Hearsay 2025

H E A RS AY T H E S C H U L I C H S C H O O L O F L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

VOLUME 46 2025

From IP to AI How the Schulich School of Law is training future legal professionals for a tech-driven society.

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CONTENTS WELCOME

CONNECTIONS

04 Dean’s Message

20 James MacDuff balances his career in

05 Message from DLAA President

and Alumni Relations

law with a life of adventure 22 Schulich Law alum lend their legal

knowledge in service to Canada’s Senate

SCHOOL NEWS 06 Faculty appointments, student

achievements, 2025 Law Games and more 08 Best wishes to Schulich Law’s retiring

faculty members 10

The Schulich School of Law welcomes Violet Ford to the faculty

12

Mi’kmaq art finds new home at the

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.

Weldon Law Building

COVER STORY ALUMNI RECOGNITION 14

Robbie Shaw receives Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service

16

Bertha Wilson Honour Society welcomes new inductees

30 How the law school is training future

legal professionals for a tech-driven society

DONOR PROFILES 38 Find out what inspired these donors

FEATURES 18

Chapman Family Law redefines the culture of their firm

28 Clint Davis draws on his knowledge

of law and finance to strengthen

to give to Schulich Law

DONOR REPORT 42 Celebrating the alumni and friends who

support the law school and its programs

Indigenous communities 34 Shawna Paris-Hoyte’s work reflects

her commitment to lifelong learning, justice and community care

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

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H E A R S AY

HEARSAY · VOLUME 46 · 2025 DEAN

Sarah Harding EDITOR

Stephanie Hurley DESIGN/PRODUCTION

Sarah Orford ILLUSTRATIONS

Midnight Oil CONTRIBUTORS

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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: HEARSAY EDITOR

Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University 6061 University Avenue PO Box 15000

28

Halifax, NS Canada B3H 4R2 lawalum@dal.ca P: 902.494.5100

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 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

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,

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.

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H E A R S AY

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

With more than 8,000 graduates in our alumni network, we

can’t wait to see the meaningful impact you will have in the legal

recognize and appreciate the strength of this remarkable

profession and beyond. Welcome to the Dalhousie Law Alumni

community. We encourage you to nominate a fellow graduate for

Association (DLAA) family!

a DLAA award, become a mentor or share ideas about how we can

This past year has been filled with energy, connection and

continue to support and celebrate one another.

momentum. We had the honour of celebrating some truly

Thank you for being such a valuable part of the Weldon

exceptional members of our community: Robbie Shaw received

community. Here’s to another year of staying connected, making a

the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service, four alumni were

difference and growing together.

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

Tony Amoud (’09) President, Dalhousie Law Alumni Association

Ally Howard Director, Alumni Relations, Admissions and Recruitment

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

JOIN THE NEW WELDON CONNECTS NETWORK!

alumni across the country at receptions and meet-and-greets.

Weldon Connects invites alumni to share their insight,

These moments we shared, whether reminiscing about classes

experience and support with current students through

and classmates or hearing about your professional milestones,

flexible, meaningful connections. Whether you’re

were a joy and a reminder of the powerful shared bond among

interested in ongoing mentorship or offering one-time

our graduates.

guidance, the program can be tailored to your availability.

We continue to be inspired by the many ways our alumni give back

A small-time commitment, a big impact!

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

Learn More

often tell us how impactful it is to learn from, and be supported by, those who came before them.

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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SCHOOL NEWS

FACULTY PROMOTION

SMITH SHIELD MOOT

Karinne Lantz is taking on a new

In October 2024, more than 150

role as an assistant professor

people gathered at the Weldon

Ashoke Mohanraj is a Schulich

In September 2024, Associate

at the Schulich School of Law.

Law Building for the premiere

Law student, a best-selling

Professor and Chancellor’s

Already an established member

event of the academic calendar,

children’s book author and a

Chair in Aboriginal Law and

of the law school community

the Smith Shield Moot. With

soon-to-be animated filmmaker.

Policy Naiomi Metallic (’05),

as a Schulich Fellow and PhD

a tradition dating back to

Thanks to a successful

in collaboration with Schulich

candidate, she will teach Tort

1927, competitors are chosen

crowdfunding campaign, he is

Law’s Truth & Reconciliation

Law, Family Law and Law in

from the top mooters in the

turning his book Dolphin Dude

Committee, launched a style

its National and International

compulsory second-year moot.

into a short film that he hopes

guide for Aboriginal law and

Context in the 2025-2026

Indigenous law.

academic year.

Best Practices for Writing

Her doctoral research explores

of Sylvia Vaughn v. Derrick

About Indigenous Peoples in

the domestic and international

Chandler. Alex Harrison and

the Canadian Legal Context:

dimensions of the human right

Machel Maxwell represented

The story centres on the

An Evolving Style Guide for

to health and how international

the appellant, Derrick Chandler;

importance of marine

the Schulich School of Law

law can be used to implement

while Rachel McMillan and

conservation, a topic close

at Dalhousie University, was

and secure the right for

Anu Sidhu represented the

to his heart as he pursues a

prepared with the help of Kelti

vulnerable populations in

respondent, Sylvia Vaughn. The

Marine and Environmental Law

McGloin, JD/MI student, and

Canada and abroad.

moot examined when and how

specialization.

a person should have control

“I believe young audiences

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.

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TEACHING KIDS THAT CARING CAN BE COOL

ABORIGINAL AND INDIGENOUS LAW STYLE GUIDE

“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

This year, Schulich Law students argued the case

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.

will someday be used as an educational tool in classrooms and eventually become a fulllength movie.

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

“Since legal writing often

privilege,” says Lantz. “I am

McMillan and Sidhu were

home, the ocean. Ultimately,

engages with topics and

looking forward to making the

named the winners and

my goal is to show that caring

terminology that may not be

most of the opportunities that

awarded the A.S. Pattillo Prize

about something you are

discussed at length in other

lie ahead.”

in Advocacy. The runners-up,

passionate about is the coolest

areas, this resource seeks to

Harrison and Maxwell, received

thing you can do.”

assemble guidelines that are

the Leonard A. Kitz Prize in

helpful to those in the legal

Advocacy. David Gouws served

profession,” explains Metallic.

as the alternate.

H E A R S AY

BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE LEGAL PROFESSION

SCHULICH LAW HOSTS LAW GAMES

PROFESSORS RECEIVE TEACHING AWARDS

In January 2025, Schulich Law

Schulich Law faculty are known

Associate Professor Olabisi

Schulich Law student

welcomed more than 300 law

for their extensive knowledge of

D. Akinkugbe as the Purdy

Crystal Witter helped plan a

students from 14 Canadian

law, their pursuit of excellence

Crawford Chair in Business

successful Black Law Students’

law faculties for four days of

in interpreting legal issues and

Law and Professor Robert J.

Association (BLSA) of Canada’s

camaraderie, competition and

their impassioned approach to

Currie, K.C. (’98) as the Viscount

National Pre-Law Expo in

community at the annual Law

engaging students. The winners

Bennett Professor of Law.

September 2024 at Osgoode

Games.

of this year’s Teaching Awards

Ailin Chant, Alexandra Doane,

made a lasting impression on

SCHULICH LAW APPOINTMENTS In 2024, Schulich Law named

The Purdy Crawford Chair,

Hall Law School in Toronto.

established in 2001, supports

BLSA Canada is a student-

Lucas Paniak, Andrew Weir and

their classes.

scholars in business law.

run organization committed

Wendy Yang, co-chairs of the

Assistant Professor Matthew

“Building on the foundations

to supporting and enhancing

2025 Law Games, were happy

Dylag received the DLAA &

of the previous holders in our

academic and professional

to play host. “Halifax is such

LSS Award for Excellence in

business law program, I hope

opportunities for Black law

a welcoming and vibrant city,”

Teaching Law. It is given in

to deepen the law school’s

students. Witter served as its

says Weir. “When we first moved

recognition and appreciation

position as a leading academic

national mentorship director

here, we all felt embraced by

of excellence in teaching

institution for convening

and facilitated a mentorship

the collegial spirit ingrained

demonstrated by enthusiasm,

research conversations and

program that connected Black

in the fabric of Schulich Law

commitment, dedication

the study of business law and

law students with Black lawyers

and the good old Maritime

and outstanding service to

policy in its national, regional

and pre-law students with law

hospitality offered by the city

students. Nominations are

and international economic

classes.

and its residents. We hope

made by current law students

The event was the largest of

the Law Games’ participants

and a recipient is selected

got a taste of that spirit, had

by a committee comprised of

an amazing time and want to

students and alumni.

contexts,” says Akinkugbe.

