to the thousands of employees and contractors to the volume of contracts required, was unlike anything I had ever seen or experienced,” she says. “I felt a bit overwhelmed the first time I entered the Assembly and Module Halls; the space was enormous. It’s hard to conceptualize how large a warship is until you realize these mammoth buildings only hold a section of the entire vessel at a time.”
Thanks to the McCarthy Tétrault LLP Business Law Internship, Meade spent 11 weeks during the summer of 2024 as part of ISI’s in-house legal team. The internship is one of many offered through the Schulich School of Law’s Internship Program, which has awarded $3 million and placed over 512 students with 250 organizations since its launch in 2009, making it the largest paid summer law internship program in the country.
Originally from Ramea, a remote town with a population of approximately 350 people that is located off the south coast of Newfoundland, Meade was keen to travel and see what opportunities awaited her beyond the shores of the island.
After graduating from high school she moved to Fredericton, where she completed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the University of New Brunswick, majoring in finance and accounting and minoring in economics. She then spent the next two years in Halifax, working in mid-market commercial banking, before switching gears to study at Schulich Law. She was excited that her internship combined the financial background she acquired in her undergrad with her interest in business law.
Irving Shipbuilding Inc., a division of J.D. Irving Limited headquartered in Halifax, is often called “Canada’s Shipbuilders” thanks to their long-standing relationship with the Royal Canadian Navy, having built 80% of its current fleet. In 2011, ISI was awarded contracts from the Government of Canada under the National Shipbuilding Strategy to construct six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants, while also maintaining the current fleet of Halifax-class frigates.
At ISI, Meade was immersed in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment, collaborating with a small but experienced in-house
legal department comprised of an executive assistant, a paralegal, three lawyers and the General Counsel.
“In-house counsel acts as ‘jacks of all trades’ due to the range of legal and non-legal responsibilities they handle,” she explains. “I was included in everything from major contract negotiations to labour matters. The team genuinely cared about helping me learn.”
Meade recalls one afternoon when she casually mentioned her interest in intellectual property law to the paralegal. “She immediately set aside time to walk me through key concepts, answer my questions and share her insights. Her generosity and mentorship meant a lot to me.” She continues to maintain those relationships cultivated at ISI.
Her first assignment in her role involved drafting a contract between ISI and an educational institution. “It was the perfect way to practically apply what I’d learned in my first-year contracts course, bringing the theory to life,” she reflects.
From there, her responsibilities expanded. She reviewed, drafted and revised subcontracts for ISI’s massive shipbuilding and ship repair projects. She also tackled questions of privacy and access to information, as well as matters falling within the labour and employment realm, like participating in site inspections and exploring topics related to occupational health and safety.
Meade also had the opportunity to sit in on contract negotiations with major suppliers for the Canadian Surface Combatants program. “The negotiations were enlightening. I observed how seasoned lawyers navigate complex conversations, weigh risks and negotiate terms—soft skills you can’t learn in a classroom,” she shares. “They made sure I felt included and prepared, bringing me up-to-speed beforehand, answering my questions and treating me like a contributing member of their team.”
Throughout the summer, Meade saw her legal skills sharpen in real time. “My attention to detail improved, especially when reviewing long and complex contracts,” she says. “But beyond the technical skills, I learned how to work effectively within a legal team, how to think strategically and how to stay curious and ask the right kinds of questions.”
She says that the experience gave her a clear picture of the role of in-house counsel and how legal advice fits into big-picture business decisions, how cross-functional teams operate and how legal work can directly impact major projects.
“I’m incredibly thankful to McCarthy Tétrault LLP for making this internship experience possible,” says Meade. “I will be forever grateful for the mentorship so generously given to me by my colleagues at the Irving Shipyard. I started the summer eager to contribute, and I left with skills and experiences that exceeded anything I could have hoped for.”
FOSTERING INDIGENOUS ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Clint Davis draws on his wealth of experience in law and finance to empower Indigenous communities.
BY ALLISON LAWLOR
Toronto’s financial district, where Clint Davis (’95) trades bonds and other debt instruments, is a long way from Goose Bay, Labrador, where he was raised. Despite the distance, one thing from home that remains close to his heart is his connection to Canada’s Indigenous people.
Brought up by his maternal grandparents, Davis’ Inuit heritage influenced his decision early in his career to apply his Schulich School of Law degree toward advancing Indigenous economic development and business.
“I’ve always been fascinated with financial capital and the rise of Indigenous participation in medium to large-scale projects. I’m also very interested in the resolution of land claims and how that’s creating wealth in communities and being managed,” he says. “As community wealth grows, we need more of our own people actively involved in the investment space.”
As a recognized national leader in Indigenous business, Davis is CEO of Cedar Leaf Capital Inc., Canada’s first majority Indigenousowned investment dealer which he helped launch in October 2024. The company was created in partnership with Scotiabank, two Indigenous development corporations and a First Nation to foster Indigenous participation in capital markets.
“More and more Indigenous communities are looking at ways to raise funds to participate in projects and there is a role for Cedar Leaf to act as a bridge between these communities and capital markets,” he says. “We think there are also great opportunities to support companies’ commitment to reconciliation as part of that procurement supply chain.”
Although he pursued a career in finance and economic development, he credits the skills he learned in law school for much of his success. It is where he developed research know-how, sharpened his ability to advocate and learned how to interpret rules.
“Understanding the value of research when you’re building a business case or developing strategy or an operational plan, is vital, regardless of industry,” he says.
As a young boy, Davis never imagined a career in law or business. In the 1970s, Goose Bay was a small, isolated community, with access only by plane or boat. His parents were teenagers when he was born, so his mother’s parents stepped in to raise him. He grew up in a loving home where his grandfather was a hunter, fisherman and trapper, while his grandmother raised 10 children. Neither had attended school beyond grade eight but both worked hard and valued education.
Davis excelled in math in high school so a guidance counsellor encouraged him to consider university. He applied to Acadia and was awarded a scholarship.
When he arrived in Wolfville to start his Business Administration degree, the first thing he noticed was the size of the trees. The tall maple and fir trees that lined the town’s streets stood in stark contrast to the small black spruce found in Labrador. He initially considered a career in banking until a professor recognized his proficiency in business law and suggested law school instead.
In 1992, Davis started at the Schulich School of Law and immediately felt like he belonged. Through the Dalhousie Indigenous Law Students Association, he organized panels and events and became involved in the Indigenous Bar Association. He enrolled in the Criminal Clinic and worked with a Nova Scotia Legal
Aid lawyer for a semester. He was also inspired by an Indigenous law course taught by Bruce Wildsmith (’95), former legal counsel with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs, whose pursuit of Mi’kmaw access to natural resources and Treaty rights resulted in a clearer understanding of Aboriginal rights in Canada.
“I became really interested in the issues that were culturally significant to Indigenous people while at law school,” he explains. “I saw it as something beneficial for the country and for Indigenous people.”
After graduation, he worked for two years under the mentorship of Wayne Myles, K.C., in a general law practice at Benson Myles in St. John’s. “At law school I was given this advice: get your law degree, article and get called to the Bar; and then you can officially be called a lawyer,” he says. “So, that’s what I did.”
He then joined the federal government and headed west where he worked as a senior advisor to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“British Columbia was a hotbed of Indigenous law,” he adds. “It was an exciting time to be there.”
After five years with the government, he left to further his education as a Canada-U.S. Fulbright scholar at Harvard University and obtained his master’s degree in public administration in business and government policy, before joining the Bank of Montreal soon after as the national director for Aboriginal banking. He later moved to TD Bank Group as vice-president of Indigenous banking, where he doubled the portfolio and developed the bank’s first Indigenous banking national strategy.
Davis also served as chair of the Board of Directors for the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies, an economic development corporation, and was president and CEO of the then Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. At the council, he worked hard to produce credible economic research showing that Indigenous people were not a drain on the economy, but rather net contributors.
Known for his strong technical understanding, business acumen and ability to forge relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit, as well as non-Indigenous people, he is now using his decades of experience in finance and economic development to grow his own company. When he’s not at the trading desk in Toronto, he’s back in Ottawa where he lives with his wife and their three children.
As Davis looks to the future, he remains steadfast in his commitment to strengthen Indigenous communities. “The law is vital to recognize the rights that we have within this country and creates that foundation for reconciliation which translates into opportunity and financial capital,” he says. “At Cedar Leaf, our goal is to support Indigenous economic participation, while empowering nations through meaningful relationships built on trust and respect.”
I became really interested in the issues that were culturally significant to Indigenous people while at law school,” he explains. “I saw it as something beneficial for the country and for Indigenous people.
CLINT DAVIS
FROM IP TO AI:
How the Schulich School of Law is training future legal professionals for a tech-driven society.
BY STEPHANIE HURLEY
The relationship between law and technology is dynamic and constantly evolving. In an increasingly technology-driven landscape, it is important to honour the foundational principles of law while embracing new tools and perspectives to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.
The Schulich School of Law is proud to offer one of the strongest law and technology programs in the country with a stellar roster of talent seeking to understand legal, policy and ethical challenges, while training students to think critically about issues at the intersection of law, technology and society.
The Law & Technology Institute
The Law & Technology Institute (LATI) at the Schulich School of Law was founded in the early 2000s by Professor Emeritus Michael Deturbide, K.C. (LLB ’89, LLM ’97) and former faculty member Dr. Teresa Scassa, at a time when the Internet was still emerging as a transformative force in society.
The Institute’s mission is to promote legal research, education and leadership in technology law and policy, primarily from a Canadian perspective. Over the last two decades, LATI has sought to enhance public awareness and understanding of the concerns posed by existing and emerging technologies, while informing and guiding Canadian public policy and encouraging interdisciplinary problem solving, teaching and research.
Professor Lucie Guibault, who serves as the Institute’s associate director, joined the faculty at the Schulich School of Law in 2017, bringing a background in copyright law and intellectual property (IP) law. She has seen many changes in this emerging space since coming to the law school.
“The rapid pace of technological change demands that we constantly assess how it impacts our lives and whether the law offers an adequate response,” says Guibault. “With the arrival of new colleagues, the expertise within LATI has grown, making it the prime teaching and research environment to study issues like online harms, the protection of artificial intelligence generated works and inventions, the Right to Repair, the use of AI in the democratic process and many more hot topics arising from, and around, law and technology.”
The Institute is also home to the country’s leading law and technology journal—The Canadian Journal of Law and Technology (CJLT). Co-edited by Guibault and Schulich Law Professor Maria Dugas (JD ’15, LLM ’18), the Journal provides coverage of legal issues relating to law and technology from both Canadian and international perspectives. In the near future, Schulich Law students will have an opportunity to contribute to the CJLT through the Law and Technology Legal Writing & Editorial Assistantship Course which will be taught by Guibault.
Another project led by longstanding LATI members is the Canadian Technology Law Association’s (CAN-TECH) quarterly newsletter. Professor Robert Currie, K.C. (’98) and David Fraser (’99) serve as the English editors of CAN-TECH, a national forum for Canadian law and technology practitioners to discuss issues related to e-commerce and IP.
An important part of the research conducted at LATI concerns the protection of IP, since knowledge is a key motor of technological development and socio-economic change. Unfortunately, Indigenous knowledge has often gone unprotected by lawmakers and as a result, has been subject to appropriation by third parties.
With financial support from the Dalhousie 2025 Next Wave Fund and in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, the Institute will be organizing a workshop on the protection of Indigenous IP. It is vital that active steps be taken towards the articulation, recognition, rebuilding and revitalization of Indigenous intellectual property laws. The protection of Indigenous IP falls within LATI’s mission of legal development and awareness, and builds on its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Assistant Professor Suzie Dunn, who is currently the acting director of LATI, joined the Schulich School of Law in 2021. Her research centers on the intersections of equality, technology and the law. She is also a research partner on a SSHRC-funded project on young people’s experiences with sexual violence online called DIY Digital Safety.
Dunn is excited by the law school’s recent infusion of talent in law and technology. “In the last few years, our team has been growing,” she shares. “It’s exciting to build on the Institute’s legacy at a time when there are increasingly rapid changes in technological development and new regulation to address it. Our new faculty have come with fresh ideas leading to expanded course offerings and an enhanced student experience.”
Michael Karanicolas (’11), associate professor and the James S. Palmer Chair in Public Policy and Law, joined the faculty this past January. He will teach the Information Policy Lab course, offered for the first time at Schulich Law this academic year, giving students an opportunity to engage directly on emerging public policy questions related to the intersection of law and technology.
“Law and technology is fundamentally about how we handle disruption,” says Karanicolas, whose research revolves around the application of human rights standards in an online context. “So, it’s a natural area to gravitate to from a public policy perspective, since it pulls in many of the thorniest regulatory challenges that Canada currently faces, including how to govern emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or quantum computers, and how to deal with the impacts that these technologies are having on everything from the practice of law to the administrative state.”
Enhancing the Learning Experience
The Schulich School of Law offers JD students the opportunity to earn a Law and Technology Certificate as part of their studies. Introduced in 2019, and created by Guibault, the specialization includes a diverse array of courses in the areas of IP and law and technology, as well as an opportunity for students to learn hands-on skills through the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic. More than 65 students have earned the certificate since its inception.
The law school continues to expand its offerings in law and technology and has added five new courses to the curriculum since 2017. One of these new courses, Technological Competence and Innovation in Lawyering, will address the essential role of technological competence in modern legal practice, equipping law students with critical skills for an increasingly digital and automated legal landscape. It will be taught by Assistant Professor Anthony Rosborough (’15). In 2023, he was jointly appointed to Law and Computer Science at Dalhousie, bringing interdisciplinary excellence to both faculties.
This past year the law school also welcomed two Lisson Expertsin-Residence, Jon Legorburu and Carla Swansburg (’93), who each taught an upper-year intensive course. Legorburu’s course
“I was excited to help students learn how technology can impact the way law is practiced and to provide some hands-on experience in how emerging tools can create efficiencies and reduce the cost and time it can take to solve clients’ legal problems,” says Swansburg, CEO of ClearyX, a fully remote, tech-forward firm focused on developing strategies for new and innovative models of legal service delivery. “I hope the course equipped students with a framework for how to think about weaving technology into their work in a productive, ethical way.”
Dunn says that having one of the strongest law and technology programs in the country prepares students to thrive in this growing field. “It’s been a pleasure to watch the success of our law and tech students who have become leaders in areas ranging from video game law to AI policy development.”
Former student Léo Bourgeois (’24), spent a semester at the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic in the fall of 2023, went on to article with the Clinic and was recently hired as their first junior staff lawyer. He says that his student experience at initio was a defining moment in shaping the direction of his legal career.