The Viscount Bennett

its kind in Canadian history,

Professorship, established in

providing over 200 prospective

1944, supports great teaching

Black law students with the

return to visit.”

and meaningful contributions

mentorship and knowledge

The LAWST AT SEA theme

was awarded the Hannah and

to scholarship and international

needed to successfully navigate

incorporated a nautical twist

Harold Barnett Excellence in

affairs. “I’m grateful to take

the law school application

through a variety of activities

Teaching Award given by the

on this role, which has been

process. “We are deeply

ranging from sporting events to

Law Students’ Society to a

filled by many distinguished

committed to creating pathways

a moot court to a talent show.

professor who teaches first-

colleagues in the past,” says

for Black students to enter and

Congratulations to the more

year law. Each first-year section

Currie. “It will provide short-

thrive in the legal profession,

than 30 students who proudly

collectively puts forward a

term support for my continuing

and events like the Pre-Law

represented the Dal Legal

nomination and a winner is

work on the suppression of

Expo are contributing to a more

Eagles!

chosen by a committee of

transnational criminal networks

equitable and inclusive future in

students. This is Coughlan’s

and Canada’s role in that fight.”

the legal field,” says Witter.

third time receiving the award.

Professor Steve Coughlan (’85)

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WRITING THEIR NEXT CHAPTERS

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

Farewell and best wishes to Schulich Law’s exceptional faculty members retiring this year.

Camille Cameron

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

from the Schulich School of Law, where she

delivery of judicial education programs in Canada and abroad for

served as dean from 2015-2023. She came

more than 25 years. He became the founding president of the

to Dalhousie after a career practicing law in

Canadian Association for Legal Ethics (CALE) in 2012 and was

Halifax and teaching law in Hong Kong and

later named chair of its Board of Directors. In 2015 he was elected

Australia. She also worked as a consultant with the World Bank,

as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He received CALE’s

Asian Development Bank, AusAid and other organizations for

Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

many years on justice reform projects throughout Asia, including

In retirement, Devlin will miss the energy of the classroom but will continue with several research projects including co-editing the

Cameron has enjoyed being part of the Weldon community

5th edition of the Lawyers’ Ethics and Professional Regulation. He

and working with colleagues and alumni to contribute to its

also has plans to improve his carpentry skills, get fitter and spend

mission and growth. Some key highlights include a successful,

time with family and friends both near and far.

collaborative strategic planning process that included students, staff, faculty, alumni and members of the judiciary, establishing

David Michels

the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic and the growth of

Dr. David Michels retired after 25 years as

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.

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

Cameron will continue with graduate supervision, research and

exploring blended and online learning at Schulich Law.

publishing after retirement. Her current research projects focus on

He actively researched and published on legal librarianship,

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

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Academic Excellence and won Dalhousie University’s Centre for

Professor Camille Cameron, K.C., retired

judge and lawyer training and legislative reform.

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received the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Award for

H E A R S AY

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.

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

“It is inspiring to see the excitement and engagement of

driven to search for answers to some of Nova Scotia’s most urgent

communities across the province and departments across

questions, devoting their expertise in service of their communities.”

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

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.

needed to get to the root causes of local issues and to help craft meaningful solutions.”

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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

Ford’s professional work has left a lasting impact on Indigenous

year as a faculty member and esteemed researcher, 34 years

rights, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation in

after earning her law degree, is a true homecoming.

Canada and around the world. For this, she received an Indspire

“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

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.

internationally, Ford is a globally recognized expert on Inuit rights and the international legal dimensions of Indigenous cultural heritage.

“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

“We are pleased and excited that Violet has joined our faculty,”

develop research projects together.”

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.”

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

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

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.

Sharing of Genetic Resources, the first legally binding

“There are gaps in existing international laws that provide for

international framework that establishes a set of rights for

marine governance. A lot of those gaps are centered around the

Indigenous Peoples and local communities over their genetic

lack of recognition for Indigenous rights, for example, the lack

resources and traditional knowledge.

of recognition of their worldview into the antiquated Law of the Sea Convention.”

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H E A R S AY

Photo: Todd Langille

Ford became interested in Inuit law in the 1980s while working

At Dalhousie, Professors Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a well-known

with elders on a youth diversion pilot project in Nunatsiavut.

scholar on Indigenous rights, and Patricia Monture, who played

“Inuit law is a complex system of laws that has layers and layers,”

a significant role in moving the law school’s Indigenous Blacks &

she explains.

Mi’kmaq Initiative forward, inspired and encouraged Ford.

These laws have evolved and changed over time because the

Prior to being called to the Bar in Newfoundland and Labrador,

conflicts the Inuit face today are different than those they faced

Ford articled with the Department of Justice in Yellowknife and

500 years ago, but they remain relevant.

St. John’s. She later became licensed as a lawyer in the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Nunavut. Ford also had an Ottawa-

“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.”

based 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

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

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

political science at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.

advancing the country’s reconciliation.

“I felt I needed to gain more skills to understand political systems

“Part of Canada’s reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples requires

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

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.”

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.

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Left to Right: Sarah Harding, Allan Silverman, Pamela Edmonds and Alan Syliboy.

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

“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

There was excitement in the air at the Weldon Law Building on May 8, 2025, for the unveiling of eight Alan Syliboy paintings

communities,” she says. “Meanwhile, it’s challenging for artists like Alan to find the support they need to make art full-time. So, people

donated to the Dalhousie Art Gallery by Schulich School of Law

like Marcia and Allan are like guardian angels.”

alumnus Allan Silverman (’64).

Silverman lights up when he talks about Alan Syliboy and the myriad ways that the artist celebrates Mi’kmaq culture.

“We need to have more of Syliboy’s artwork in the public sphere,

“I particularly enjoy the topics he chooses—whether it’s

and recognize the heritage of the Mi’kmaq people,” Silverman

petroglyphs or fish life,” he says.

says. “It’s important for the community, especially the law school,

For Syliboy, it was welcome news. Ever since he saw a

where all kinds of people will now be able to enjoy his works.”

retrospective of Alex Colville’s work at the Gallery in 1984, he dreamed that one day it would host an exhibition of his work.

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

12 |

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.”

in the exhibit were on loan from the estate of Marcia Hennessy, a

Silverman says it was his father, Julius, a co-founder and

long-time friend and supporter of Syliboy’s, who collected his art

concertmaster for Symphony Orchestra Halifax, a forerunner for

for 30 years.

Symphony Nova Scotia, who gave him an appreciation for the arts.

H E A R S AY

“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.

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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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

His father, Lloyd Robert Shaw, inspired his son’s commitment to

not only makes you a more caring person, but a better leader.

public service. “My father was the best role model anyone could

Throughout his illustrious career, he used his roles at public,

ask for,” he adds.

political, private and philanthropic organizations to help improve the lives of Nova Scotians.

led the family’s 163-year-old business, now called the Shaw Group,

Known for his inclusive and empathetic leadership style, Shaw

and served as the first research director for the federal New

has focused on not only achieving organizational success but

Democratic Party’s (NDP) predecessor, the national Co-operative

also bringing out the best in the people he worked with.

Commonwealth Federation. He was also an early financial backer

“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

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.”

public service, referred to as the Weldon Tradition, is a guiding

He dove back into student politics becoming president of the

principle of the law school community.

Dalhousie Student Union and the first student on the Dalhousie

“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.

14 |

A businessman who believed in progressive politics, Lloyd Robert

H E A R S AY

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

“According to my wife’s count, I’ve had at least nine different jobs,”

business, because you learn to be an analytical thinker.”

he says. “I don’t know why I moved from job to job except that I

Drawn to the business world, Shaw’s next job was with the firm

liked the stimulation.”

Hardman, Bryson and Associates, where he worked on the

Despite his many professional and community commitments, Shaw

development of Halifax’s Scotia Square. For four years, he took

has always been deeply devoted to his family. While Halifax is

notes from local business icons like Frank Sobey and Roy Jodrey,

home, he and his wife spend several months each year in Chester

who both sat on the company’s Board of Directors. “Watching

Basin on Shaw Island, a place named after his great uncle. “It

that Board of leading businessmen was such a great learning

is kind of like heaven on earth,” he says. “When we cross the

experience,” he says.

causeway to the island, our shoulders just relax.”

In 1970, Shaw joined his family’s business, becoming president

Last summer, they gathered with their three children, seven

and general manager of Clayton Developments. He grew its

grandchildren and dozens of other family and friends to celebrate

Halifax housing development from a few streets in Clayton Park

their 60th wedding anniversary. “It’s hard to adequately express

to a community of thousands and then started the development

my gratitude,” says Shaw. “My wife and I have been so lucky in so

of Colby Village in Dartmouth.

many ways.”

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.

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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:

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H E A R S AY

Megan Longley, K.C. (’94)

James Michael, K.C. (’92)

NOVA SCOTIA

NOVA SCOTIA

Executive Director,

Lawyer,

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

Pink Larkin

Marian McGrath (’79)

Dr. Bill Rand (LLB ’66, LLD ’11)

QUEBEC

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Retired General Counsel,

Senior Business Advisor,

Department of Justice

Cassels

WITH A SPECIAL INVITATION TO MILESTONE CLASSES ENDING IN 5 & 0

SAVE THE DATE

ANNUAL LAW ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 19-21, 2025 EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE LAW ALUMNI REUNION MIXER, DOMUS NIGHT, LAW SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE, CLASS-SPECIFIC EVENTS & MORE! QUestions? Contact TAMMI HAYNE 902.494.5100 lawalum@dal.ca FOR MORE INFORMATION

dal.ca/law/reunions

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

“In family law, the work we do is so intimate, complex and emotional.

culture at their family law firm that prioritizes health and fosters

To have a colleague who you trust who is knowledgeable about this

work-life balance. In a legal field with high rates of burnout, they

area of law, at your disposal, is essential to creating a sustainable

are thinking far beyond the parameters of their boutique business.

career. There is such burnout and attrition in family law because

“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

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.”

do is create, in a small way, a trickle effect within the industry.

The pandemic showed Chapman that doing things differently

We want to attract talent to our firm by having realistic targets

was not only possible but necessary. In 2021, she was practicing

and creating a work-from-home model that provides more

family law at BOYNECLARKE LLP, the Dartmouth firm where she

balance and sustainability. The hope is that other firms will say

had worked since graduating from the Schulich School of Law in

‘OK, we are going to have to make changes to our model because

2011. She was busy with her thriving practice, and raising her two

there are other options out there.’”

children, when she made the bold move to leave.

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

“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.

firms.

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“Even though we don’t see each other daily, we are constantly

At first, Chapman Family Law consisted of just Chapman and Kelly

connected, and our goal is to foster an ‘open door’ policy, be it

Campbell, her long-time legal assistant who is now the firm’s office

to chat out a complex question or a tough day in court,” says

manager. “Very quickly we were inundated with demands and hired

Mitrovic, a partner in the firm.

more lawyers.”

After years of practicing family law, Chapman has redirected her

With a thriving practice and a new business, everything suddenly

focus to mentoring and supporting her firm’s lawyers who do that

changed after Chapman had routine blood work done in April

work. Each day she provides them with guidance by exchanging

2023. At age 36, with two children under the age of seven, she was

voice notes, phone calls and messages about files and clients,

diagnosed with leukemia. She immediately started chemotherapy

something she believes is especially important for lawyers

and spent the next four months in and out of hospital. “It was very

during their formative years.

traumatic,” she says. “It flipped my whole world upside down.”

H E A R S AY

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.”

Jessica Chapman (left) and Vanja Mitrovic (right).

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.

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

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

As female lawyers in private practice, they also feel a sense

times they will ever face. I consider that job a privilege and I’m

of responsibility to demonstrate that it is possible to sustain a

lucky to be surrounded by a team who also recognizes that

rewarding career in family law. “We hope that the success we’ve

responsibility and approaches it with immense care,” says Mitrovic.

experienced will spur positive change in the legal community.”

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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CHARTING HIS OWN COURSE

“I had done a lot of travelling, but one place that I hadn’t gone yet

James MacDuff navigates a life of law and adventure.

ship based in Lunenburg, and often dreamt of what it would be

BY ANNMARIE MACKINNON

world. Each winter it undertakes one “Cape-to-Cape” voyage from

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

was Antarctica,” says MacDuff. “I had seen the Picton Castle, a tall 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 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

choosing.

fellow traveller from Zambia, who he would eventually marry.

Like many Maritimers, the urge to explore further afield struck

Since then, they have also become co-authors, collaborating on

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

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.

comprehensive changes will be implemented are complex and significant. So, understanding and playing a role in how that all

“The philosophy we had at law school fostered a great community

works in Atlantic Canada, how it’s priced, how it will be delivered

in which to study and to embark on a new career,” he adds.

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.

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H E A R S AY

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.

James MacDuff and family.

“A lot of the story in The Illogical Adventure is about coming to

viewpoint has been, “You should just go for it and see where it

terms with career and work/life balance. In law, you have an

takes you.”

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 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.”

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

Find out more about MacDuff and Mweemba’s joint memoir at IllogicalAdventure.com

about which direction to take, whether in work or in life, his

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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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.

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H E A R S AY

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

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.

for marginalized women in Canada, particularly Indigenous women,

Prosper is a Mi’kmaq lawyer with more than 25 years of experience

women with disabilities, young women, racialized and immigrant

working on Indigenous legal issues, including governance,

women and those criminalized by poverty, abuse and systemic

land use and occupation, project management and community

injustice.

development.

An honours graduate of Schulich Law’s Clinical Law program,

A lifelong advocate for Mi’kmaq rights, he previously served as

she began her legal career working with youth and men in conflict

Chief of the Paqtnkek (Afton) Mi’kmaw Nation. In 2020, he was

with the law through the John Howard Society in Calgary and at

elected Regional Chief for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia with

its national office. She then served as executive director of the

the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), representing 17 Mi’kmaw First

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies for nearly 25

Nations in Atlantic Canada and over 600 First Nations across the

years, leading a volunteer network dedicated to supporting and

country.

advocating for women in prison.

That same year, Prosper was inducted into the Bertha Wilson

In addition to her advocacy work, she is a respected educator

Honour Society at Schulich Law in recognition of his exceptional

and law reformer. She has significantly contributed to the public

contributions to the legal profession and community. He was also

understanding of issues surrounding women’s incarceration, parole

named Wika’paltultimk (Counsellor) by the Eastern Door L’nuk

and criminal responsibility.

Lawyers Group, honouring his leadership and service to Indigenous

In 2003, she received Schulich Law’s highest alumni honour, the

Peoples in the legal field.

Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service. Pate is also a Member

Prosper has served on numerous boards and advisory groups,

of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Governor General’s

including the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs

Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, the Canadian Bar

Secretariat, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, Mi’kmaw

Association’s Bertha Wilson Touchstone Award and countless

Kina’matnewey, the Eastern Door L’nuk Lawyers Group, the Ta’n

other accolades. Her published work, public speaking and legal

Etli-tpi’tmk Association and the AFN Chiefs Committee on Child

advocacy reflect a lifelong dedication to advancing substantive

and Family Services.

equality and social justice.

From 2010 to 2013, he also taught courses on Mi’kmaq governance

“Both at law school and in my professional career, my most

and Aboriginal and treaty rights at Cape Breton University, where

profound learning has come from taking risks and embracing

he had previously earned his Bachelor of Arts (Honours).

the lessons of my mistakes,” she says. “I have learned to act

“Growing up, my mother, Anne Prosper, instilled the importance

with courage and conviction by forging deep, abiding alliances and friendships with those who are most marginalized and dispossessed.”

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.”

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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PAVING THE WAY

member, serving on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s (NSBS)

BY STEPHANIE HURLEY

Service’s Equity and Diversity Committee and the Eastern Door,

Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the Public Prosecution a committee of Mi’kmaq lawyers.

When Marissa Prosper (’20) was growing up in Pictou Landing First Nation, a Mi’kmaq community located on Nova Scotia’s

“Earning my law degree and getting called to the Bar was

Northumberland Strait, becoming a lawyer was something she

more than just a personal goal—it was a way to empower and

could have only dreamed of.

encourage others,” she adds. “Becoming a first-time mother

“I have always been driven to make a meaningful difference in my

during the Bar Admissions Program only deepened that

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,

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).”