The Clinic, led by Director Alayna Kolodziechuk (’12), provides legal services to early-stage start-ups and community organizations that otherwise could not afford a lawyer. Its offerings are unique among law clinics across the country. It is guided by a dual-purpose mission: to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Atlantic Canada and to educate and inspire students.
“One of the most valuable lessons from my time at initio was the importance of using legal and critical thinking skills to examine emerging technologies with an analytical lens,” says Bourgeois. “That mindset became especially important as the legal community began grappling with the rapid development of artificial intelligence.”
Bourgeois served as a committee member on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s technology sub-group and contributed to their recently released AI Guide for Legal Practices in Nova Scotia.
“It is clear that AI is no longer coming—it is already here,” he says. “Lawyers and law students should approach these tools with both curiosity and caution. As AI continues to evolve, we should remain informed, ask critical questions and adapt our practices as needed.”
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Beyond the law school, the Law & Technology Institute is committed to building connections across faculties, institutions and in community.
In the fall of 2024, Dunn introduced Tech Toks at the Schulich School of Law—a multi-disciplinary and inter-faculty speaker series on a variety of topics in the law and technology space, ranging from career paths for women in IP to challenges with regulating online pornography to pharmaceuticals and the law.
“We wanted to use the series as a tool to bring people from various disciplines and the larger Halifax community together to have conversations about today’s modern technology issues,” says Dunn. “The possibilities for cross-sectoral collaboration have opened a lot of doors for innovative research and engagement.”
Rosborough led a Tech Tok session in May titled “Think Globally, Repair Locally” to discuss the barriers in repairing modern technological devices as well as local repair options. His current research project called Unlocking Healthcare investigates the technical and legal barriers to the independent repair and servicing of software-dependent medical devices in Canadian hospitals.
“To me, the most pressing issues in technology and law stem from the decline in human agency over the systems and devices that shape our lives. I am concerned about our evolving thinking about the role of law and computation and the growing belief in the inevitability narrative. This is the belief that technology, especially AI, will inevitably replace all that is human with advanced computational statistics.”
Rosborough believes that the Right to Repair movement shows a path to a more empowered society and competitive economy that diffuses technical knowledge and pushes back against centralized tech power structures.
“Ultimately, the Right to Repair is about reclaiming human agency. It’s an issue that spans multiple dimensions of law that are often treated in isolation, including consumer protection, intellectual property, competition law and product design. Greater access to repair can open up economic opportunities, support ecological sustainability and reduce costs for individuals, businesses and governments,” says Rosborough. “Technological advance is dizzying not only because of its pace, but also due to our lack of ability to shape its development. Wider access to repair gives us some control and direction over the trajectory of innovation and the values it embodies.”
This past April, LATI lent its expertise to WeRobot 2025, the premier international conference on AI and robotics innovation and regulation, hosted by the University of Windsor. Dunn served on the planning committee and presented a “Law 101” workshop. The Institute and the CJLT also partnered with WeRobot to publish a special multi-disciplinary and international edition featuring papers from the conference that will be available this fall.
In November, the Schulich School of Law will host the inaugural Canadian Technology Law Conference: Democracy and the Information Society, led by Karanicolas. The keynote will be delivered by the Honourable Sean Fraser (’09), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and will include additional panels featuring leading experts from Canada and the United States.
“As a scholar whose primary focus revolves around democracy and human rights, these issues are particularly salient in the context of rising authoritarianism around the world, a trend which has been largely fueled and accelerated by technological disruption of our information environment,” says Karanicolas. “I see the question of how Canadian democracy, and democracies around the world, survive the current wave of innovation as one of the most important challenges of our era.”
He is also leading a new initiative called the Canadian Law and Technology Network, connecting more than 80 legal scholars from across the country by providing a forum for discussion about pressing issues in the law and technology space, as well as offering opportunities for collaboration.
Looking to the Future
As technology continues to rapidly evolve, the Schulich School of Law’s ability to respond and adapt is critical. Whether it is through the steadfast work of the Law & Technology Institute, expanded course offerings to enhance the learning experience or the recruitment of experts in the field of law and technology, the law school is committed to preparing future legal professionals for the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. The intersection of law and technology calls for collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to ensure justice and fairness in today’s world.
LEADING WITH PURPOSE
Shawna Paris-Hoyte’s career has been defined by her commitment to lifelong learning, justice and community care.
BY ANNMARIE MACKINNON
When Shawna Paris-Hoyte (’94) first stepped through the doors of Dalhousie at just 17 years old, she unknowingly arrived exactly where she needed to be. Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and raised in the historic Black community of “The Hill” in Truro, she overcame significant systemic barriers, including being told by a school guidance counsellor that she was “not university material.”
She enrolled in Dalhousie’s Transition Year Program with the intention of becoming a teacher. That foundational experience shaped her trajectory toward a multifaceted, service-driven career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1978, Paris-Hoyte moved to Toronto, where she taught at a private college before establishing and operating a business specializing in employment and recruitment services for marginalized and low-income individuals.
To better support her clients, she began taking night courses in business and contract law, where she fell in love with the field of legal studies.
Then, in 1989, a close friend from Halifax told her about the new Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law, a program aimed at increasing the representation of Black and Mi’kmaq students in the legal profession. The timing was perfect. The following year, she made the life-changing decision to close her business, move her children and return to Nova Scotia to pursue a law degree.
In her final year of law school, she enrolled in the Clinical Law program through Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (DLAS), which would later become her professional home for more than 30 years. After earning her LLB in 1994, she articled at a private law firm in Halifax. The following year, she went back to DLAS as a community legal worker, and one year later joined the staff as a lawyer.
“My last year of law school was when I realized my passion was to engage with the community, to work in the trenches, to be on the front line,” Paris-Hoyte shares. “I’m very much about providing service, and I just knew I was in the right place at Dalhousie Legal Aid. It has always felt right.”
Her legal career has been profoundly fulfilling, highlighted by decades of advocacy, direct community service and mentoring others. Over time, as she worked closely with clients facing poverty, trauma and systemic discrimination, Paris-Hoyte recognized that the core issues her clients encountered were not only legal but also social, cultural and structural.
This realization led her to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work and later a Master of Social Work, enabling her to bridge both disciplines and provide more holistic support. “There was a clear intersection between legal and social issues that I couldn’t ignore,” she explains. “I wanted to better support my clients by addressing the whole picture, not just what appeared in the courtroom.”
Blending her knowledge of law and social work, Paris-Hoyte became a leader in the emerging field of forensic social work, the application of clinical and systemic social work principles to legal settings. She designed and developed workshops and training programs locally, nationally and internationally, along with a series of forensic social work courses now offered through the Dalhousie School of Social Work Continuing Education Program. These professional development courses provide foundational training for social workers, legal professionals and allied practitioners who work at the intersection of the justice and human service systems.
Surprised that legal education is often only an elective in social work programs, she became a vocal advocate for stronger
integration of law into core training. “Whether you’re working in child protection, mental health, housing or community practice, law is embedded in everything social workers do,” she says.
That insight led her to identify a larger gap: although forensic social work was growing internationally, Canada lacked a national body dedicated to this work. In 2016, she founded the National Institute of Forensic Social Work, providing training and development, and a professional community for individuals working across the legal, health and social sectors.
In 2021, Paris-Hoyte was invited to serve as legal counsel for an organization that was part of a coalition advocating for the inclusion of gender-based violence in the scope of the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Public Inquiry. Recognizing the value of this work for students, she brought the case to DLAS so both social work and law students could participate. It became a formative experience for all involved and helped raise awareness of important systemic issues in the public discourse.
Paris-Hoyte took a leave of absence from her position as staff lawyer at DLAS in 2024 to assume the role of executive director of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI), which she held until early 2025. ANSJI, a groundbreaking, community-led organization, is dedicated to addressing systemic anti-Black racism and improving justice outcomes for African Nova Scotians through research, culturally informed programming and advocacy.
In her volunteer work, Paris-Hoyte serves on the Board of Directors of the Forensic Social Work Alliance in the U.S., contributing to
the development of national standards and advancing the field’s professional growth. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Africville Heritage Trust, supporting the preservation of the community’s legacy and history and sits on the advisory committee for Black Mental Health Canada. She is pursuing a PhD in social work at Memorial University with a focus on forensic social work pedagogy.
In addition to her academic, legal and policy work, Paris-Hoyte operates a small private clinical practice, offering services rooted in anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and culturally affirming approaches. She also writes Impact of Race and Culture Assessments, critical tools used in sentencing hearings to provide judges with a deeper understanding of the systemic and racialized factors that shape an individual’s lived experience and behaviour. Although deeply connected to the Clinic, where her passion for community law took root, she continues to focus on research, advocacy and national-level initiatives in law, forensic social work and mental health.
Paris-Hoyte is a purpose-driven leader, healer and advocate whose life’s work bridges law and social work to advance justice, restore dignity and serve communities with compassion and courage. Shaped by lived experience, she has devoted her career to walking alongside those most impacted by systemic harm, whether in courtrooms, classrooms or community spaces. With each role she takes on—lawyer, social worker, clinician, educator, mentor—she reaffirms her belief that service is not just a profession, but a calling rooted in equity, humanity and hope.
SHAPING INDONESIA’S PATH TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
BY SUZANNE BOWNESS
Takdir Rahmadi (’87) was working as a junior lecturer at Indonesia’s Andalas University when his law dean identified him as a World Bank scholarship candidate for his master’s in environmental law. At the time, Indonesia’s Ministry of the Environment was looking to develop its environmental law and policy portfolio and was seeking lecturers from each of Indonesia’s five public universities.
Rahmadi’s decision to pursue his master’s degree propelled his career in a new direction, one that brought him from Padang, West Sumatra province to Canada’s East Coast and back again, eventually leading to his ascent as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Arriving at Dalhousie University in 1985 at age 31, Rahmadi says he and his fellow Indonesian students struggled at first with the social and cultural differences of life in Halifax, from the language to the weather. They missed their families, which for Rahmadi included his young son and wife, who was also a lecturer at Andalas University in the Faculty of Economics.
Yet they did their best to make the most of their time abroad, living together in a house on South Street. “Halifax is a beautiful city with historic sites like the Citadel and Public Gardens. My fellow students and I often visited those places, spent time downtown, and played soccer on campus.”
He recalls many of the courses he took and professors he studied with, including David VanderZwaag (’82) who became his thesis supervisor. He remembers his kindness when welcoming the Indonesian cohort.
Under VanderZwaag, Rahmadi completed an LLM thesis titled “Environmental Mediation: The North American Experiences and Potential Applicability in Indonesia, 1987” and credits mediation as one of the biggest takeaways from his legal education.
“I realized that the concept of mediation was similar to the traditional values of Indonesian ethnic groups, which use consensual approaches to resolve social conflicts or problems. When I returned home, I suggested that our Faculty of Law offer dispute resolution, in which mediation was one of the tenets,” says Rahmadi. His mediation knowledge was also useful in helping to draft Supreme Court regulations concerning Court-Annexed Mediation and in creating training materials for new judges as chair of the Supreme Court’s working group on this topic.
He also credits his success to VanderZwaag’s support in supervising and writing his thesis. “Without his help, my career may never have reached the heights it did.”
In 1987, he returned home and began teaching environmental law, land law and administrative law at Andalas University, where he subsequently joined the school’s Center for Environmental Study.
In 1991, he earned his PhD in environmental law at Airlangga University, Surabaya in the East Province of Indonesia, and joined the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law as a researcher.
Rahmadi returned to Andalas University in 1997, taking on the role as deputy dean, and then dean of the law faculty, where he advocated within the Association of Deanship of Indonesian Public Faculties of Law to have environmental law declared compulsory at the country’s law schools—which it did in 2005.
Encouraged by his colleagues, he applied for a position as a justice in the Supreme Court of Indonesia and on December 30, 2008, he took the official oath. His work at the Supreme Court led to his involvement in leading judicial reform where he heard many environmental cases in the new private law chamber. In 2014, he was appointed the chair of the Resource Development Chamber, where he led working groups on mediation, women’s issues, environmental law and drafted regulations for the Supreme Court.
He has published several books in his areas of expertise, including Mediation: Dispute Resolution Through Consensual Approaches (2010) and Environmental Law in Indonesia (2011). Now retired, Rahmadi is writing a book titled The Supreme Court of Indonesia: After the Political and Legal Reform in 1998
He also inspired his family to follow in his footsteps. His oldest child, who was just a baby when he came to Halifax all those years ago, is now a judge at the Court of First Instance in the Karawang District in the West Jawa province.
Over the course of Rahmadi’s career, much progress has been made in environmental law in Indonesia. Since the first environmental act in 1982, laws have been updated and added on topics from climate change to forest management to marine protection. Indonesia has also become a regular participant in Southeast Asian environmental forums. He was at the forefront of these developments during his tenure as a Supreme Court judge. He chaired the committee that developed guidelines for judges who hear environmental cases, as well as the curriculum for training judges.
As he reflects on his career, he hopes his contributions have strengthened the practices and development of Indonesia’s environmental rule of law.
“I hope that our work can inspire the next generation of judges in making decisions in favour of environmental interests.”
JUDGE CORRINE SPARKS
Law school opened doors for me and gave me the opportunity to build a successful career. With my legacy gift, I hope to provide support to deserving students and inspire them to reach their goals in life. ”
JUDGE CORRINE SPARKS (LLB’79, LLM’01)
If you’re thinking of including Dal in your estate plans, we can help you match your gift to your wishes.
Explore the possibilities at dal.ca/plannedgiving
Or get in touch, we’re here to answer your questions. Please contact Terri Mann at legacy@dal.ca or 902.877.6589
LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY
John McLeish’s affinity for his alma mater influences his estate planning.
BY SARAH HARDING
When John McLeish (’73) decided to pursue a legal education at Dalhousie University, he had no plans to be a practicing lawyer. Instead, he thought it would be a good foundation for a career in finance.
He held this belief throughout his three years at law school where he focused on business and corporate law. Professors Ed Harris (’58) and Les O’Brien (’67), the anchors of the tax and corporate law curriculum at that time, had a big influence on him. Although he had a deep appreciation for what he was learning, his heart was still set on a career in finance. His plan was to graduate and not pursue articling or the Ontario Bar admission course.
At that point his mother stepped in. Although she was supportive of whatever path he chose, she felt that he should at least get called to the Bar. Partly seeing the wisdom in this, and partly out of respect for his mother, who was dealing with health issues at the time, he decided to article.
Much to his surprise, he really enjoyed articling. After getting called to the Bar, he started practicing with Chuck Loopstra and Sandy Nixon at Loopstra Nixon and McLeish. Initially he had to “take anything that walked through the door” but quickly started to direct his practice exclusively to personal injury law.