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.

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

“Being the first to do anything isn’t easy, and the transition was harder than I expected,” she admits. “Community is such a

youth at the earliest opportunity is also a way to honour the late Donald Marshall Jr. and the Inquiry’s recommendations.”

large part of Mi’kmaq identity and I found myself further away

In 2025, during March Break, 20 students—10 Mi’kmaq/Indigenous

from home, my family and supports. I often felt isolated, had

students and 10 African Nova Scotian/Black students—took part

an overwhelming sense of self-doubt and questioned whether

in the inaugural program in Halifax, where participants gained

I belonged.”

hands-on experience while meeting lawyers and judges from diverse areas of the legal profession.

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

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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.”

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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

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LEARNING THE ROPES

legal department comprised of an executive assistant, a paralegal,

JD student Morgan Meade spent her summer internship learning from Irving Shipbuilding Inc.’s in-house legal department.

“In-house counsel acts as ‘jacks of all trades’ due to the range

BY AMANDA KIRBY-SHEPPARD

three lawyers and the General Counsel.

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.”

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.

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,

“The immense scope of the shipyard’s daily operations, from the

answer my questions and share her insights. Her generosity and

physical size of the buildings to the thousands of employees

mentorship meant a lot to me.” She continues to maintain those

and contractors to the volume of contracts required, was unlike

relationships cultivated at ISI.

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.

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

After graduating from high school she moved to Fredericton,

me up-to-speed beforehand, answering my questions and treating

where she completed her Bachelor of Business Administration

me like a contributing member of their team.”

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

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.”

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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

Although he pursued a career in finance and economic

and other debt instruments, is a long way from Goose Bay,

development, he credits the skills he learned in law school for

Labrador, where he was raised. Despite the distance, one thing

much of his success. It is where he developed research know-how,

from home that remains close to his heart is his connection to

sharpened his ability to advocate and learned how to interpret

Canada’s Indigenous people.

rules.

Brought up by his maternal grandparents, Davis’ Inuit heritage

“Understanding the value of research when you’re building a

influenced his decision early in his career to apply his Schulich

business case or developing strategy or an operational plan, is

School of Law degree toward advancing Indigenous economic

vital, regardless of industry,” he says.

development and business.

As a young boy, Davis never imagined a career in law or business.

In the 1970s, Goose Bay was a small, isolated community, with

“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.”

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

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.”

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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.

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

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.”

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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 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

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

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.

Michael Deturbide, K.C. (LLB ’89, LLM ’97) and former faculty

With financial support from the Dalhousie 2025 Next Wave

member Dr. Teresa Scassa, at a time when the Internet was still

Fund and in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

emerging as a transformative force in society.

of Canada: Calls to Action, the Institute will be organizing a

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.

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

“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.”

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.

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“Law and technology is fundamentally about how we handle

“I was excited to help students learn how technology can impact

disruption,” says Karanicolas, whose research revolves around

the way law is practiced and to provide some hands-on experience

the application of human rights standards in an online context.

in how emerging tools can create efficiencies and reduce the

“So, it’s a natural area to gravitate to from a public policy

cost and time it can take to solve clients’ legal problems,” says

perspective, since it pulls in many of the thorniest regulatory

Swansburg, CEO of ClearyX, a fully remote, tech-forward firm

challenges that Canada currently faces, including how to

focused on developing strategies for new and innovative models of

govern emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or

legal service delivery. “I hope the course equipped students with

quantum computers, and how to deal with the impacts that

a framework for how to think about weaving technology into their

these technologies are having on everything from the practice

work in a productive, ethical way.”

of law to the administrative state.”

Enhancing the Learning Experience

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

The Schulich School of Law offers JD students the opportunity

tech students who have become leaders in areas ranging from

to earn a Law and Technology Certificate as part of their studies.

video game law to AI policy development.”

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

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.

automated legal landscape. It will be taught by Assistant Professor Anthony Rosborough (’15). In 2023, he was jointly

“One of the most valuable lessons from my time at initio was

appointed to Law and Computer Science at Dalhousie, bringing

the importance of using legal and critical thinking skills to

interdisciplinary excellence to both faculties.

examine emerging technologies with an analytical lens,” says

This past year the law school also welcomed two Lisson Experts-

Bourgeois. “That mindset became especially important as the

in-Residence, Jon Legorburu and Carla Swansburg (’93), who each taught an upper-year intensive course. Legorburu’s course

legal community began grappling with the rapid development of artificial intelligence.”

focused on the rise of cyber-crime and internet manipulation, while Swansburg’s focused on technology in practice.

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.”

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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.

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

“We wanted to use the series as a tool to bring people from

the CJLT also partnered

various disciplines and the larger Halifax community together

with WeRobot to publish a

to have conversations about today’s modern technology issues,”

special multi-disciplinary and

says Dunn. “The possibilities for cross-sectoral collaboration have

international edition featuring

opened a lot of doors for innovative research and engagement.”

papers from the conference

Rosborough led a Tech Tok session in May titled “Think Globally,

that will be available this fall.

Repair Locally” to discuss the barriers in repairing modern

In November, the Schulich School of Law will host the inaugural

technological devices as well as local repair options. His current

Canadian Technology Law Conference: Democracy and the

research project called Unlocking Healthcare investigates the

Information Society, led by Karanicolas. The keynote will be

technical and legal barriers to the independent repair and

delivered by the Honourable Sean Fraser (’09), Minister of Justice

servicing of software-dependent medical devices in Canadian

and Attorney General of Canada, and will include additional panels

hospitals.

featuring leading experts from Canada and the United States.

“To me, the most pressing issues in technology and law stem

“As a scholar whose primary focus revolves around democracy and

from the decline in human agency over the systems and devices

human rights, these issues are particularly salient in the context

that shape our lives. I am concerned about our evolving thinking

of rising authoritarianism around the world, a trend which has

about the role of law and computation and the growing belief

been largely fueled and accelerated by technological disruption

in the inevitability narrative. This is the belief that technology,

of our information environment,” says Karanicolas. “I see the

especially AI, will inevitably replace all that is human with

question of how Canadian democracy, and democracies around the

advanced computational statistics.”

world, survive the current wave of innovation as one of the most

Rosborough believes that the Right to Repair movement shows

important challenges of our era.”

a path to a more empowered society and competitive economy

He is also leading a new initiative called the Canadian Law and

that diffuses technical knowledge and pushes back against

Technology Network, connecting more than 80 legal scholars

centralized tech power structures.

from across the country by providing a forum for discussion about pressing issues in the law and technology space, as well as

“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.”

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.

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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

“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.”

intention of becoming a teacher. That foundational experience shaped her trajectory toward a multifaceted, service-driven career.

Her legal career has been profoundly fulfilling, highlighted by

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1978, Paris-Hoyte

decades of advocacy, direct community service and mentoring

moved to Toronto, where she taught at a private college before

others. Over time, as she worked closely with clients facing

establishing and operating a business specializing in employment

poverty, trauma and systemic discrimination, Paris-Hoyte

and recruitment services for marginalized and low-income

recognized that the core issues her clients encountered were not

individuals.

only legal but also social, cultural and structural.

To better support her clients, she began taking night courses in

This realization led her to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work

business and contract law, where she fell in love with the field of

and later a Master of Social Work, enabling her to bridge both

legal studies.

disciplines and provide more holistic support. “There was a clear

Then, in 1989, a close friend from Halifax told her about the new

intersection between legal and social issues that I couldn’t ignore,”

Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative at Dalhousie’s Schulich

she explains. “I wanted to better support my clients by addressing

School of Law, a program aimed at increasing the representation

the whole picture, not just what appeared in the courtroom.”

of Black and Mi’kmaq students in the legal profession. The timing

Blending her knowledge of law and social work, Paris-Hoyte

was perfect. The following year, she made the life-changing

became a leader in the emerging field of forensic social work, the

decision to close her business, move her children and return to

application of clinical and systemic social work principles to legal

Nova Scotia to pursue a law degree.

settings. She designed and developed workshops and training

In her final year of law school, she enrolled in the Clinical Law

programs locally, nationally and internationally, along with a series

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

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

as a community legal worker, and one year later joined the staff

work at the intersection of the justice and human service systems.

as a lawyer.