In 1999, he left Loopstra Nixon and McLeish (the successor firm of Loopstra Nixon now has over 125 lawyers) to start McLeish Personal Injury Law, which is now known as McLeish Orlando, a 10-lawyer personal injury boutique. With over 40 years’ experience serving clients and more than 20 years’ successfully leading one of Toronto’s top personal injury law firms, he has now eased off the throttle and is reflecting on the past.
“I was with two great firms throughout my legal career where the lawyers in the firm liked each other and we got a great product out the door. Both firms continue to have an outstanding culture and perform at a very high level.”
He also looks back on his time at law school with much fondness. He remembers living on the top floor of Domus in his first and second years of law school. “It was a dump,” he admits. “But for me, it was a wonderful experience.” He formed many close and lasting friendships with a number of his classmates, one of whom was Greg Baker (’73). Greg’s family were lobster fishermen in Yarmouth.
“Greg invited me to Yarmouth every year after exams to, among other things, go lobster fishing and eat his mother’s assortment of pies. Devouring eight lobsters in a row on my first trip seemed like a good idea at the time, but turned out not to be! I modified my consumption considerably on subsequent trips. Atlantic Canada is firmly embedded in my DNA. I go every summer. It is the favourite holiday for my wife and me.”
McLeish’s affection for his law school and his respect for the strength of the faculty as a nationally and internationally recognized legal training powerhouse has led him to recognize the law school in his estate planning.
“I could not have achieved what I did without a law degree,” says McLeish. “I feel that having a law degree from Dalhousie gave me instant credibility and provided opportunities that I do not think I would have had if I had gone to a different law school. It is a no-brainer for me to give back in my estate planning”.
The law school is deeply grateful for McLeish’s exemplary philanthropic leadership and his deep commitment to the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
United by a spirit of camaraderie, the Class of ’74 continues to exceed their fundraising goals.
BY EMILY COLL
When Jim Coleman (’74) reflects on his time at Dalhousie Law School, the first word that comes to mind is ‘community’— an unlikely choice for an area of study often associated with competition.
“We were good neighbours,” he says. “Dalhousie Law School was a place where people were there to help one another, not compete. If you missed a class, someone shared their notes. If your car broke down, someone was there to give you a hand.”
Therefore, when the Class of ’74 was informed last year that their endowed class gift had surpassed $500,000, Coleman wasn’t surprised. He says the milestone reflects who the group has always been.
His classmates went on to become judges, deans, litigators, legal scholars and community leaders. “When we started in ’71, we knew we were among bright people but we didn’t know how it would all shake out 30 or 40 years down the road,” he says. “There was competition, of course, but it wasn’t obvious or cutthroat. It was a supportive place to be.”
It was not only his classmates who left a lasting impression on the Class of ’74, the group also holds warm memories of their professors. “We didn’t see ourselves as special, but the professors took such a great interest in the class that we felt special,” Coleman recalls.
After graduation, the Class dispersed across the country. Despite the distance, many kept in touch through letters and phone calls which eventually evolved to emails and texts. With the passage of time, the celebratory news among the group transitioned from “I just landed a big client!” to “I’ve got 14 grandchildren!”
It was through their strong social connection that the Class of ’74 begin giving back to their cherished law school. They started small, within their means as new graduates entering their careers, focusing on consistency. “It was important to build the habit early,” he shares. “It didn’t have to be tens of thousands of dollars.” Encouraging each other to continue giving, both from afar and during their class reunions back in Halifax, became part of the culture for a core group of classmates.
When it was time to think bigger, they chose to honour some of the professors whose guidance had meant so much by establishing bursaries in 2009 in the names of Bill Charles (LLB ’58, LLD ’01), Innis Christie (’62), Peter Darby (’58), Hugh Kindred and John Yogis (’64). The bursaries help students access legal education to ensure tomorrow’s lawyers are ready to serve.
Coleman is one of three alumni who have championed this fundraising effort, along with former Member of Parliament Mary Clancy (’74) and retired Senator Brent Cotter (’74). Together, they’ve inspired their classmates to give back to the fund that reflects the values they all hold dear.
“People generally want to help. They just need a little nudge,” Coleman says. “It’s not about pushing, it’s about reminding them of the experience we shared and the importance of supporting future generations. We want to encourage others to step forward, to see that they can make a difference too.”
In 2020, the Class of ’74 celebrated an unprecedented milestone, becoming the first class to collectively give $200,000 to the law school. They soon reached another remarkable achievement in 2024, expanding their total giving to $500,000, which they celebrated at their 50th class anniversary that same year.
Even still, they remain committed to growing that amount. Last year, they expanded their giving to establish the Murray Fraser Memorial Award in Legal Ethics honouring their late professor. But, they’re not done yet. “Maybe we’ll reach $750,000 next,” Coleman adds, a feat that seems entirely possible for such a connected and generous group of alumni.
DONOR PROFILE
CHAMPION FOR EQUITY
Former Judge William Digby advocates for better representation in the legal profession.
BY EMILY COLL
Former Judge William Digby (’71) knew from a young age that he wanted to be a lawyer. His early memories of watching his father, who worked in real estate, collaborating with lawyers in his living room piqued his curiosity.
When reflecting on why he chose a career in law, he jokes that it must have been ignorance. After high school, he attended Mount Allison University for his undergrad, before heading to Dalhousie University to study law. As he neared the end of his degree, the reality of becoming a lawyer felt daunting. He often wondered what he had gotten himself into.
When he struggled to find an articling position, he sought the help of Professor John Yogis (’64) for advice. Digby remembers his quiet encouragement and suspects that he put in a good word for him with Sandra Oxner (LLB ’65, LLM ’01), with whom he began his articles. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and started his career with the City of Halifax the following year, prosecuting motor vehicle and bylaw cases, an experience he fondly refers to as “good training wheels.”
A chance encounter with a former classmate during an afternoon sail from the Waegwoltic Club soon presented him with a new opportunity—to be part of the legal aid program, a pilot project being launched by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. That decision led to a 25-year career in legal aid, culminating in his role as executive director of the Legal Aid Commission where he gained extensive experience in all courts in the province.
When he started at Legal Aid, his colleagues included professionals from diverse backgrounds, many of whom were not afforded opportunities at private firms. Their clients often came from historically underrepresented groups, creating an imbalance that was not lost on Digby and would later influence his giving.
In 1997, Digby was appointed to the Provincial Court in Nova Scotia where he went on to serve as a judge for two decades, followed by five years as a per diem judge in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
His commitment to equity continues today in his support for the Schulich School of Law. Throughout his career, he recognized that a more diverse legal profession strengthens the justice system. When legal professionals reflect the communities they serve, it builds trust, broadens perspectives and leads to better outcomes. His dedication to championing change shaped his philanthropic choices, making the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Initiative a natural fit.
While he has seen many positive changes over the course of his career, he knows there is still more work to be done.
Digby hopes that continued financial support for programs like the IB&M Initiative will lead to better representation in the legal profession. “Ultimately, a diverse community is a healthy community,” he says.
FROM MUSIC TO MARINE LAW
Professor Sara Seck demonstrates her dedication to student support.
BY EMILY COLL
Before Professor Sara Seck became a leading voice in the field of environmental law, she dreamed of pursuing a career in music. She began her studies at Memorial University in St. John’s, at the age of 17. She later completed a master’s degree at the University of Ottawa and remained in Ontario after graduation freelancing as a flautist and music teacher.
It was during this early chapter of her career that a quiet injustice caught her attention—she discovered that independent music teachers were not eligible for newly introduced tax deductions, unlike their counterparts working at corporate studios. This desire for equity would help inform Seck’s future work with the Schulich School of Law.
Music provided another inspiration that would come full circle in her law career. Learning about the diversity of music systems outside the Western classical tradition, many of which centre around conceptions of tuning and rhythm that the Western system does not account for, sparked her interest in international issues.
“If you put a classical orchestra next to an Indonesian gamelan ensemble, they’re both beautiful and coherent, but they don’t have the same fundamental building blocks,” she explains. “So then, if you think about trying to make international law frameworks, we have to ask ourselves what are the building blocks that we just take for granted?”
As her interest in international law grew, she embarked on her legal education at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. After graduating in 1999, she articled with a business law firm on Bay Street before beginning her PhD studies at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, focusing on corporate accountability, international environmental law and human rights, areas that continue to shape her professional work today.
In 2007, Seck began her career in academia with the Faculty of Law at Western University where she went on to complete her PhD and teach for a decade. She joined the Schulich School of Law in 2017 and took on the role of Yogis and Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law in 2021, focusing on research that centres on the intersection of human rights and environmental issues, and business responsibilities, including protection of the marine environment.
True to her character, Seck began giving back shortly after joining Dalhousie. She took a keen interest in programs that support students, including food insecurity and student relief funds, reflecting her values of compassion, equity and a commitment to action.
These are values that she regularly puts into practice as director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute (MELAW). In fact, this past academic year, the Schulich School of Law celebrated a pair of milestone anniversaries—50 years of the Marine & Environmental Law Program (MELP) and 20 years of MELAW.
As director, Seck played a lead role in organizing the anniversary celebrations, giving her the opportunity to experience firsthand the generosity of others when reaching out to peers for contributions and sponsorship support. Being on the receiving end of such good will inspired her deeply and gave her a renewed appreciation for the power of giving.
“Seeing MELAW and the law school community unite to celebrate this momentous event was a powerful example of our collective strength when we work together.”
DONOR REPORT
This report is a recognition of gifts received between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
1953
Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Hon. Hiram Carver, K.C.
1954
Class Participation 2%
Participating Donors:
Joel Matheson, K.C.
1958
Class Participation 4%
Participating Donors:
Dr. William H. Charles*
1960
Class Participation .............................
Participating Donors:
Hon. Arthur M. Lutz
Stuart MacKinnon
1961
Class Participation 10%
Participating Donors:
Hon. Paul Creaghan, K.C.
Boyd Lowery
David Matheson, K.C.
1962
Class Participation ............................. 8%
Participating Donors:
Alan V. M. Beattie, K.C.
Hon. Eugene A. Scheibel
Hon. Clyde Wells, K.C.
1964
Class Participation 3%
Participating Donors:
Hon. William Fitzgerald
1965
Total Class Giving ........................ $4,933
Class Participation 21%
Participating Donors:
Dr. George Cooper, K.C., C.M.
Hon. Gerard Hawco, K.C.
C. Thomas LeBrun, K.C.
Hon. Theodore E. Margeson
Hon. Sandra Oxner, K.C.
1966
Total Class Giving $1,750
Participating Donors:
William Gorham
John Myers
1967
Participating Donors:
Kenneth H. Glube
David Ritcey, K.C.
1968
Total Class Giving $6,030
Participating Donors:
James Gould, K.C.
Heather Grant
Hon. Arthur LeBlanc, K.C., O.N.S.
Hon. D. William MacDonald, K.C.
William McColm
David Reardon, K.C.
William E. Wells
1969
Total Class Giving $4,095 Class Participation 9%
Participating Donors:
Brian D. Bruce
Edward Chase, K.C.
Morris J. Haugg, K.C.
Robbie G. MacKeigan, K.C.
John McFarlane, K.C.
David A. Milner
Robert B. Waind
1970
Total Class Giving ........................... $896 Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Richard W. Cregan, K.C.
Kathleen Marrie
Brian Norton, K.C.
Dennis Y. Perlin
1971
Total Class Giving $10,555
Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Hon. M. A. Cameron
Donald Gibson
Derry Millar
Hon. Robert Wright
1972
Total Class Giving $9,031 Class Participation 8%
Participating Donors:
Cherry G. Ferguson
William J. Leslie, K.C.
Hon. George Macintosh, K.C.
Hon. Thomas Marshall, K.C.
J. Fraser B. Mills
Hon. Gregory Warner
Hon. Jim Wilson
1973
Total Class Giving ........................ $9,745 Class Participation 11%
Participating Donors:
Michael Bird
Wayne D. Cochrane, K.C.
Larry Freeman, K.C.
Hon. R. Brian Gibson
Hon. Robert B. Hyslop
John McLeish
Thomas W. Patience
Ronald Pink, K.C.
Hon. Nicoll M. Scaravelli
Andrew Watt
1974
Total Class Giving $60,436 Class Participation 19%
Participating Donors:
Bruce Archibald, K.C.
Mel F. Belich, K.C.
Mary Clancy
James Coleman
Hon. Brent Cotter, K.C.
Dr. Fred Fountain, C.M.
Hon. Deborah Gass
Garth C. Gordon, K.C.
James Gregg, K.C.
Hon. M. Jill Hamilton
David Hooley, K.C.
Paul D. Jardine
Hon. Beryl MacDonald, K.C.
Bruce MacIntosh
Hon. Justice James MacPherson
Hon. A. Anne McLellan
David Meadows, K.C.
Hon. Justice Kathy Neilson
Martin J. Pink, K.C.
John Plowman, K.C.
Hon. Elizabeth Roscoe
Glenn Smith
Paul Stokes, K.C.
George White, K.C.
1975
Total Class Giving $5,005 Class Participation 7%
Participating Donors:
David Feindel
Gregory S. Hildebrand
Prof. Archie Kaiser
Lawrence Pascoe
Hon. Paul J. Pearlman, K.C.
F. T. Mark Pujolas
Wendell Sanford
Michael Schelew
1976
Total Class Giving $7,725 Class Participation 12%
Participating Donors:
Hon. Jean-Louis Batiot
Roberta J. Clarke, K.C.
David G. Fredricksen
Linda M. Gaudet
Gerry Goneau
Peter W. Gurnham, K.C.
Mary A. Kimball
Andrew Love
Brian MacLellan, K.C.
Hon. M. Clare MacLellan
Timothy Matthews, K.C.
Hon. Linda Oland
Robert M. Purdy, K.C.
Lynne Redden
Gerry Roy
John Stringer, K.C.
Anthony L. Sweet
1977
Total Class Giving $6,567 Class Participation 8%
Participating Donors:
Harold Barnett, M.D.
Hon. Nancy Bateman, K.C.
Janice M. Bruni, K.C.
Steven Enman
Alison Taylor Love, K.C.
Colin Patrick MacDonald, K.C.
Robert G. McNeil
Douglas Ruck, K.C.
Elizabeth J. Shilton
T. Ann Smiley
James Stanley
Robert Stewart, K.C.
1978
Total Class Giving
$2,860
Class Participation 9%
Participating Donors:
Robert D. Annett
Frank Archibald
Elizabeth Callaghan
Joseph A. Cameron
Elizabeth Ellis
Anne Emery
Mary E. Meisner, K.C.
Mike Owen
Don Roger
Claude Samson
Hon. Margaret J. Stewart
Shirley Strutt, K.C.
Tom Strutt
1979
Total Class Giving
$6,220
Class Participation 9%
Participating Donors:
Mary Ann Burke-Matheson
Dr. Robert Davis (LLM)
Keith R. Evans, K.C.
Randall Fleming
D. Suzan Frazer
Brian Maltman
Marian McGrath
Paul D. Michael, K.C.
Hon. Justice Rosemary Nation (LLM)
David N. Ross
Donald G. Sword
Hon. Judge Alan Tufts
1980
Total Class Giving
$6,450
Class Participation 6%
Participating Donors:
D’Arcy DePoe
Hon. Anne Derrick
Stuart Koskie
Anthony Pylypuk
Hon. Justice Sheila Ray (Ava Ray
Memorial Foundation)
Randy Smith
Hans Von Heydebrand (LLM)
1981
Total Class Giving
$84,906
Class Participation ............................. 8%
Participating Donors:
Jeff Berryman (LLM)
Hon. Steven D’Arcy
Hon. Justice Leslie J. Dellapinna, K.C.
Margaret Dickson
Michael Lynk
Dinyar Marzban, K.C.
Arthur Oliphant
Curtis C. Palmer
Barry Ryan
Clifford J. Shaw, K.C.
1982
Total Class Giving $5,150
Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Scott P. Gray
Kerry M. Harnish
Adrian Wright
1983
Total Class Giving $6,600
Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Guy Desmarais
Hon. Daryl Fridhandler, K.C.
Christopher Morris
Hon. Justice Scott Norton, K.C.
Geoff Regan
Natalie Vukovich
1984
Total Class Giving ..................... $48,440
Class Participation 11%
Participating Donors:
Janet Chisholm
John S. Fitzpatrick, K.C.
Peter Gorgopa
Mark A. Greenberg
Shirley Lee, K.C.
Prof. William MacNeil
Hon. Justice Gillian Marriott, K.C.
Douglas McLean
Jim Musgrave, K.C.
Hon. Kim Pate
Maureen Reid
Penelope Tham
Jeremy A. Thomas (LLM)
Paula Wedge
Hon. Chief Judge Pam Williams
1985
Total Class Giving $3,560
Class Participation ............................. 6% Participating Donors:
Sheila Bruce
Hon. Justice Mona M. Lynch
Jim MacAulay, K.C.
Kevin MacLean
1986
Total Class Giving $4,890
Class Participation ............................. 5%
Participating Donors:
Christine Carter
Hon. Judge Michelle Christopher, K.C.
Roland Deveau, K.C.
Donald B. Jarvis
Alex MacFarlane
Ronald M. Snyder
Nancy Trott
Ian Wallace
1987
Total Class Giving $7,689
Class Participation 3%
Participating Donors:
Robert Boron
Charlotte Davis
David Layton
Mary E. Murphy
Janice E. Younker
1988
Total Class Giving $2,700
Class Participation ............................. 5%
Participating Donors:
Marianne L. Alto-Bond
Donald J. Dow
Coleen Kirby
David Pentz
Mark Schmidt
Ann G. Wilkie
1989
Total Class Giving $55,220 Class Participation 9%
Participating Donors:
R. Glen Boswall
Hon. Judge Peter Chisholm
Hon. Judge Stephanie A. Cleary, K.C.
Frank Demont
Hon. Chief Justice Jim Gormley, K.C.
Hon. Justice Nathalie Goyette
Sarah Harding
John R. Manning
Janice Spencer
Hon. Justice Cecily Strickland
1990
Total Class Giving ........................ $7,940 Class Participation 8%
Participating Donors:
Leonard P. Bosschart
Tracey D. Cutcliffe
Susan J. Fullerton
Carolyn Hadrovic
John Hovland
Gareth C. Howells
Donald K. MacKenzie, K.C.
Diane L. McInnis
Hon. Justice Francis O’Brien
Brian Rhodes
Philip Sheppard
David H. Taylor
Mitch Williams
James D. H. Wood
1991
Total Class Giving $1,740 Class Participation 5%
Participating Donors:
Simon Barker
Colin J. Clarke, K.C.
Hon. Justice Jeffrey Hunt
Sean F. Layden, K.C.
Celine Levesque
Hon. Justice Diane MacDonald
Andrew C. Staples
1992
Total Class Giving $4,312 Class Participation 6%
Participating Donors:
Sheila J. Cameron, K.C.
Peter Crowther
Dale E. Ives
John T. Kalm
Dr. Stephen G. A. Pitel
T. A. Pratt
Karen A. Rose
Rodney J. Zdebiak, K.C. 1993
Total
Participating Donors:
Brian Beck
Subrata Bhattacharjee
Matthew Certosimo
Patricia E. Doyle-Bedwell
Erin Iles
Roger Lee
Peter MacKenzie 1994
Total Class Giving $1,470
Participating Donors:
Nancy F. Barteaux
Mary Birdsell
Jane D. Harrigan (LLM)
John LeBlanc
Daphne C. Loukidelis
Garry A. McCay
1995
Total
Donors:
Jennifer G. Carmichael
Anneke Driessen van der Lieck
Patricia Thiel
Candace Thomas 1996 Total
Participating Donors:
Ken Dekker
Samiran P. Lakshman
Zarah E. Walpole
D. Scott Worsfold
1997
Total Class Giving $1,160
Participating Donors:
Cheryl Canning, K.C.
Susan E. Carruthers
Vincent C. Kazmierski
Duaine W. Simms
Total
Participating Donors:
Paula Boutis
Jean Buie
Arnold T. Ceballos
Hon. Justice Michelle Coady
Paul Falvo
Sean Foreman, K.C.
James Rossiter, K.C.
Total
Participating Donors:
Harry Korosis
Timothy Morse
Sheila Wildeman
Laura Neals
Martin
Joshua Nodelman
Sarah Shiels
Duncan Taylor
Participating Donors:
Andrew Wilson
Cameron L. Foster
Jalana Lewis
Nathaniel Marshall
LEGACY SOCIETY
(formerly Heritage Society)
The Dalhousie Legacy Society was established to recognize and thank those who have remembered the faculty in their estate plans.
Keith R. Evans, K.C.
Cherry G. Ferguson
Heather Grant
Dale E. Ives
Hon. George Macintosh, K.C.
John McLeish
Hon. A. Anne McLellan
Dr. Stephen G. A. Pitel
T. Ann Smiley
Penelope Tham
ESTATES
Estate of R. B. Viscount Bennett
Estate of Peter K. Large
Estate of Alex Ross
Estate of Thomas W. Toward
Estate of Sarah Wolff
FRIENDS OF THE LAW SCHOOL
Colin R. Arnold
Glen D. Buchanan
Dr. Heather Carr
Dr. Anne Frances D’Intino
ORGANIZATIONS
3304238 Nova Scotia Limited
770294 Alberta Limited
Ava Ray Memorial Foundation
Bereskin & Parr
Black Female Lawyers Network
Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP
BMO Financial Group
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Burchells LLP
Canadian Bar Association - Nova Scotia
Branch
Canadian Energy Law Foundation
Canerector Foundation
Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries
Dale E. Ives and Stephen G. A. Pitel
Giving Foundation
Dalhousie Law Students’ Society
Dinyar Marzban Law Corporation
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Forrest C. Hume Law Corporation
Gowlings LLP
Halifax Estate Planning Council
HB Legan Incorporated
Kevin West SkyLaw Professional Corporation
Law Foundation of Nova Scotia
Lenczner Slaght
Lenehan Musgrave LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
McInnes Cooper
Patterson Law
Pink Larkin
Participating Donors:
Level Chan
Kendrick Douglas
Darlene M. Lamey
Peter Keyes
Donors:
Jo-Anne Embree
Dr. Elizabeth Fountain
Dr. Anne Archibald Fraser
Dr. Philip Girard
Dr. Sylvia D. Hamilton
Anne Henderson
Joanne Hussey
Scott Hyman
Robert Jaffray
RBC Foundation
Scotiabank
Donors:
Hon. Justice Maegen Giltrow, K.C.
Danielle MacLean
Claude Martin
Chris Peddigrew, K.C.
Donald Zarow
Donors:
Lauren Mills Taylor
Muyang Li
Sarah B. MacDonald
Denise MacDonell
Lauri MacDougall
Christine MacInnes
Audrey Macklin
Participating Donors:
Christina Macdonald
Regan Murphy
Mary Rolf
Donors:
Andrew Lyster
Participating Donors:
Participating Donors:
Michael Dull, K.C.
Michelle Kellam
Julien Ranger
Amanda Brousseau
Patrick Brousseau
Adam Karakolis
Kate Scallion
Primrose Watson
Donors:
Peter Dostal
Aaron Hirschorn
Jennifer Ko
John MacLatchy
Dorothy MacLeod*
Maureen O’Brien
Dr. Brendan O’Connor
Joan A. Pugsley
Gillian Pullen
Carrie Ricker
Linda J. Roberts
Rohit Seth
David Seto
John Sherwood
Joan Simpson
Bill Smith
Eve Wickwire
Michelle Williams
Barbara Younker Smith
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 fewer donations, to protect confidentiality. The names of those who wish to be anonymous are also excluded.
*Deceased
WELDON PROFESSORS
Professor NAYHA ACHARYA has had an insightful sabbatical year. She travelled to India to share her theoretical and empirical work on mediation and gained important insights into international approaches to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and access to justice. She is continuing her work on assessing judicial mediation programs in Nova Scotia and has recently joined an advisory panel for the ADR Institute of Canada, whose goals are to facilitate ADR education and practice across the country. She is also preparing her manuscript titled What Happened: Exploring FactFinding and Procedural Legitimacy in Civil Litigation which dives into the question of what makes civil justice systems good and acceptable.
As the Purdy Crawford Chair in Business Law, Professor OLABISI D. AKINKUGBE organized his first Purdy Crawford Workshop in International Business Law, drawing more than 50 participants from Canada, the U.S, Europe and Asia. In December 2024, he was elected executive vice-president of the Society of International Economic Law. He serves on multiple editorial boards, including the American Journal of International Law, Journal of World Investment and Trade, Journal of International Economic Law, Canadian Yearbook of International Law and is co-editor-in-chief of the African Journal of International Economic Law He also sits on the Executive Councils of both the American and Canadian Societies of International Law. Alongside his active publication record, he teaches Contracts and Judicial Decision-Making, International Trade Law and International Investment Law.
Professor CAMILLE CAMERON, K.C., enjoyed teaching Tort Law and Damage Compensation for a bright and enthusiastic group of first-year law students. She co-published a report on Third Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) in Canada for a European Commission Study with David Eno (’25) who she is also working with on another TPLF publication. Later this year, a forthcoming book on climate change litigation she co-edited with Schulich Law Professor Patricia Galvão-Ferreira and Riley Weyman (’19), a senior associate at Pape Salter Teillet, is set to be published. She also continued her work as a member of the Law Commission of Canada Advisory Council, a role she greatly enjoys.
Professor ALDO CHIRCOP teamed up with Professor Henrik Ringbom of Abo Akademi University in Finland to publish The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships: A Commentary (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025). Featuring contributions from 30 leading experts, this commentary serves as the definitive reference on interpreting and applying the foremost international treaty for protecting the marine environment from vessel-source pollution.
Professor STEVE COUGHLAN was honoured to receive this year’s Hanna and Harold Barnett Teaching Award and enjoyed staying engaged in student life whether by playing Captain Hook in the Weldon Literary Moot, competing in “Are You Smarter Than a Weldon Law Professor?” during Weldon Welcome Days or making a cameo appearance in Section A’s winning Pith and Substance video. In other aspects of his career, he took over as editor-in-chief of both the Criminal Reports and the National Judicial Institute’s Criminal Law Essentials eLetter.
Professor ROB CURRIE, K.C., was honoured to take up the Viscount Bennett Professorship in Law, which enabled the reinvigoration of the Halifax Colloquium, an occasional series on transnational crime and corruption. This year’s Colloquium, titled Accountability for Corruption: In Canada and the World, featured distinguished speakers Ambassador Allan Rock and British journalist Gareth Gore. In May, Rob served as a visiting fellow at the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, where he conducted research and studied Irish extradition law. He is grateful to the Ireland-Canada University Foundation for supporting his visit.
MICHAEL DETURBIDE, K.C., is a professor emeritus at the Schulich School of Law. He has been reappointed to the Nova Scotia Securities Commission, serves as the treasurer and a board member of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and is a founder and editorial board member of the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology.
After 39 years of teaching law, 36 of them at Dalhousie University, Professor RICHARD DEVLIN has decided to ride off into the sunset. Reflecting on what he describes as four incredibly rewarding decades, he expressed deep gratitude to the students, faculty,
colleagues and staff who made the journey so meaningful. It’s a path he never imagined when he first entered law school in 1979. However, his horse may not be going too far as he has applied for the title of Professor Emeritus and looks forward to staying connected to the Weldon community in new ways.
Professor MARIA DUGAS teaches African Nova Scotian Legal History, Issues and Critical Race Theory, Copyright Law and Torts. She also co-coaches the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot team and frequently presents to legal audiences on anti-Black racism within the criminal justice system. Her research is grounded in critical race theory. This year she published papers in the Dalhousie Law Journal and the Canadian Bar Review. In May, she travelled to Geneva to participate in consultations on systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system with the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement.
Professor SUZIE DUNN taught Law and Technology, Contracts and Judicial Decision-Making and Introduction to Legal Ethics. She is the acting director of the law school’s Law & Technology Institute. She is currently a co-investigator on a SSHRC Insight Grant where she is working with scholars from Western University, Concordia University and Saint Mary’s University to examine the experiences of, and responses to, technology-facilitated sexual violence among Canadian youth. The project can be seen at diydigitalsafety.ca
Professor MATTHEW DYLAG taught Civil Procedure, Legal Profession and Torts. This year, he was awarded the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association & Law Students’ Society Award for Excellence in Teaching. He continues to advance his research on access to justice, with recent publications in the Canadian Journal of Law and Society and the Dalhousie Law Journal. He also travelled to the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, where he presented his work at the Max Weber Fellows’ Conference.
Professor LUCIE GUIBAULT has been enjoying a full year on administrative leave. During her time away from teaching and administrative duties, she co-wrote an article on secondary publishing rights for academic authors, a key topic in copyright law, and has been devoting significant time to developing a new open educational resource for the first-year course on the fundamentals of public law. She looks forward to returning to a full teaching load in September 2025.