Surprised that legal education is often only an elective in social work programs, she became a vocal advocate for stronger

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integration of law into core training. “Whether you’re working in

the development of national standards and advancing the field’s

child protection, mental health, housing or community practice,

professional growth. She also serves on the Board of Directors

law is embedded in everything social workers do,” she says.

of the Africville Heritage Trust, supporting the preservation of

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

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.

and development, and a professional community for individuals

In addition to her academic, legal and policy work, Paris-Hoyte

working across the legal, health and social sectors.

operates a small private clinical practice, offering services

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

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.

both social work and law students could participate. It became a

Although deeply connected to the Clinic, where her passion for

formative experience for all involved and helped raise awareness

community law took root, she continues to focus on research,

of important systemic issues in the public discourse.

advocacy and national-level initiatives in law, forensic social work

Paris-Hoyte took a leave of absence from her position as staff

and mental health.

lawyer at DLAS in 2024 to assume the role of executive director

Paris-Hoyte is a purpose-driven leader, healer and advocate whose

of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI), which she

life’s work bridges law and social work to advance justice, restore

held until early 2025. ANSJI, a groundbreaking, community-led

dignity and serve communities with compassion and courage.

organization, is dedicated to addressing systemic anti-Black

Shaped by lived experience, she has devoted her career to walking

racism and improving justice outcomes for African Nova Scotians

alongside those most impacted by systemic harm, whether in

through research, culturally informed programming and advocacy.

courtrooms, classrooms or community spaces. With each role she

In her volunteer work, Paris-Hoyte serves on the Board of Directors of the Forensic Social Work Alliance in the U.S., contributing to

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.

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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.

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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.”

The Legacy Effect

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)

We Can Help 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.

DONOR PROFILE

LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY John McLeish’s affinity for his alma mater influences his estate planning.

“I was with two great firms throughout my legal career where the

BY SARAH HARDING

perform at a very high level.”

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 He also looks back on his time at law school with much fondness.

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.

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H E A R S AY

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.

DONOR PROFILE

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY United by a spirit of camaraderie, the Class of ’74 continues to exceed their fundraising goals.

It was through their strong social connection that the Class of

BY EMILY COLL

focusing on consistency. “It was important to build the habit

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!”

’74 begin giving back to their cherished law school. They started small, within their means as new graduates entering their careers, 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.

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DONOR PROFILE

CHAMPION FOR EQUITY Former Judge William Digby advocates for better representation in the legal profession.

When he started at Legal Aid, his colleagues included

BY EMILY COLL

from historically underrepresented groups, creating an imbalance

Former Judge William Digby (’71) knew from a young age that he

In 1997, Digby was appointed to the Provincial Court in Nova Scotia

wanted to be a lawyer. His early memories of watching his father, who worked in real estate, collaborating with lawyers in his living

afforded opportunities at private firms. Their clients often came that was not lost on Digby and would later influence his giving. 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

room piqued his curiosity.

Territories.

When reflecting on why he chose a career in law, he jokes that it

His commitment to equity continues today in his support for the

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

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

word for him with Sandra Oxner (LLB ’65, LLM ’01), with whom he

career, he knows there is still more work to be done.

began his articles. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and started

Digby hopes that continued financial support for programs

his career with the City of Halifax the following year, prosecuting

like the IB&M Initiative will lead to better representation in the

motor vehicle and bylaw cases, an experience he fondly refers to

legal profession. “Ultimately, a diverse community is a healthy

as “good training wheels.”

community,” he says.

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.

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professionals from diverse backgrounds, many of whom were not

H E A R S AY

DONOR PROFILE

FROM MUSIC TO MARINE LAW Professor Sara Seck demonstrates her dedication to student support.

In 2007, Seck began her career in academia with the Faculty of

BY EMILY COLL

Law in 2017 and took on the role of Yogis and Keddy Chair in

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

Law at Western University where she went on to complete her PhD and teach for a decade. She joined the Schulich School of 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.”

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.

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S C H U L I C H S C H O O L O F L AW · D A L H O U S I E U N I V E R S I T Y

DONOR REPORT

This report is a recognition of gifts received between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

1953

1966

1972

1975

Class Participation.............................. 5% Participating Donors: Hon. Hiram Carver, K.C.

Total Class Giving.......................... $1,750 Class Participation..............................11% Participating Donors: William Gorham John Myers

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

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

1954 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Joel Matheson, K.C.

1958 Class Participation.............................. 4% Participating Donors: Dr. William H. Charles*

1960 Class Participation.............................. 6% 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.

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H E A R S AY

1967 Class Participation.............................. 4% Participating Donors: Kenneth H. Glube David Ritcey, K.C.

1968 Total Class Giving.........................$6,030 Class Participation.............................15% 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

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.

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

1982

1987

1992

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

Total Class Giving......................... $5,150 Class Participation.............................. 5% Participating Donors: Scott P. Gray Kerry M. Harnish Adrian Wright

Total Class Giving......................... $7,689 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Robert Boron Charlotte Davis David Layton Mary E. Murphy Janice E. Younker

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.

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.

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

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

1993 Total Class Giving......................... $7,580 Class Participation.............................. 5% Participating Donors: Brian Beck Subrata Bhattacharjee Matthew Certosimo Patricia E. Doyle-Bedwell Erin Iles Roger Lee Peter MacKenzie

1994 Total Class Giving..........................$1,470 Class Participation.............................. 4% Participating Donors: Nancy F. Barteaux Mary Birdsell Jane D. Harrigan (LLM) John LeBlanc Daphne C. Loukidelis Garry A. McCay

1990

1995

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

Total Class Giving..........................$1,450 Class Participation.............................. 4% Participating Donors: Jennifer G. Carmichael Anneke Driessen van der Lieck Patricia Thiel Candace Thomas

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

1996 Total Class Giving...........................$1,010 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Ken Dekker Samiran P. Lakshman Zarah E. Walpole D. Scott Worsfold

1997 Total Class Giving...........................$1,160 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Cheryl Canning, K.C. Susan E. Carruthers Vincent C. Kazmierski Duaine W. Simms

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1998

2008

LEGACY SOCIETY

ORGANIZATIONS

Total Class Giving.......................... $1,129 Class Participation.............................. 5% Participating Donors: Paula Boutis Jean Buie Arnold T. Ceballos Hon. Justice Michelle Coady Paul Falvo Sean Foreman, K.C. James Rossiter, K.C.

Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Jarvis Googoo Mark Watton

(formerly Heritage Society) The Dalhousie Legacy Society was established to recognize and thank those who have remembered the faculty in their estate plans.

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 RBC Foundation Scotiabank

1999 Total Class Giving.......................... $1,146 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Harry Korosis Timothy Morse Sheila Wildeman

2000 Class Participation............................... 1%

2001 Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Andrew Wilson

2002 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Level Chan Kendrick Douglas Darlene M. Lamey

2003 Total Class Giving..........................$1,200 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Hon. Justice Maegen Giltrow, K.C. Danielle MacLean Claude Martin Chris Peddigrew, K.C. Donald Zarow

2005 Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Andrew Lyster

2006 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Michael Dull, K.C. Michelle Kellam Julien Ranger

2007 Total Class Giving............................ $442 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Peter Dostal Aaron Hirschorn Jennifer Ko

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H E A R S AY

2009 Class Participation............................... 1%

2011 Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Teresa-Anne Martin

2012 Total Class Giving......................... $1,050 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Laura Neals Joshua Nodelman Sarah Shiels Duncan Taylor

2013 Total Class Giving....................... $18,590 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Cameron L. Foster Jalana Lewis Nathaniel Marshall

2015 Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Peter Keyes

2016 Class Participation............................... 1% Participating Donors: Lauren Mills Taylor

2017 Class Participation.............................. 2% Participating Donors: Christina Macdonald Regan Murphy Mary Rolf

2018 Total Class Giving.........................$3,600 Class Participation.............................. 3% Participating Donors: Amanda Brousseau Patrick Brousseau Adam Karakolis Kate Scallion Primrose Watson

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 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 Muyang Li Sarah B. MacDonald Denise MacDonell Lauri MacDougall Christine MacInnes Audrey Macklin 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

Professor ALDO CHIRCOP teamed up with

sabbatical year. She travelled to India to share her

Professor Henrik Ringbom of Abo Akademi

theoretical and empirical work on mediation and

University in Finland to publish The International

gained important insights into international approaches

Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships:

to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and access

A Commentary (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025).

to justice. She is continuing her work on assessing

Featuring contributions from 30 leading experts, this

judicial mediation programs in Nova Scotia and has

commentary serves as the definitive reference on

recently joined an advisory panel for the ADR Institute

interpreting and applying the foremost international

of Canada, whose goals are to facilitate ADR education

treaty for protecting the marine environment from

and practice across the country. She is also preparing

vessel-source pollution.

her manuscript titled What Happened: Exploring FactFinding and Procedural Legitimacy in Civil Litigation which dives into the question of what makes civil

Professor STEVE COUGHLAN was honoured to receive this year’s Hanna and Harold Barnett Teaching

justice systems good and acceptable.

Award and enjoyed staying engaged in student life

As the Purdy Crawford Chair in Business Law,

Literary Moot, competing in “Are You Smarter Than

Professor OLABISI D. AKINKUGBE organized his first

a Weldon Law Professor?” during Weldon Welcome

Purdy Crawford Workshop in International Business

Days or making a cameo appearance in Section A’s

Law, drawing more than 50 participants from Canada,

winning Pith and Substance video. In other aspects of

the U.S, Europe and Asia. In December 2024, he was

his career, he took over as editor-in-chief of both the

elected executive vice-president of the Society of

Criminal Reports and the National Judicial Institute’s

International Economic Law. He serves on multiple

Criminal Law Essentials eLetter.

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

whether by playing Captain Hook in the Weldon

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

Trade Law and International Investment Law.

served as a visiting fellow at the Sutherland School of

Professor CAMILLE CAMERON, K.C., enjoyed

research and studied Irish extradition law. He is

teaching Tort Law and Damage Compensation for

grateful to the Ireland-Canada University Foundation

a bright and enthusiastic group of first-year law

for supporting his visit.

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.

Law, University College Dublin, where he conducted

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,

VOLUME 46 · 2025

| 45

colleagues and staff who made the journey so

Professor ADELINA IFTENE was on maternity leave

meaningful. It’s a path he never imagined when he

for the first term of the academic year. In the winter,

first entered law school in 1979. However, his horse

she taught Evidence and co-taught Imprisonment

may not be going too far as he has applied for the title

alongside Professor Sheila Wildeman. She continued

of Professor Emeritus and looks forward to staying

her role as a co-author of the Annual Review of Criminal

connected to the Weldon community in new ways.

Law with Professors Steve Coughlan and Rob Currie.

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

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

among Canadian youth. The project can be seen at

Criminal Law, Mental Disability Law: Civil and Criminal

diydigitalsafety.ca.

and Global Corruption and Legal Issues in Psychiatry

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

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.

also travelled to the European University Institute in

Professor JODI LAZARE was appointed associate

Florence, Italy, where he presented his work at the Max

dean (Academic) in July 2024. In addition to that

Weber Fellows’ Conference.

role, she continues to research and write in family

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.

H E A R S AY

Vulnerability: Conceptualizing the Incorporation

responses to, technology-facilitated sexual violence

Professor MATTHEW DYLAG taught Civil Procedure,

46 |

She published two sentencing articles, “Sentencing

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

Professor MELISA MARSMAN’s legal research on

lead the work and growth of the Restorative Research,

land in African Nova Scotian communities helped

Innovation and Education Lab. Last summer, she

establish the Upper Hammonds Plains Community

worked with a team of over 200 community and

Land Trust (UHPCLT), which protects historic lands,

academic partners to develop a new initiative, Creating

supports affordable housing and honours African Nova

Integrated Restorative Communities for Locally

Scotian heritage. In 2024-2025, UHPCLT’s housing

Engaged Solutions (CIRCLES-NS), funded by Research

co-op project received $61.2 million through the

Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Investment program.

federal Co-operative Housing Development Program

CIRCLES-NS focuses on supporting communities

to build 136 row houses, primarily for Black Canadians.

across the province to take a restorative approach to

The project fosters community engagement, cultural

address complex issues at the local level. This summer,

connection and collective ownership in the African

‘Team RJ’ is headed to the Canada Games to support

Nova Scotian community of Upper Hammonds Plains.

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

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

Professional Centre at 5991 Spring Garden Road.

Canada textbook. Through the Lunney Dêbludaqan

Professor CONSTANCE MACINTOSH had a

in partnership with several Mi’kmaq organizations in

productive year finalizing writing projects that she

the province called Glukabewimk – Learning to be a

had advanced while on sabbatical, coupled with the

Good Relation, which seeks to articulate Mi’kmaq legal

pleasure of returning to the classroom to bring the joy

principles through discussion with a core group of

of Contract Law and Immigration and Refugee Law to

Mi’kmaq knowledge-holders engaging with Mi’kmaq

another generation of students. Her core projects this

Gluskin stories and the language. She is also in the

year involved working with the Canadian Council for

process of finishing her PhD dissertation, which

Refugees on some significant advocacy achievements

seeks to comprehensively unpack how the United

and an increased focus on research projects

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

addressing vulnerability and migration.

Peoples provides a framework for the exercise of

Professor Emeritus WAYNE MACKAY, K.C., had another productive year of retirement. His key research accomplishment was the completion and publication of

Wikuom (Mi’kmaq law lodge), she is leading a project

self-government by Indigenous Peoples within Canada, looking to the instrument’s history, purpose and provisions.

Teachers and the Law: Diverse Roles and New Challenges

Professor SARA ROSS was granted early tenure in

(5th edition), Toronto: Émond Montgomery, 2025. This

July after serving three years as an assistant professor.

book was completed in collaboration with co-authors

In May 2025, she served as the program chair for

and former students Lyle (Chip) Sutherland (’88)

the Association of Law, Property & Society’s Annual

and Katherine (Kate) Ashley (’23) and is the leading

Conference, hosting more than 100 attendees at the

textbook for education law courses for teacher

University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

education programs across Canada. He also continues

This year, she signed on with Cambridge University

to be active on all forms of media at both a local and

Press for the publication of her latest book, Nowhere to

national level, providing expert commentary on a wide

Go: Housing Heritage, Hotels, and Homelessness, set for

range of legal issues, and serves as the legal columnist

release in 2026.

on CBC Radio in Nova Scotia.

VOLUME 46 · 2025

| 47

Professor SARA SECK continued in her role as

for Correctional Service Canada’s Health Services. She

director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute,

continues to serve as chair of the East Coast Prison

taught Environmental Law and coached an enthusiastic

Justice Society following the tragic passing of her

team in the Stetson International Environmental Moot

co-chair, Harry Critchley (’22), whose legacy lives on

Court Competition. In addition, she supervised an

in the social justice advocacy carried forward by many

LLM thesis on environmental racism, three ongoing

Schulich Law graduates.

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

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

Over the past year, Professor Emeritus ROLLIE

Dalhousie’s African Nova Scotian Strategy, through

THOMPSON, K.C., delivered presentations on family

which a quilt by artist Anya Clyke was installed at

law and evidence to numerous audiences of lawyers

the law school in partnership with the Dalhousie Art

and judges across Canada, both in person and online.

Gallery. Her collaborative work on African Nova Scotian

Since 2022, he has been counsel at Epstein Cole LLP,

research ethics was awarded a five-year SSHRC

a Toronto family law firm. In October 2024, he was

grant that she will lead along with Professors Melisa

honoured to receive the Ontario Bar Association’s

Marsman and Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch.

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

H E A R S AY

with and from students while teaching courses on

legal aspects of ocean-climate adaptation.

Award of Excellence for Family Law in memory of

48 |

Professor MICHELLE WILLIAMS enjoyed learning

35th anniversary this past year. She also co-chaired

THE GRAPEVINE 1966

MARTIN PINK was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

WILLIAM RAND was appointed a non-executive chairman of AURANOVA Inc. and to the company’s Board of Directors.

1974 JOHN CHANDLER was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

C. RICHARD COUGHLAN retired from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court after 24 years on the Bench.

1976

DANNY GALLIVAN is counsel with Patterson Law.

1977

JOSEPH GREGORY MACDONALD was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

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.