Professor ADELINA IFTENE was on maternity leave for the first term of the academic year. In the winter, she taught Evidence and co-taught Imprisonment alongside Professor Sheila Wildeman. She continued her role as a co-author of the Annual Review of Criminal Law with Professors Steve Coughlan and Rob Currie. She published two sentencing articles, “Sentencing Vulnerability: Conceptualizing the Incorporation of Personal Characteristics and Experiences at Sentencing Through an Intersectional Framework” (2024) 61:3 Osgoode Hall Law Journal and “Sentencing Vulnerability: An Empirical Study Into the Role of Personal Characteristics and the Foreseeable Experience of Confinement at the Sentencing of Older Adults” (2025) 56:1 Ottawa Law Review 41 co-authored by Allison Hearns (’22). She continued her community and policy work, including advising on a Charter test case and providing input on the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s draft action plan on criminal justice and mental health.
As Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor COLIN JACKSON was delighted to see what felt like a record number of LLM and PhD students successfully complete their programs over the past year. He continued to teach Taxation I and Secured Transactions and returned to teaching Bankruptcy and Insolvency while coaching the faculty’s team in the Bowman National Tax Moot.
Professor ARCHIE KAISER continued teaching Criminal Law, Mental Disability Law: Civil and Criminal and Global Corruption and Legal Issues in Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Disability Equity Committee and a member of the Implementation Task Force for the Ruck Report with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. He is also a provincial advisor for People First Nova Scotia, a self-advocacy organization for people labelled with an intellectual disability.
Professor JODI LAZARE was appointed associate dean (Academic) in July 2024. In addition to that role, she continues to research and write in family law, constitutional law and animal rights law. She regularly presents at conferences across Canada and the US and has appeared before Parliamentary committee studying bills related to animals in captivity and industrial animal farming. She is currently collaborating with colleagues across the country to create an open-source constitutional law textbook and is working on a paper examining the evolution of the law on retroactive child support.
Professor JENNIFER LLEWELLYN has continued to lead the work and growth of the Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab. Last summer, she worked with a team of over 200 community and academic partners to develop a new initiative, Creating Integrated Restorative Communities for Locally Engaged Solutions (CIRCLES-NS), funded by Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Investment program. CIRCLES-NS focuses on supporting communities across the province to take a restorative approach to address complex issues at the local level. This summer, ‘Team RJ’ is headed to the Canada Games to support the use of a restorative approach to team wellbeing. She also continues to work on the Restorative Approach to Multiple Proceedings initiative with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, which is focused on addressing the impact of multiple proceedings in situations of domestic violence.
MEGAN LONGLEY, K.C., reports that Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (DLAS) has had another busy year. Highlights include the eviction prevention coordinator’s province-wide tour to educate communities on renters’ rights and responsibilities, the launch of the updated Tenants’ Rights Guide and website, as well as the launch and development of the new student-led summary advice service to assist individuals with Night Court matters. The DLAS office also relocated to the Halifax Professional Centre at 5991 Spring Garden Road.
Professor CONSTANCE MACINTOSH had a productive year finalizing writing projects that she had advanced while on sabbatical, coupled with the pleasure of returning to the classroom to bring the joy of Contract Law and Immigration and Refugee Law to another generation of students. Her core projects this year involved working with the Canadian Council for Refugees on some significant advocacy achievements and an increased focus on research projects addressing vulnerability and migration.
Professor Emeritus WAYNE MACKAY, K.C., had another productive year of retirement. His key research accomplishment was the completion and publication of Teachers and the Law: Diverse Roles and New Challenges (5th edition), Toronto: Émond Montgomery, 2025. This book was completed in collaboration with co-authors and former students Lyle (Chip) Sutherland (’88) and Katherine (Kate) Ashley (’23) and is the leading textbook for education law courses for teacher education programs across Canada. He also continues to be active on all forms of media at both a local and national level, providing expert commentary on a wide range of legal issues, and serves as the legal columnist on CBC Radio in Nova Scotia.
Professor MELISA MARSMAN’s legal research on land in African Nova Scotian communities helped establish the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust (UHPCLT), which protects historic lands, supports affordable housing and honours African Nova Scotian heritage. In 2024-2025, UHPCLT’s housing co-op project received $61.2 million through the federal Co-operative Housing Development Program to build 136 row houses, primarily for Black Canadians. The project fosters community engagement, cultural connection and collective ownership in the African Nova Scotian community of Upper Hammonds Plains.
Professor ANDREW FLAVELLE MARTIN taught Fundamentals of Public Law, Introduction to Legal Ethics, Administrative Law and Professional Responsibility. His book Legal Ethics and the Attorney General: A Canadian Analysis was published by the University of Toronto Press.
Professor NAIOMI METALLIC, K.C., teaches Constitutional Law, Aboriginal Peoples and the Law, Indigenous Law as Practice: Applying Mi’kmaq Legal Traditions and Aboriginal and Indigenous Law and Context. This year, she has been overseeing and contributing to the update of the Indigenous Peoples chapter in Constitutional Law of Canada by Peter Hogg and Wade Wrights’s Constitutional Law of Canada textbook. Through the Lunney Dêbludaqan Wikuom (Mi’kmaq law lodge), she is leading a project in partnership with several Mi’kmaq organizations in the province called Glukabewimk – Learning to be a Good Relation, which seeks to articulate Mi’kmaq legal principles through discussion with a core group of Mi’kmaq knowledge-holders engaging with Mi’kmaq Gluskin stories and the language. She is also in the process of finishing her PhD dissertation, which seeks to comprehensively unpack how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a framework for the exercise of self-government by Indigenous Peoples within Canada, looking to the instrument’s history, purpose and provisions.
Professor SARA ROSS was granted early tenure in July after serving three years as an assistant professor. In May 2025, she served as the program chair for the Association of Law, Property & Society’s Annual Conference, hosting more than 100 attendees at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. This year, she signed on with Cambridge University Press for the publication of her latest book, Nowhere to Go: Housing Heritage, Hotels, and Homelessness, set for release in 2026.
Professor SARA SECK continued in her role as director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, taught Environmental Law and coached an enthusiastic team in the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition. In addition, she supervised an LLM thesis on environmental racism, three ongoing PhD students and a new LLM project on the impact assessment of shipping. As the Yogis & Keddy Chair in Human Rights, she continued her research and policy work at the intersection of human rights and environmental issues, including collaborating with post-doctoral fellow Cecilia Engler on international legal aspects of ocean-climate adaptation.
Over the past year, Professor Emeritus ROLLIE THOMPSON, K.C., delivered presentations on family law and evidence to numerous audiences of lawyers and judges across Canada, both in person and online. Since 2022, he has been counsel at Epstein Cole LLP, a Toronto family law firm. In October 2024, he was honoured to receive the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence for Family Law in memory of James McLeod. He loves his work in Toronto but still calls Halifax home.
Professor Emeritus DAVID VANDERZWAAG
provided a keynote lecture titled “UNCLOS and Arctic Governance: An Evolutionary and Cloudy Seascape” at the 2024 North Pacific Arctic Conference at the University of Hawaii. Key publications included “Tinkering While the Arctic Marine Environment Totters: Governance and the Triple Polar Crisis” 54 Environmental Policy and Law 141 (2024). He also co-authored “International Governance of Marine Geoengineering: Sketchy Seascape, Foggy Future – An Essay in Honour of Ted L. McDorman” 55 Ocean Development & International Law 624 (2024).
This year Professor SHEILA WILDEMAN taught Administrative Law, Public Health Law, Poverty Law and co-taught Imprisonment Law with Professor Adelina Iftene. She continues work with My Home My Rights, which co-hosted a session on inclusive research and advocacy at the UN Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in June 2024. Her work on disability and prison justice came together in a chapter on habeas corpus in psychiatric detention for the Canadian Anthology on Mental Health and Law (September 2024). In January 2025, she completed 18 months as chair of a Health Standards Organization technical committee, one that included currently incarcerated individuals tasked with developing a new accreditation standard
for Correctional Service Canada’s Health Services. She continues to serve as chair of the East Coast Prison Justice Society following the tragic passing of her co-chair, Harry Critchley (’22), whose legacy lives on in the social justice advocacy carried forward by many Schulich Law graduates.
Professor MICHELLE WILLIAMS enjoyed learning with and from students while teaching courses on African Nova Scotian legal issues and critical race theory, as well as coordinating the Public Law and Court Placement programs. She was honoured to be a part of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative’s 35th anniversary this past year. She also co-chaired Dalhousie’s African Nova Scotian Strategy, through which a quilt by artist Anya Clyke was installed at the law school in partnership with the Dalhousie Art Gallery. Her collaborative work on African Nova Scotian research ethics was awarded a five-year SSHRC grant that she will lead along with Professors Melisa Marsman and Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch.
THE GRAPEVINE
1966
WILLIAM RAND was appointed a non-executive chairman of AURANOVA Inc. and to the company’s Board of Directors.
1973
RONALD PINK was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
1974
JOHN CHANDLER was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
BRENT COTTER retired from the Senate on December 18, 2024.
DAVID ENGLISH was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
DANNY GALLIVAN is counsel with Patterson Law.
MICHAEL KUNA was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
GUY LAFOSSE was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
PETER LANDRY was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
DOUGLAS LIVINGSTONE was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
JOSEPH GREGORY MACDONALD was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
MARTIN PINK was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
DOUG SHATFORD was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
JAMES STONEHOUSE was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.
1975
C. RICHARD COUGHLAN retired from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court after 24 years on the Bench.
1976
JOHN MACPHERSON was appointed chair of the Halifax Regional Water Commission Board.
1977
R. JAMES WILLIAMS retired from the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) after 38 years on the Bench.
1979
DAVID ORSBORN was appointed King’s Counsel. The retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Trial Division) currently serves as counsel with Cox & Palmer in St. John’s.
1983
DENNIS BROWNE was named chair of the Independent Churchill River Negotiation Oversight Panel of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also the province’s consumer advocate.
ERIN O’BRIEN EDMONDS was the recipient of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award, presented to a member who has made significant contributions to their community, the legal profession and the Society.
1984
FRED CONSTANTINE was appointed King’s Counsel.
MARY GLEASON was appointed chief justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada.
WILLIAM MACNEIL enjoyed reconnecting with classmates in Halifax at the 2024 Law Alumni Reunion. This year, he is teaching a law and popular culture seminar at the University of Queensland and Reichman University (Israel), with a visit to Birkbeck, University of London planned later this year.
1985
IAN HOLLOWAY was recognized in the 15th edition of Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the “Changemakers” category for the impact he made on legal education in Canada during his 24 years as dean at both the University of Calgary and Western University.
1986
IAN HANOMANSING, veteran broadcaster, is host of a new CBC News daily primetime program rooted in Western Canada, Hanomansing Tonight, live from CBC Vancouver.
1987
JIM PHILLIPS was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a recognition awarded to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.
1988
GREG HARDY was appointed King’s Counsel.
NADINE SMILLIE was appointed King’s Counsel.
1989
SHAWN O’HARA was appointed King’s Counsel.
1991
ROGER HARRIS received a 2023 Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, the province’s second highest civilian honour recognizing individuals whose extraordinary volunteer efforts have fostered positive change and left a lasting impact on their communities and the province. He is a dedicated volunteer supporting the visually impaired, promoting accessibility in sailing and providing care at local hospices. He has also helped raise millions of dollars through the Wellspring Ride for Cancer Support.
1992
MIKE DUGGAN is a partner with Patterson Law.
1993
GRAHAM FLACK was appointed to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.
COLLEEN KEYES was appointed King’s Counsel.
AUDREY (HEIDI) MARSHALL is president and owner of Ma’sl Advisory & Consulting Services and president and CEO of the Mi’kmaq Circle of Hope Society. She was named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in Atlantic Canada.
GEOFFREY SPENCER was appointed King’s Counsel. He is the lead partner at McInnes Cooper’s St. John’s office.
1995
DEMETRI KACHAFANAS was elected chief administrative officer of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
JOSEPH MORRISON is a partner with Torkin Manes in the firm’s Labour and Employment Group.
CANDACE THOMAS, K.C., is vice president, Legal, general counsel and corporate secretary with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
1997
CHRISTOPHER DIANA was appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. He will preside in Barrie.
DOUG DOWNEY was reappointed as the Attorney General for Ontario for a second term.
JENNIFER GLENNIE was appointed King’s Counsel.
1998
STEPHANIE FABBRO was appointed King’s Counsel. She is a partner at Hamilton Fabbro in Vancouver.
DARLENE WILLCOTT was named to the Nova Scotia Energy Board.
MICHELLE WILLETTE was appointed King’s Counsel. She is a partner with Cox & Palmer’s St. John’s office.
1999
ANDREW MAYER was appointed a justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
JUSTIN MELLOR was appointed King’s Counsel.
GREG MOORES was appointed King’s Counsel. He is a partner with Stewart McKelvey in St. John’s.
JAMES VAN WART was appointed a judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia.
2002
DEREK LAND was appointed King’s Counsel.
2003
CATHERINE BOYDE was appointed King’s Counsel. She is the deputy area director for Legal Aid NL.
MEGHAN (FUREY) GARDNER was appointed King’s Counsel. She is vice president, Claims, for Intact Insurance.
DENISE WOODROW was appointed King’s Counsel.
2004
SCOTT CAMPBELL was appointed King’s Counsel.
2005
GODWIN DJOKOTO was appointed to the Constitutional Review team by the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. Godwin is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law.
2006
2000
TANNIS KING was appointed King’s Counsel. She is the director of Legal Services for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
SHANE PARKER was appointed to the Court of the King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary.
2001
GRIFFITH ROBERTS was appointed King’s Counsel.
LISA TAYLOR is the Rogers Chair in Journalism at the University of King’s College.
2007
NAIOMI METALLIC was appointed King’s Counsel.
MIKE DULL was appointed King’s Counsel.
MICHAEL SCHALKE joined Roper Greyell LLP as a partner.
MARC DUNNING was named to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board.
2008
ROBERT KENNEDY was appointed King’s Counsel.
LORI O’CONNOR was appointed a judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan.
KIM MCONIE was appointed King’s Counsel.
JILL BARRINGTON was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
2013
ANNE MCFARLANE joined Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office as counsel.
2015
JADE PICTOU was the 2024 recipient of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s Award for Mi’kmaq & Indigenous Peoples Excellence in the Legal Profession, recognizing outstanding Mi’kmaq and Indigenous lawyers within Nova Scotia who have contributed to their community, their Nation, the legal profession and the Society.
2016
TYLER JAMES is a partner with Stewart McKelvey.