JOHN MACPHERSON was appointed chair of the Halifax Regional Water Commission Board.

R. JAMES WILLIAMS retired from the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) after 38 years on the Bench.

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.

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.

GUY LAFOSSE 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.

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.

1975

DAVID ENGLISH 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.

MARY GLEASON was appointed chief justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada.

JAMES STONEHOUSE 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.

MICHAEL KUNA was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

FRED CONSTANTINE was appointed King’s Counsel.

DOUG SHATFORD was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

1973 RONALD PINK was recognized by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in May 2025 with the Long Service Award for 50 years in practice.

1984

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.

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.

1988 GREG HARDY was appointed King’s Counsel.

NADINE SMILLIE was appointed King’s Counsel.

1989 SHAWN O’HARA was appointed King’s Counsel.

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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.

CANDACE THOMAS, K.C., is vice president, Legal, general counsel and corporate secretary with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

JAMES VAN WART was appointed a judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia.

2002

1997 CHRISTOPHER DIANA was appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. He will preside in Barrie.

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.

DOUG DOWNEY was reappointed as the Attorney General for Ontario for a second term.

MEGHAN (FUREY) GARDNER was appointed King’s Counsel. She is vice president, Claims, for Intact Insurance.

JENNIFER GLENNIE was appointed King’s Counsel.

1992 MIKE DUGGAN is a partner with Patterson Law.

KIM MCONIE was appointed King’s Counsel.

1998

2004

GRAHAM FLACK was appointed to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

STEPHANIE FABBRO was appointed King’s Counsel. She is a partner at Hamilton Fabbro in Vancouver.

COLLEEN KEYES was appointed King’s Counsel.

DARLENE WILLCOTT was named to the Nova Scotia Energy Board.

2005

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.

MICHELLE WILLETTE was appointed King’s Counsel. She is a partner with Cox & Palmer’s St. John’s office.

1993

GEOFFREY SPENCER was appointed King’s Counsel. He is the lead partner at McInnes Cooper’s St. John’s office.

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.

GRIFFITH ROBERTS was appointed King’s Counsel.

H E A R S AY

SCOTT CAMPBELL was appointed King’s Counsel.

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.

1999

NAIOMI METALLIC was appointed King’s Counsel.

ANDREW MAYER was appointed a justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

JUSTIN MELLOR was appointed King’s Counsel.

2006 MIKE DULL was appointed King’s Counsel.

GREG MOORES was appointed King’s Counsel. He is a partner with Stewart McKelvey in St. John’s.

1995

50 |

DENISE WOODROW was appointed King’s Counsel.

2000

MICHAEL SCHALKE joined Roper Greyell LLP as a partner.

TANNIS KING was appointed King’s Counsel.

She is the director of Legal Services for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

2007

SHANE PARKER was appointed to the Court of the King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary.

2008

MARC DUNNING was named to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board.

ROBERT KENNEDY was appointed King’s Counsel.

2001 LISA TAYLOR is the Rogers Chair in Journalism at the University of King’s College.

LORI O’CONNOR was appointed a judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan.

2010

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.

JILL BARRINGTON was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

2013 ANNE MCFARLANE joined Cox & Palmer’s Halifax office as counsel.

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.

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.

2020 CONNOR ROGERS is practicing family law with Patterson Law.

2016 TYLER JAMES is a partner with Stewart McKelvey.

KILLIAN MCPARLAND is a partner with Stewart McKelvey.

2021 SARAH GRAY is an associate with Mathews Dinsdale.

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.

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.

GRACE MACCORMICK is a partner with Patterson Law. THOMAS MOREHOUSE was promoted to a partner at Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.

2023

2018

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.

NICO JONES is an associate with Aird Berlis in Toronto.

LAUREN AGNEW is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.

MATTHEW HARDIE is an associate with Cox & Palmer.

KELLY O’BRIEN was promoted to a partner with Sampson McPhee.

RACKELLE AWAD is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.

GRAHAM HEADLEY is an associate with Kornfeld LLP.

MEGHAN BEERS is an associate with Cox & Palmer’s Saint John office.

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.

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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ALICIA LANDERS is an associate with Valent Legal Personal Injury Lawyers.

TIEGAN SCOTT is an associate with Stewart McKelvey.

DR. ARIS LAVRANOS is the CEO of Acuity Medical Law.

KATHERINE STEVENSON is practicing with Ritch, Williams & Richards.

EMMA LUTZ is a staff lawyer with Nova Scotia Legal Aid.

BENJAMIN TALLON is practicing with NOVA Injury Law.

DANIEL MALLOV is a labour standards officer with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.

EMMA VOSSEN is an associate with BOYNECLARKE LLP. KATIE WALKER is an associate with Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP.

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.

52 |

H E A R S AY

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

Divinity School, led interfaith

developed the 1993 Hague

Caule and Matthews. Alan was

on October 20, 2024, at the age

dialogues and served as a Baptist

Convention on Intercountry

deeply involved in legal aid,

of 104. Born in Lower LaHave,

representative on national and

Adoption. For his international

serving on the Law Society

N.S., he enlisted with the West

ecumenical boards. A passionate

legal contributions, he was

committee that assessed the

Nova Scotia Regiment at age 20

preacher and speaker, Donald

appointed Commander of the

implementation of a legal aid

and served with distinction in

ministered across Canada and

Order of Orange-Nassau by the

program in Newfoundland and

WWII, where he was mentioned

the U.S., including a return to

Netherlands in 2004. A man of

later as chairperson of the Legal

in dispatches for his service in

his home church in Chipman as

wide-ranging passions, Brad

Aid Commission. An avid reader

Sicily and for being wounded

interim pastor.

balanced a distinguished legal

with a passion for military history

career with life on Burritt Farm in

(especially of WWI and WWII), he

Ontario, where he raised livestock,

was also a keen salmon fisherman

sailed, ran, rowed, flew his own

and golfer. He enjoyed spending

plane and pursued history with

winters in Florida and shared his

enthusiasm.

love of classical music, history

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

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

and his cherished 1960 Mark 2

a long and fulfilling legal career

MARVIN WENTZELL (’56) died

as a partner at Osler, Hoskin and

on December 11, 2024, at the

Harcourt. In 1966, he and his wife

age of 92. Born in Milton, N.S.,

WILLIAM (BILL) HENRY

Nancy settled in Oakville, Ont.,

he served in the Canadian Armed

RICHARD CHARLES (’58) died

where they raised their family

Forces before completing degrees

on April 26, 2025, at the age of

and became active members of

in arts and science at Acadia

97. Bill was born in Montreal,

the community. A devoted bridge

University and law at Dalhousie.

Que. A loving husband and father

player, Tom played regularly at

After articling in Regina, Sask.,

with a great sense of humour, he

the Oakville Club and with the

he practiced law in Yorkton for

cherished time spent with family

St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church

over three decades, primarily

and friends at the cottage in

bridge league. A proud Bluenoser,

as a sole practitioner. Deeply

Boutilier’s Point, N.S., overlooking

he cherished summers at the

committed to community service,

Cowlow Cove. His passion for

bridge.

family cottage on Nova Scotia’s

he served three terms on Yorkton

aviation began in high school with

South Shore, which remained

City Council and was active in

the Air Cadets and continued

DONALD J. BURKE (’54) died on

a source of joy and connection

numerous organizations

through his service in Germany

January 4, 2024, at the age of 92.

throughout his life.

including the Jaycees, Lions Club,

with the U.S. Air Force during the

Shriners, Masons and the local

Korean Conflict, his construction

school board. He also served on

of model airplanes and earning a

the board of St. Andrew’s United

license to pilot ultralight planes in

Church. He was appointed Queen’s

the 1980s. Bill earned a Bachelor

Counsel in 1982 and received

of Arts from Sir George Williams

the Canadian Bar Association’s

College (1949), a Bachelor of

Provincial Community Service

Laws from Dalhousie University

Award in 1998. After retiring,

(1958), a Master of Laws from

he lived in Kelowna and later in

Harvard University (1960) and a

Medicine Hat.

second Master of Laws from the

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

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

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

ALAN FRANCIS CAULE (’57)

1958 to 1986, retiring as chief

died on August 31, 2024, at the

general counsel. He later joined

age of 92. Born in Newfoundland,

Stikeman Elliott LLP, specializing

he graduated from Memorial

in arbitration and international

University before earning his law

law. Brad represented Canada

degree at Dalhousie University.

for more than 35 years at the

He practiced law in St. John’s

Hague Conference and Unidroit

from 1958 to 1992, specializing

(International Institute for the

in insurance and marine law with

Unification of Private Law),

several prominent firms including

chairing the commission that

Ryan, Caule and Gushue, and

Jaguar with those around him.