KILLIAN MCPARLAND is a partner with Stewart McKelvey.
SARAH WALSH is a partner with Stewart McKelvey.
2017
DAVID LUTHER was appointed general counsel and corporate secretary of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.
2018
GRACE MACCORMICK is a partner with Patterson Law.
THOMAS MOREHOUSE was promoted to a partner at Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.
NICO JONES is an associate with Aird Berlis in Toronto.
KELLY O’BRIEN was promoted to a partner with Sampson McPhee.
KRISTEN STALLARD was selected as the recipient of the 2024-2025 Viscount Bennett Fellowship for her graduate legal studies by the Canadian Bar Association’s Fellowship Committee. She practices law with Patterson Law in Halifax.
2019
CHELSEA COX is co-editor of First, Do Less Harm (University of Ottawa Press, 2025) which brings together legal, social science and frontline experts to explore how harm reduction strategies such as safe consumption sites, naloxone distribution and cannabis legalization inform effective, evidence-based laws and policies.
2020
CONNOR ROGERS is practicing family law with Patterson Law.
2021
SARAH GRAY is an associate with Mathews Dinsdale.
EMMA GOULDEN is an associate with Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office.
2022
MACGREGOR MALLOY is practicing with Preszler Injury Lawyers.
LYNN SULLIVAN was named president of the Canadian Bar Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Branch for 2024-2025. She is counsel at Cox & Palmer’s St. John’s office.
2023
LAUREN AGNEW is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.
RACKELLE AWAD is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.
MEGHAN BEERS is an associate with Cox & Palmer’s Saint John office.
JACK BENNET is a clerk with the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
LEANDRA BOUMAN is an associate with Cox & Palmer.
JUSTIN BROOMFIELD is practicing with Wards Lawyers PC.
BRENT CAMPAGNOLA is an associate with Gowlings WLG.
LIZ CAMPBELL is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.
BRANDON CASE is an associate with Patterson Law.
SEAN DAVIDSON is an associate with Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP.
MIGUEL DEMELLO is an associate with Cox & Palmer.
WAYNE DESMOND is practicing with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.
BRIANNA DESVEAUX is practicing with McInnes Cooper.
LAMA EL AZRAK is an associate with Patterson Law.
GABRIELLE EVEREST is practicing with Patterson Law.
KATELYN FRITH is a lawyer with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice.
ANNA GIDDY is an associate with Weldon McInnis.
NADINE HANNA is an associate with BOYNECLARKE LLP.
MATTHEW HARDIE is an associate with Cox & Palmer.
GRAHAM HEADLEY is an associate with Kornfeld LLP.
JULIA HILTZ is an associate with Pink Larkin.
LILY BENDER is practicing with Fitch Violande.
MICHAEL KENNEDY is legal counsel with IT International Telecom Inc.
ALICIA LANDERS is an associate with Valent Legal Personal Injury Lawyers.
DR. ARIS LAVRANOS is the CEO of Acuity Medical Law.
EMMA LUTZ is a staff lawyer with Nova Scotia Legal Aid.
DANIEL MALLOV is a labour standards officer with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.
CIERRA MATEO is a lawyer with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice.
CARAID MCGINTY is an associate with Murray Lawson LLP.
CARLY MORRISON is an associate with Harris North Law.
AMBER MURRIN is practicing with Legal Aid NL.
THOMAS PANTHER is an associate with Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.
ANDREW PAUL is an associate with Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.
ASHA PELLY is an associate with Cox & Palmer.
SOPHIE PINEAU is an associate with Pink Larkin.
SOPHIE POULOS is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.
JENNIFER REECE is practicing with Wagners.
MARK ROBERTSON is an associate with Cox & Palmer’s Saint John office.
MEAGHAN ROUT is practicing with Touchstone Legal Inc.
TARAH SAWLER is an associate with McInnes Cooper.
TALINE SELMAN is practicing with Patterson Law.
TIEGAN SCOTT is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.
KATHERINE STEVENSON is practicing with Ritch, Williams & Richards.
BENJAMIN TALLON is practicing with NOVA Injury Law.
EMMA VOSSEN is an associate with BOYNECLARKE LLP.
KATIE WALKER is an associate with Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.
EMMA WOLFE-PARTHUN is an associate with BOYNECLARKE LLP.
2024
OPEYEMI BELLO joined the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba, teaching commercial law, contracts and labour-management relations.
ALIDA DOELLE is an articled clerk with Stewart McKelvey’s Halifax office.
HARPER METLER is an articled clerk with Stewart McKelvey’s Halifax office.
IN MEMORIAM
HARRY EISENHAUER (’48) died on October 20, 2024, at the age of 104. Born in Lower LaHave, N.S., he enlisted with the West Nova Scotia Regiment at age 20 and served with distinction in WWII, where he was mentioned in dispatches for his service in Sicily and for being wounded twice in battle. He rose to the rank of Major and led his regiment in their post-war return to Halifax. After the war, Harry earned his law degree from Dalhousie University and began a career that took him west to Alberta. He eventually became head of the legal department and corporate secretary at Dome Petroleum, retiring in 1984. A long-time member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Calgary, he also served as treasurer of the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod for 20 years. Harry is remembered for his deep faith, commitment to service and love of golf and bridge.
DONALD J. BURKE (’54) died on January 4, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in Boston, Mass., and raised in Chipman, N.B., he attended Acadia University before earning both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1957. After six years practicing law in Regina, Sask., he answered a call to ministry, later earning a Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His decades-long career in ministry included pastorates in Edmonton, Toronto, Louisville and Fredericton, where he was known for his dynamic leadership and spiritual guidance. While at Highland Baptist Church in Kentucky, he oversaw significant renovations and was later honoured as pastor emeritus. He also studied at Harvard
Divinity School, led interfaith dialogues and served as a Baptist representative on national and ecumenical boards. A passionate preacher and speaker, Donald ministered across Canada and the U.S., including a return to his home church in Chipman as interim pastor.
THOMAS JUDGE (’55) died on August 18, 2024, at the age of 94. Born in Yarmouth, N.S., he earned his law degree from Dalhousie University and enjoyed a long and fulfilling legal career as a partner at Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt. In 1966, he and his wife Nancy settled in Oakville, Ont., where they raised their family and became active members of the community. A devoted bridge player, Tom played regularly at the Oakville Club and with the St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church bridge league. A proud Bluenoser, he cherished summers at the family cottage on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, which remained a source of joy and connection throughout his life.
THURLOW (BRAD) SMITH (’56) died on March 30, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in Toronto and raised in Hamilton, Ont., he earned both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Arts in History from Dalhousie University and pursued further studies in London and Geneva. A dedicated public servant, he worked at the Department of Justice from 1958 to 1986, retiring as chief general counsel. He later joined Stikeman Elliott LLP, specializing in arbitration and international law. Brad represented Canada for more than 35 years at the Hague Conference and Unidroit (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law), chairing the commission that
developed the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. For his international legal contributions, he was appointed Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Netherlands in 2004. A man of wide-ranging passions, Brad balanced a distinguished legal career with life on Burritt Farm in Ontario, where he raised livestock, sailed, ran, rowed, flew his own plane and pursued history with enthusiasm.
MARVIN WENTZELL (’56) died on December 11, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in Milton, N.S., he served in the Canadian Armed Forces before completing degrees in arts and science at Acadia University and law at Dalhousie. After articling in Regina, Sask., he practiced law in Yorkton for over three decades, primarily as a sole practitioner. Deeply committed to community service, he served three terms on Yorkton City Council and was active in numerous organizations including the Jaycees, Lions Club, Shriners, Masons and the local school board. He also served on the board of St. Andrew’s United Church. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1982 and received the Canadian Bar Association’s Provincial Community Service Award in 1998. After retiring, he lived in Kelowna and later in Medicine Hat.
ALAN FRANCIS CAULE (’57) died on August 31, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in Newfoundland, he graduated from Memorial University before earning his law degree at Dalhousie University. He practiced law in St. John’s from 1958 to 1992, specializing in insurance and marine law with several prominent firms including Ryan, Caule and Gushue, and
Caule and Matthews. Alan was deeply involved in legal aid, serving on the Law Society committee that assessed the implementation of a legal aid program in Newfoundland and later as chairperson of the Legal Aid Commission. An avid reader with a passion for military history (especially of WWI and WWII), he was also a keen salmon fisherman and golfer. He enjoyed spending winters in Florida and shared his love of classical music, history and his cherished 1960 Mark 2 Jaguar with those around him.
WILLIAM (BILL) HENRY
RICHARD CHARLES (’58) died on April 26, 2025, at the age of 97. Bill was born in Montreal, Que. A loving husband and father with a great sense of humour, he cherished time spent with family and friends at the cottage in Boutilier’s Point, N.S., overlooking Cowlow Cove. His passion for aviation began in high school with the Air Cadets and continued through his service in Germany with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, his construction of model airplanes and earning a license to pilot ultralight planes in the 1980s. Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts from Sir George Williams College (1949), a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University (1958), a Master of Laws from Harvard University (1960) and a second Master of Laws from the University of Michigan (1970). He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1983, and in 2001 was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws by Dalhousie University. Bill joined the Dalhousie Law School faculty in 1960, became a Weldon Professor and served as dean from 1979-1985. He retired from full-time teaching in 1994 and was appointed professor emeritus in 1998. He was a visiting
professor at the University of Victoria during its inaugural year (1975–1976) and at Vrije University in Amsterdam (1998–2008). Deeply involved in legal reform, he was president of the Nova Scotia Independent Law Reform Commission (1990–1998) and continued as special counsel with the Institute for Access to Justice and Law Reform. He contributed to judicial administration projects in Ethiopia and the Caribbean and was engaged in legislative issues from environmental cleanup to same-sex marriage rights. At 96, he published his final academic article, “Access to Justice in the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court 1980–2022,” in the Spring 2024 issue of the Dalhousie Law Journal, exemplifying his lifelong commitment to legal education and reform.
GEOFFREY LEONARD STEELE (’58) died on July 22, 2024, at the age of 91. After graduating from Dalhousie Law School, he enjoyed a long and respected legal and judicial career in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was appointed judge of the District Court in 1975, became chief judge in 1977 and later served on the Trial Division of the Supreme Court (1982) and the Court of Appeal (1989), retiring in 2002. Known for his quiet integrity and compassion, Geoffrey also contributed to the profession through service with the Canadian Bar Association, Legal Aid Commission, Judicial Council and various public commissions. Beyond the courtroom, he was deeply engaged in his community. He served as the founding president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Sports Federation and was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletics Association Hall of Fame. For his service, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
In retirement, he remained active in community life, sports and enjoyed time at the family cabin.
CYRIL T. MULLANE (’59) died on April 7, 2024, just 12 days shy of his 90th birthday. Born and raised in Halifax, N.S., he earned his law degree from Dalhousie University while serving in the army reserve. In 1959, he moved with his young family to Calgary, Alta., where he began a successful career as a corporate lawyer. He held positions in both the federal and provincial governments before returning to Calgary’s energy sector in 1980. Cyril retired in 1992 and enjoyed winters in Mesa, Ariz., where he spent time golfing and relaxing. Known for his quick wit, sharp mind and unwavering integrity, he was a devoted family man and a great storyteller with a deep love of sports, especially the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Blue Jays.
GERALD (BUD) F. LANG (’60) died on November 2, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in St. John’s, Nfld., he was a proud graduate of St. Bon’s, St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University. His legal career began alongside the Honourable Derek Lewis, K.C., and continued as solicitor for the City of St. John’s under Mayor Dorothy Wyatt. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division, where he served with distinction. Bud was a lifelong supporter and competitor in the Royal St. John’s Regatta, winning championship races in his youth and later serving as a committee member and honorary life member. Committed to his community, he served as vice-chair of St. Patrick’s Mercy Home and as honorary solicitor for the Royal Canadian Legion (NL Command).
THOMAS MICHAEL SCOTT (’61) died on January 11, 2024, at the age of 87. Born in Montreal, Que., he spent his early years in Verdun before moving to Sydney, N.S., where he completed high school. He earned his undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University and his law degree from Dalhousie University. To support his studies, Tom served in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserves, spending summers on the West Coast of Canada and in Europe. After articling in Vancouver, B.C., he began his legal career in Prince George before settling in Williams Lake in 1974 where he practiced law and became a well-loved member of the community. Known for his wit, warmth and civic spirit, Tom was active in Kiwanis, theatre and St. Andrew’s United Church. In retirement, he enjoyed 18 winters in Mesa, Ariz., playing tennis daily well into his 80s.
FRANK BOSCARIOL (’63) died on January 23, 2025, at the age of 87. Born in Windsor, Ont., he graduated from Assumption High School and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor and his law degree from Dalhousie University. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1966. Frank began his career at Chrysler Canada in Windsor as supervisor of Labour Relations Research and Appeals. He later moved to Toronto where he held several public service roles, including prosecutor at the Ministry of Labour, vicechairman of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, commissioner at the Workers’ Compensation Board and adjudicator on the Canada Refugee Board. He eventually founded his own labour arbitration practice. A dedicated volunteer, Frank was deeply involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, including its
prison ministry and housing initiatives, and served as President of the Toronto Central Council. He also served on several charitable boards.
R. GORDON MURRAY (’63) died on November 26, 2024, at the age of 92. Born in Pictou County, N.S., Gord was the fifth of seven children. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and worked in his family’s country store before studying commerce and education at Mount Allison University. He later earned his law degree from Dalhousie University. Early in his career, he worked with Nova Scotia Trust Company before joining Nova Scotia Legal Aid where he served as a volunteer staff lawyer. In 1976, Gord became the first executive director of Legal Aid for the province. He held the position for many years and remained active on the Executive Committee following his retirement. In 2019, he received the J. Michael MacDonald Access to Justice Award from the Canadian Bar Association.
THOMAS (BILL) WILLIAM
SOMMERVILLE (’63) died on October 3, 2024, at the age of 83. He grew up in the Maritimes, with his family frequently moving due to his father’s career in banking. The family ultimately settled in Halifax, N.S., where Bill attended Dalhousie University, earning both commerce and law degrees. He later received a scholarship to Yale University where he earned a Master of Laws. He had a distinguished career that started with the Justice Department. He also served as dean of men and a tenured professor at Dalhousie University. Bill enjoyed a variety of pursuits in his personal life, including golf, curling, bridge and travel. He was deeply devoted to his family and cherished the time spent at his summer home in
Prince Edward Island, creating lasting memories with loved ones and friends.
ROBERT (BOB) JAMES LOFTUS
WHITE (’63) died on August 2, 2024, at the age of 86. Born in Montreal, Que., and raised in Moncton, N.B., and Halifax, N.S., he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University in 1960 and then his law degree from Dalhousie University, being admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1965. He served as a sublieutenant in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve and began his legal career with the federal government before moving to Fredericton, N.B., and later New Glasgow, N.S., where he cofounded a law firm. Appointed to the Family Court of Nova Scotia in 1982-1983, Bob retired in 2003 but continued to serve in a supernumerary capacity. He loved travelling the world with his wife Doreen, spending much of his retirement on cruise ships. Known for his infectious humour, he was the life of any gathering and cherished time with family and friends. Bob enjoyed curling and golf at Abercrombie Golf Club and courses worldwide, including St. Andrews. He was dedicated to public service, working as a policy advisor in the Joe Clark administration and supporting numerous community organizations, including Summer Street Industries and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
HAROLD RALPH CHISHOLM
(’64) died on June 13, 2024, at the age of 83. He was born in Antigonish, N.S., where he was an active member of St. Ninian’s Cathedral and a solo soprano in the Marian Boy Choir. A talented athlete, he excelled in hockey, baseball and basketball. Ralph attended St. Francis Xavier University before pursuing his law
degree at Dalhousie University. In 1964, he moved to Edmonton, Alta., and joined the law firm of Bloor and Sim. In 1976, he was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta where he served as a judge in the Criminal Court for 35 years. Outside of his legal career, Ralph was an avid golfer and tennis player, and he enjoyed many vacations in Maui, Hawaii.
RICHARD (BRIAN) NOONAN
(’64) died on March 24, 2024, at the age of 86. He was born in Regina, Sask., and attended Campion College before earning his Bachelor of Arts at St. Dunstan’s University in Charlottetown, P.E.I. He received his Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, where he served as president of the Law Students’ Society. Brian practiced law in Brooks, Alta., and Kelowna and Summerland, B.C., before becoming a family mediator and chairing Federal Government Disability Review Tribunals. An early proponent of alternative dispute resolution, Brian preferred this method over the traditional adversarial approach, earning a reputation as a peacemaker. He was deeply involved in his communities, serving in the Brooks Kinsmen Club, Summerland Rotary Club and as a trusted host and organizer in the student exchange program. He also served on the Brooks Town Council, the Brooks and Summerland Chambers of Commerce and the Holy Child Catholic Church Parish Council. In 1988, he was named Summerland Man of the Year. Proud of his over 40 years of sobriety, Brian credited much of his success to his involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous, helping many with their addictions. Above all, his greatest love was his family. He cherished spending time with his loved ones.
EDWARD PIERCE POOLE (’65) died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 89 in Delta, B.C. Earning his Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, he practiced law in Corner Brook, Nfld., from 1966 to 2000, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1978. He served on the Board of Regents of Memorial University, as a director of the Western Memorial Regional Hospital Corporation and as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Marine Institute of Newfoundland and Labrador. Edward’s most cherished moments were spent sailing the waters of Notre Dame Bay with family and friends aboard the Primrose II and as skipper of his sloop Shamrock II.
JOHN VINCENT (VINCE) CAIN (’66) passed away peacefully in Victoria, B.C., on August 20, 2024, at the age of 91. Born in Port Alberni, B.C., Vince left home at the age of 12 to attend Vancouver College. He continued his education at Gonzaga Prep School and Seattle University in the 1950s. He joined the RCMP in 1955, where he was recognized for his potential and sent to Dalhousie University to pursue his law degree. He enjoyed a distinguished 25-year career in the RCMP, working closely with various American federal law agencies. He retired in 1980 with the rank of chief superintendent. Vince and his family moved to Victoria, where he worked for the Solicitor General of British Columbia in the Corrections Branch and later served as chief coroner of British Columbia for 10 years until his final retirement in 1995.
PAUL MALCOLM MURPHY (’66) died on September 14, 2024, at the age of 81. Born in Halifax, N.S., Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of
Laws from Dalhousie University and a Master of Comparative Law from Southern Methodist University. He began his legal career in family law before shifting to corporate and commercial practice, spending most of his 50-year career at McInnes Cooper. Paul was widely respected for both his legal skill and his collegial nature, known equally for his professionalism and sense of humour. He served as director and vice chair of the Halifax Port Corporation, presenting internationally and remaining engaged in port matters throughout his life. Paul had a wide range of interests: he scuba dived, played racquetball, played the saxophone and was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. He enjoyed annual gatherings with friends and family, especially at White Point Beach Resort and the Blueberry Festival in Prince Edward Island. He was a regular at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and an active member of the Law Class of ’66.
GERALD
(GERRY) NEMIROFF (’68) died on June 6, 2024, at the age of 82. Gerry was born and raised in Montreal, Que. He earned multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University, a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University and both a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from Dalhousie University. Professor Nemiroff taught at the University of Manitoba from 1968 to 2008 and served as associate dean from 1977 to 1982. He was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1972, the same year he received the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching. His academic contributions included visiting positions at the University of Melbourne and the University of Calgary. He was instrumental in advancing the technological
aspects of the legal profession and was admired by colleagues and students alike. He was a passionate sports fan, especially of baseball. Gerry was known for his sharp mind, detailed analysis and love of great conversation.
MARY ELIZABETH NOONAN (’68) died February 7, 2025, at the age of 81. Born in Buchans, Nfld., she graduated from St. Teresa’s Academy before earning an honours degree in chemistry from St. Francis Xavier University in 1964, where she was often the only woman in her classes. After working for a year in the chemistry research department at Shell Oil in Montreal, Que., she decided to pursue law and enrolled at Dalhousie University. It was there she met her husband, Ed, and began a life filled with adventure, laughter and lifelong friends. Mary was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1968, becoming the first woman to be admitted since 1955. She articled with the Justice Department and was appointed to the newly created Family Division of the Supreme Court in 1985. Mary cherished her life on the Pine Line, and enjoyed activities like skidooing, camping, cross-country skiing and Sunday night boil-ups on the pond. She lived a fortunate life, surrounded by wonderful neighbours, friends and a loving family.
WILLIAM JOSEPH (BILL) MATTHEWS (’69) died on March 19, 2025, at the age of 81. Bill was born in Fredericton, N.B., on March 19, 1944. A proud graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University, he was a member of the New Brunswick Bar Association for over 50 years, specializing in corporate and commercial law. As a successful entrepreneur and real estate developer, Bill was responsible
for numerous projects including Main Place in Fredericton. Deeply committed to community service, he served as president of the United Way Forever Fund, Fredericton Rotary Club, the Red Cross (Fredericton branch) and the Chamber of Commerce, from which he received the Distinguished Citizen Award. He was a founding member of the Main Street Business Development Association and served on boards including the Fredericton Airport Authority and Theatre New Brunswick. Bill enjoyed an active life and found great joy in travelling, boating, hiking, golfing and spending time with his grandchildren and many friends.
RICHARD (DICK) RAFUSE (’70) died on March 17, 2025, at the age of 79. A respected business and insolvency lawyer, Dick spent 50 years in practice with Kitz Matheson, Patterson Palmer and ultimately became partner with McInnes Cooper. Known for his sound judgment and personable style, he attracted major institutional clients whose ties to the firm continue today. He was a generous mentor and long-serving member of firm management committees, contributing to the development of three leading Atlantic Canadian firms. Dick was also a dedicated sailor and longtime member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, serving as Commodore in the mid-1980s during a period of expansion. He led key fundraising efforts supporting junior and Paralympic sailing and the Marblehead races. In January 2025, he was honoured as a life member of the Squadron.
MURRAY MCENIRY (’71) died on February 9, 2025, at the age of 79. He was called to the Bar in 1973 and went on to
establish the family-run firm McEniry & McEniry. Beginning as a general practitioner, Murray later focused on estate litigation, earning a reputation for integrity, compassion and tireless dedication to his clients. Known for his intellect, wisdom and unwavering loyalty, he was a trusted advisor and a steadfast presence for those facing life’s most difficult challenges. Deeply proud of his Irish heritage and family roots, he lived with great energy and purpose, often rising before dawn to begin his workday. He found peace in watching the sunrise over Lake Ontario and joy in connecting daily with his closest friends. Murray was happiest when surrounded by loved ones at lively gatherings, where he shared his warmth, insight and deep affection for those closest to him.
RAYMOND (BERT)
PLAMONDON (’71) died on April 1, 2025, at the age of 88. Born in Lac-Édouard, Que., Bert earned a Bachelor of Arts from Université Laval, a Bachelor of Engineering from St. Dunstan’s University and Nova Scotia Technical College and later completed his law degree at Dalhousie University. He began his legal career as a Crown Prosecutor and was later appointed to the Bench as a Provincial Court judge, where he served with distinction until his retirement. Known for his integrity, intellect and public service, he was deeply respected within the legal community. He was an avid outdoorsman who found joy in the natural beauty of Prince Edward Island. He spent many happy hours fishing local rivers, walking forest trails with his dogs and occasionally hunting with friends across P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.
DAVID WALLACE (’71) died on February 26, 2025, at the age of 76. Born in Halifax, N.S., he grew up in New Glasgow, playing street hockey and exploring with friends. He later lived in Windsor, Ont., before returning to New Glasgow to graduate high school as valedictorian in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University and graduated from Dalhousie University with his law degree. David practiced law in New Glasgow for 46 years. He served on several Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society committees and received the Schulich School of Law’s Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service in 2012. He was deeply committed to his community, especially Summer Street Industries where he served as president at age 23 and remained involved for more than 50 years. He helped found Highland Community Residential Services and launched the Summer Street Golf Scramble, raising nearly $5 million over 30 years. David also served as president of the local Kinsmen, K-40 and Gyro Clubs, and was a life member of the Kinsmen. He enjoyed coaching, teaching power skating and was past president of the Abercrombie Country Club. A lover of skiing, hiking, kayaking and running, David will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful and clever man, whose commitment to others and his community defined a life well-lived.
MICHAEL ROCHE (’72) died on November 26, 2024, at the age of 79. Michael was born in Montreal, Que. He graduated from Regina High School in Corner Brook, Nfld., and went on to study at McGill University, Memorial University and Dalhousie University. Michael practiced law for most of his career in Corner
Brook, first as a lawyer, then as a Crown Prosecutor and later as a Provincial Court judge. He was Newfoundland’s first bilingual judge. In retirement, he moved to Fall River and later to Beaverbank, N.S., where he enjoyed cooking, reading and participating in the local theatre group in Sackville.
WILLIAM PATRICK BURCHELL (’73) died on July 24, 2024, at the age of 76. Born in Antigonish, N.S., and raised in Sydney Mines, Bill was active in local sports and excelled as a Master Cadet and marksman. During his undergraduate years, he was an undefeated amateur boxer and later developed a lifelong passion for golf. After earning his law degree from Dalhousie University, he began practicing under Murray J. Ryan and served as county solicitor for Victoria County. He later opened a solo practice and became solicitor for Sydney Mines until its amalgamation. In 2023, he marked 50 years in legal practice. Bill had a strong focus on criminal law and was widely respected for his fearless advocacy, legal creativity and articulate courtroom presence. He served on the boards of Miners Memorial Manor, the Sydney Mines Credit Union and the Children’s Aid Society. He was also an honorary member and deputy chief of the Sydney Mines Fire Department and was active in the Knights of Columbus, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Sydney Mines Sportsman Club.
MICHAEL ARGAND (’75) died on June 13, 2024, at the age of 73. Born in Halifax, N.S., to Holocaust survivors who had recently arrived in Canada from Germany, Michael built a life rooted in integrity, compassion and service. A graduate of Dalhousie University, he worked as both a lawyer and a businessman, and
was known for his intelligence, warmth and dedication to his work and community. Deeply engaged in Jewish communal life, Michael served as president of the Atlantic Jewish Council for six years, extending his term out of commitment during a time of leadership transition. He also volunteered with the Progress Club and political organizations in his earlier years. Passionate about politics, especially American political history, he remained a voracious reader and a keen observer of current events. In 2023, he relocated from Halifax to Toronto where he rekindled friendships and found joy in twice-weekly golf outings with new companions. Known for his kindness, wit and generosity, Michael left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
DAVID ARLINGTON COPP (’75) died on December 14, 2024, at the age of 76. Born in Sydney, N.S., David moved to Saint John, N.B., to do his Bachelor of Engineering, then relocated to Halifax to earn a Master of Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University. He practiced Intellectual Property (IP) law and taught IP and Law for Engineers at Dalhousie University. David was particularly proud of successfully defending Glenora Distillery in a landmark case against the Scotch Whisky Association. A passionate sailor, he was the captain of Sequester and a long-term member of the Armdale Yacht Club. He also served as a Scout leader, practiced Tai Chi and Aikido and was an avid motorcyclist, enjoying his Harley Davidson Sportster. David is remembered for his adventurous spirit and deep commitment to both his profession and his many passions.
GORDON JOHNSON (’75) died on March 1, 2025, at the age of 74. Born in New Glasgow, N.S., Gordon moved to Halifax in his early years. A highly intelligent and accomplished individual, he excelled throughout his education, earning numerous scholarships and graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, followed by his law degree from Dalhousie University. In 1976, he became a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, working with the Law Reform Commission and the Nova Scotia Legislative Council for 35 years. He furthered his education with a Master of Business Administration and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1999. He was a dedicated educator, teaching Commercial Law at Saint Mary’s University for 30 years and Legislation at Dalhousie University for 25 years. Gordon received multiple awards for his contributions to law, including long-service recognitions from the Nova Scotia Government and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
DELLA FRANCES RISLEY (’75) died on January 16, 2025, at the age of 75. Born in Halifax, N.S., her life was defined by her deep compassion, wisdom and unwavering strength. She was a beloved aunt, devoted friend and accomplished lawyer whose legacy of kindness will be cherished forever. Della’s family was her greatest joy. She played a steadfast role in the lives of her niece, nephews and great-nephew, always offering guidance and encouragement. A graduate of Dalhousie University, Della specialized in labour law, spending many years in Vancouver before returning to Halifax to continue her distinguished career with the Halifax Regional Municipality. She also shared her expertise
as a part-time instructor at Saint Mary’s University, a role she truly cherished. Known for her love of animals, Della’s bond with her dogs was especially dear to her.
DIXIE JUDITH SMITH-CAMP (’75) died in 2024 at the age of 79. Born in Tantallon, N.S., Dixie began her career as a Registered Nurse after graduating from the Victoria General School of Nursing (Class of 1965B). She worked in the Burn, Neonatal and Cardiac Units, and later served as night supervisor at the Rehab Centre. Her nursing career also took her to England, where she worked in a private health spa and travelled extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, Australia and Hawaii. In 1972, Dixie enrolled in law school at Dalhousie University while continuing to work as a nurse. She opened her own law practice in Tantallon in 1986, where she served the community for over 30 years focusing on family and property law. In 2010, she was appointed a judge of the CPP Tribunal, where she adjudicated complex cases across Canada until her retirement from law in 2016. Throughout her career she was active in the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and several civic organizations, and supported the arts through her involvement with Symphony Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre and the Theatre Arts Guild.
JO ANN CARMICHAEL (’76) died on October 31, 2024, at the age of 73. Jo Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa in 1972 before graduating from Dalhousie University with her law degree. She began her legal career practicing disability litigation and matrimonial law with Owen Bird, later joining Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang in 1989, where
she continued to distinguish herself as a skilled and principled advocate. Known for her deep commitment to the ideals of the legal profession, she served the Law Society of British Columbia with distinction as a bencher and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2000. Respected for her intellect, integrity and professionalism, Jo Ann was also known for her warmth, generosity and keen sense of humour.
JOEL WALTER FOURNIER (’76) died on September 8, 2024, at the age of 85. Born in Midland, Ont., he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy at 17, serving aboard HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Bonaventure. An accomplished athlete, he played for the Shearwater Flyers, setting an Atlantic Football Conference record in 1964 with nine touchdowns in a single game. After leaving the Navy in 1970, he enrolled at Dalhousie University as a mature student and graduated with his law degree. He began his legal career with MacInnes, Wilson & Hallett, establishing their Dartmouth office before relocating to Yellowknife in 1980. There, he served as chief of the Legal Division for the Government of the Northwest Territories, later becoming a partner at Cooper Johnson and legal advisor to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. He also held a fiveyear term as Government of Northwest Territories conflict of interest commissioner. Returning to Halifax in 1988, Joel and his wife Sheila published Trident for several years, the Maritime Forces Atlantic newspaper. He later worked with Wine Visions, combining his love of wine and travel. He will be remembered for his integrity, wit, intellectual depth and for being a devoted family man.
DENNIS WILLIAM THEMAN (’77) died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 74. Born and raised in Bedford, N.S., Dennis developed an early love for the outdoors, sports and learning. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and then his law degree from Dalhousie University. His legal career began with Dalhousie Legal Aid Service and Nova Scotia Legal Aid, where he served clients in Halifax and Truro with a deep commitment to justice. A passionate advocate for civil liberties, he served as vice president of the Nova Scotia Civil Liberties Association and as a board member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. In 1990 he became a Crown Prosecutor, first with the Nova Scotia Crown Prosecution Service and later with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in Scarborough. As president of the Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys’ Association, he led a groundbreaking campaign for collective bargaining rights, resulting in improved pay and working conditions. In recognition of his leadership, mentorship and dedication to the profession, the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel created the Outstanding Achievement (Dennis Theman) Award in 2004. Earlier in his career, he served as executive director of the Nova Scotia NDP and ran federally for the party four times between 1979 and 1984, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a Winnipeg General Strike organizer. A man of intellect and integrity, Dennis remained politically and socially engaged throughout his life. He is remembered for his unwavering principles and deep compassion.
JOHN KENNETH (KEN) CLARK (’78) died on March 28, 2024, at the age of 69. Born and raised in Kensington, P.E.I., Ken graduated from Dalhousie University with his law degree and began his legal
career in Summerside, where he practiced for 45 years. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in recognition of his dedication to the legal profession and the high standard of his work. Known for his integrity, warmth and professionalism, Ken built enduring relationships with his clients and colleagues and was deeply respected. He valued the camaraderie and support of the legal community and took great pride in the many friendships he formed throughout his long and distinguished career.
MARK EDWARD MACDONALD (’80) died on May 5, 2024, in Halifax, N.S., at the age of 67. Born in Charlottetown and raised in Parkdale, P.E.I., Mark completed a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Dalhousie in 1977 and then his law degree. He articled at Stewart McKelvey and practiced with the firm from 1981 to 2003, focusing on corporate law in technical and resource-based industries. In 2003, he joined Northumberland Ferries as a client-turnedexecutive, eventually leading a management group purchase and overseeing operations across the Maritimes and internationally, including initiatives in Maine, the Bahamas, New York and Trinidad and Tobago. He served Northumberland and Bay Ferries as president & CEO, with his intention realized that he would serve as chairman of Atlantic Ferries Holding Ltd. Mark’s business education and contributions extended to many different sectors, with board service to the Port of Halifax, the Bragg Group, Scotia Investments Limited, Acadian Seaplants and the Murphy Hospitality Group. He also sat on the Board of Interferry, a global ferry industry leadership entity. Known for his integrity, leadership and deep respect for
the people he worked with, Mark balanced a successful business life with devotion to his family and community.
BARBARA HUGHES CAMPBELL (’81) died on April 15, 2025, at the age of 77. Born in Fredericton, N.B., Barbara graduated from Fredericton High School in 1965, earned a political science degree from the University of New Brunswick and later attended Dalhousie University to obtain her law degree. After law school, she returned to Fredericton with her husband, Paul, and joined the family business, opening a legal practice with her brother David. Over the course of more than 40 years, Barbara built a respected legal career and was known for her fairness, integrity and compassionate approach to law. She was also actively involved in her community, volunteering with organizations like the Fredericton Heritage Trust.
CHARLES GEORGE DUNPHY (’82) died on March 1, 2024, at the age of 67. He is remembered as an individual dedicated to his family and clients. He always strove to provide honest, expert advice. He was a consummate Wordle and Connections puzzle solver. He was loved and cherished by many special people and his fourlegged running mate and loyal office companion, Ollie.
CHARLES HERBERT CLARK (’82) died on June 20, 2024, at the age of 69. Charles attended the University of Prince Edward Island where he completed his Bachelor of Business Administration and then went on to graduate from Dalhousie with a combined Bachelor of Laws and Master of Business Administration degrees. He was an avid Montreal Canadiens fan and collected sports cards. His passing leaves a
profound void in the lives of many who knew and loved him.
DONALD ALLAN (D.A.) LANDRY (’83) died on September 14, 2024, at the age of 67. Born in Sydney, N.S., he graduated from Sydney Academy and earned a degree in French from St. Francis Xavier University. His undergraduate years included formative experiences with Canada World Youth, spending time in Senegal and remote Canadian communities and later studying at the Université de Besançon in France. He earned his law degree from Dalhousie University and began his career in public service in Ottawa, before returning to Cape Breton to work with Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. A lifelong learner, he later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Alberta. He was deeply involved in his community, serving as a charter member and president of the Sydney Sunrise Rotary Club and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served on the board and as chair of Crossroads International and coordinated youth exchange programs through his Rotary Club. D.A. was known for his generosity, calm presence and enduring faith. He was a long-time member of the Cape Breton Chorale and was known for his tenor voice. He also enjoyed travel, skiing and music. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and friend, remembered for his strength, kindness and unwavering optimism.
JANET CHRISTINE BIRNIE (’85) died on April 21, 2024. Prior to law school, Christine taught school in Smithers, B.C., where she and her husband settled after travelling North America to find the ideal home. She excelled in law school, finishing near the top of her class and was also an active member
of the Women in the Law group. Christine’s peers recognized her outstanding scholarship and contribution to the law school by awarding her one of the two top annual awards. She clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada — a prestigious start that could have led her anywhere. She chose to return to Smithers. For the first decade of her career, Christine practiced criminal defense and family law, often working on Indigenous and environmental cases that reached all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Over the next 10 years, she served as a Crown Prosecutor where she not only handled criminal cases but also led numerous environmental prosecutions. In the final decade of her career, she served as a judge on the BC Provincial Court. Christine’s first priority was her family. She spent many-a-week in the back country, skiing, hiking and canoeing with her three children. She gave back to the community in many ways, sitting on several boards, some of which supported women in need. She sponsored a Syrian refugee family and supported a children’s village in Guatemala. While Christine’s life was too short, it was very rich.
PENNY ANN THERESA ROSS
(’85) died on August 5, 2024, at the age of 74. Born in Arvida, Que., Penny completed her early education in Montreal before earning a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education from Saint Mary’s University. She later obtained a Master of Education from McGill University and went on to earn her law degree from Dalhousie University. Admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1987, she had a diverse and accomplished legal career, holding positions with Telesat Canada, HewlettPackard (Canada) Co., SHL
Systemhouse, MCI Systemhouse, EDS Systemhouse, EDS Canada Inc. and EDS Canada Corporate. In retirement Penny remained active in her community, volunteering with the Canadian Institute of Child Health and the Ottawa Humane Society where she became a dedicated foster caregiver to cats with special needs. Known for her love of nature and animals, her care and commitment extended to all who knew her.
LINDA LORRAINE ZAMBOLIN
(’87) died on September 23, 2024, at the age of 78. Linda began her career as a dental hygienist after graduating from Dalhousie University in 1966. In 1984, with three young children, she returned to Dalhousie to study law and went on to practice for over 20 years in Dartmouth and Halifax. She worked in private practice, chaired the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and concluded her legal career with the Workers’ Advisor Program in 2012. She argued landmark workers’ compensation cases and was known for her sharp mind, tireless work ethic and deep compassion, especially for the underdog. She was a valued mentor to many junior lawyers and colleagues. In 1986, Linda was hired as a law student by the Nova Scotia Canadian Association for Community Living to support a long-standing advocacy effort. Her research and position paper, presented to the Provincial Ombudsman, helped secure government funding to transition nine individuals from institutions into community housing. This work led to the formation of Gateway Homes Incorporated, where Linda was a founding board member and dedicated volunteer for 37 years. She served as chair, vice chair, secretary, and committee member, and was also an advocate for original
resident Michael O’Connell. Linda’s greatest joy was her grandchildren. Whether at soccer fields, hockey rinks, basketball courts, swimming pools or art galleries across North America, she was always their biggest fan.
MICHAEL (MIKE) JAMES CALLAGHAN (’96) died on April 23, 2024, at the age of 52. Originally from Sarnia, Ont., Mike earned his law degree from Dalhousie University before moving to Toronto, where he built a distinguished 22-year career at the downtown Toronto Crown Attorney’s office. Known for his honesty, compassion and unwavering sense of justice, Mike was respected for his ability to connect with people across the legal system which extended to victims and accused persons to colleagues and courtroom staff. A strong advocate for fairness, he championed a united and inclusive Canada. In 2020, Mike was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice, where his empathy, intelligence and integrity left a deep and lasting impression in his brief judicial career. He was admired for his leadership, humour and courage, and known for fostering a profound sense of trust and loyalty among those with whom he worked. He was deeply committed to the pursuit of justice and brought warmth and humanity to the courtroom. He is remembered for his generous spirit, brilliant mind and joyful presence, and for the deep love he shared with his partner, Wade, and their beloved dog Jaida.
JUSTINE PATRICIA LUCAS (’19) died on April 23, 2025, at the age of 34. Born and raised in St. Joseph du Moine on Cape Breton Island, N.S., she graduated from École NDA in 2009, attended St. Francis Xavier University and earned her law degree from the
Schulich School of Law. Justine had a passion for helping others and enjoyed working in the legal field in Halifax for the last couple of years. She liked a good debate and was filled with great advice and interesting takes on pop culture. She loved to laugh, spend time with her sweet kitty Ellie, hang out with her sisters and be with her nephews.
HARRINGTON (HARRY)
FITZGERALD CRITCHLEY (’22) died on February 21, 2025, at the age of 32. Born in Toronto, Harry displayed exceptional intellect and discipline from an early age, excelling academically and as a competitive swimmer. He graduated from the University of King’s College in 2015 with the University Medal in Contemporary Studies. During his time at King’s, he co-founded the Burnside Education Project, introducing a communitybased humanities curriculum to Dartmouth’s Burnside jail. In 2017, he co-founded the East Coast Prison Justice Society (ECPJS), advocating for the rights of incarcerated individuals and improving jail conditions. After completing a master's in philosophy and law at Queen’s University in 2018, Harry returned to ECPJS as vice-chair and co-chair, contributing to policy changes on police accountability and civil oversight of correctional facilities. He also served on the board of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, expanding services to women in the justice system. Harry was awarded the Justice Abella Prize for his commitment to social justice. A 2022 graduate of the Schulich School of Law, he was called to the Bar in 2023 and began his career at Dartmouth Legal Aid. Above all, Harry was a devoted family man who was immensely proud of his role as a
father and husband. His legacy of unwavering advocacy for justice and his profound love for his family will forever be remembered.
DAVID COVENANT CHUKWUMA CHUKWUKA
(’24) died on March 26, 2025, at the age of 26. Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, he graduated from Mea Mater Elizabeth High School in Enugu in 2014 before moving to Charlottetown, P.E.I., where he earned a degree in political science from the University of Prince Edward Island. He later moved to Halifax to obtain his Juris Doctor at the Schulich School of Law. David’s path was shaped by dedication and a wide range of experiences, from working on Brackley Farm to legal roles with EW Scott Dickieson (P.E.I.), the Armour Group (N.S.), Cambridge LLP (Ont.) and Monardo Estate Law (Ont.). He earned numerous academic accolades and was committed to community service, including pro-bono work with the Dalhousie Wills Project and serving on the board of the Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association. He was passionate about cooking, music (especially Fela Kuti), sports, gaming and live comedy. He was also an avid athlete, participating in both the Halifax Bluenose and Toronto Waterfront Marathons in 2023. David will be remembered for his incredible work ethic, kind heart, calming presence and sharp wit. He inspired those around him through humility, discipline and quiet excellence.
FRIENDS OF THE LAW SCHOOL
F. MARIE JONES died on October 23, 2024, at the age of 93. A proud lifelong resident of Dartmouth, N.S., Marie devoted her life selflessly to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was married for 58 years to her soulmate, Dave (’56), and they were often seen sitting hand in hand on the verandah of their Prince Albert Road home, watching sunsets over Sullivan’s Pond. Marie began her postsecondary studies at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1951, a Certificate in Education in 1952 and a Bachelor of Education in 1955. She remained closely connected to MSVU throughout her life, serving as alumni association president and earning the Kappa Gamma Pi university medal. In 2023, at the age of 92, she received her Master of Arts in Education from Dalhousie University, becoming one of the oldest recipients of a master’s degree in Canada. Marie was among the first teachers at Dartmouth’s Shannon Park School and was fondly remembered as a music teacher in its 50th anniversary brochure. A passionate educator, Liberal, gardener and proud Irishwoman, Marie found joy in music, ocean swims, cooking and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with her family, including son Martin Jones (’83) and daughters Dr. Teresa JonesDykeman, Angela Jones-Rieksts (’97) and Marie Jones.
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