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

VOLUME 46 · 2025

| 53

professor at the University of

In retirement, he remained active

THOMAS MICHAEL SCOTT (’61)

prison ministry and housing

Victoria during its inaugural year

in community life, sports and

died on January 11, 2024, at the

initiatives, and served as

(1975–1976) and at Vrije University

enjoyed time at the family cabin.

age of 87. Born in Montreal, Que.,

President of the Toronto Central

he spent his early years in Verdun

Council. He also served on several

before moving to Sydney, N.S.,

charitable boards.

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

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

and reform.

man and a great storyteller with a

GEOFFREY LEONARD STEELE

Montreal Canadiens and Toronto

(’58) died on July 22, 2024, at the

Blue Jays.

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

deep love of sports, especially the

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).

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

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

FRANK BOSCARIOL (’63) died

2019, he received the J. Michael

on January 23, 2025, at the age

MacDonald Access to Justice

of 87. Born in Windsor, Ont., he

Award from the Canadian Bar

graduated from Assumption

Association.

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.

awarded the Queen Elizabeth II

Vincent de Paul, including its

H E A R S AY

R. GORDON MURRAY (’63)

well into his 80s.

Fame. For his service, he was Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

54 |

CYRIL T. MULLANE (’59) died on

following his retirement. In

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

degree at Dalhousie University.

EDWARD PIERCE POOLE (’65)

Laws from Dalhousie University

lasting memories with loved ones

In 1964, he moved to Edmonton,

died on March 3, 2025, at the age

and a Master of Comparative

and friends.

Alta., and joined the law firm of

of 89 in Delta, B.C. Earning his

Law from Southern Methodist

Bloor and Sim. In 1976, he was

Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie

University. He began his legal

appointed to the Provincial Court

University, he practiced law in

career in family law before

of Alberta where he served as a

Corner Brook, Nfld., from 1966

shifting to corporate and

judge in the Criminal Court for

to 2000, and was appointed

commercial practice, spending

35 years. Outside of his legal

Queen’s Counsel in 1978. He

most of his 50-year career at

career, Ralph was an avid golfer

served on the Board of Regents

McInnes Cooper. Paul was widely

and tennis player, and he enjoyed

of Memorial University, as a

respected for both his legal skill

many vacations in Maui, Hawaii.

director of the Western Memorial

and his collegial nature, known

Regional Hospital Corporation

equally for his professionalism

and as chairman of the Board of

and sense of humour. He served

Governors of the Marine Institute

as director and vice chair of

of Newfoundland and Labrador.

the Halifax Port Corporation,

Edward’s most cherished

presenting internationally and

moments were spent sailing the

remaining engaged in port

waters of Notre Dame Bay with

matters throughout his life. Paul

family and friends aboard the

had a wide range of interests: he

Primrose II and as skipper of his

scuba dived, played racquetball,

sloop Shamrock II.

played the saxophone and was a

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

RICHARD (BRIAN) NOONAN

admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar

(’64) died on March 24, 2024,

in 1965. He served as a sub-

at the age of 86. He was born

lieutenant in the Royal Canadian

in Regina, Sask., and attended

Naval Reserve and began his

Campion College before

legal career with the federal

earning his Bachelor of Arts

government before moving to

at St. Dunstan’s University in

Fredericton, N.B., and later New

Charlottetown, P.E.I. He received

Glasgow, N.S., where he co-

his Bachelor of Laws from

founded a law firm. Appointed

Dalhousie University, where

to the Family Court of Nova

he served as president of the

JOHN VINCENT (VINCE) CAIN

Scotia in 1982-1983, Bob retired

Law Students’ Society. Brian

(’66) passed away peacefully

in 2003 but continued to serve

practiced law in Brooks, Alta.,

in Victoria, B.C., on August 20,

in a supernumerary capacity. He

and Kelowna and Summerland,

2024, at the age of 91. Born in

loved travelling the world with

B.C., before becoming a family

Port Alberni, B.C., Vince left

his wife Doreen, spending much

mediator and chairing Federal

home at the age of 12 to attend

of his retirement on cruise ships.

Government Disability Review

Vancouver College. He continued

Known for his infectious humour,

Tribunals. An early proponent of

his education at Gonzaga Prep

he was the life of any gathering

alternative dispute resolution,

School and Seattle University in

and cherished time with family

Brian preferred this method

the 1950s. He joined the RCMP in

GERALD (GERRY) NEMIROFF

and friends. Bob enjoyed curling

over the traditional adversarial

1955, where he was recognized

(’68) died on June 6, 2024, at

and golf at Abercrombie Golf

approach, earning a reputation

for his potential and sent to

the age of 82. Gerry was born

Club and courses worldwide,

as a peacemaker. He was deeply

Dalhousie University to pursue

and raised in Montreal, Que. He

including St. Andrews. He was

involved in his communities,

his law degree. He enjoyed a

earned multiple degrees including

dedicated to public service,

serving in the Brooks Kinsmen

distinguished 25-year career in

a Bachelor of Science and

working as a policy advisor in

Club, Summerland Rotary

the RCMP, working closely with

Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill

the Joe Clark administration and

Club and as a trusted host and

various American federal law

University, a Bachelor of Arts from

supporting numerous community

organizer in the student exchange

agencies. He retired in 1980 with

Concordia University and both a

organizations, including Summer

program. He also served on the

the rank of chief superintendent.

Bachelor of Laws and Master of

Street Industries and Big Brothers

Brooks Town Council, the Brooks

Vince and his family moved to

Laws from Dalhousie University.

Big Sisters.

and Summerland Chambers of

Victoria, where he worked for

Professor Nemiroff taught at the

Commerce and the Holy Child

the Solicitor General of British

University of Manitoba from 1968

Catholic Church Parish Council. In

Columbia in the Corrections

to 2008 and served as associate

1988, he was named Summerland

Branch and later served as chief

dean from 1977 to 1982. He was

Man of the Year. Proud of his

coroner of British Columbia for

called to the Manitoba Bar in

over 40 years of sobriety, Brian

10 years until his final retirement

1972, the same year he received

credited much of his success

in 1995.

the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award

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

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.

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

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.

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

VOLUME 46 · 2025

| 55

aspects of the legal profession

for numerous projects including

establish the family-run firm

DAVID WALLACE (’71) died on

and was admired by colleagues

Main Place in Fredericton.

McEniry & McEniry. Beginning

February 26, 2025, at the age

and students alike. He was a

Deeply committed to community

as a general practitioner,

of 76. Born in Halifax, N.S., he

passionate sports fan, especially

service, he served as president

Murray later focused on estate

grew up in New Glasgow, playing

of baseball. Gerry was known for

of the United Way Forever Fund,

litigation, earning a reputation

street hockey and exploring

his sharp mind, detailed analysis

Fredericton Rotary Club, the

for integrity, compassion and

with friends. He later lived in

and love of great conversation.

Red Cross (Fredericton branch)

tireless dedication to his clients.

Windsor, Ont., before returning

and the Chamber of Commerce,

Known for his intellect, wisdom

to New Glasgow to graduate

from which he received the

and unwavering loyalty, he was a

high school as valedictorian in

Distinguished Citizen Award.

trusted advisor and a steadfast

1965. He earned a Bachelor of

He was a founding member

presence for those facing life’s

Science from St. Francis Xavier

of the Main Street Business

most difficult challenges. Deeply

University and graduated from

Development Association and

proud of his Irish heritage and

Dalhousie University with his law

served on boards including the

family roots, he lived with great

degree. David practiced law in

Fredericton Airport Authority

energy and purpose, often rising

New Glasgow for 46 years. He

and Theatre New Brunswick. Bill

before dawn to begin his workday.

served on several Nova Scotia

enjoyed an active life and found

He found peace in watching

Barristers’ Society committees

great joy in travelling, boating,

the sunrise over Lake Ontario

and received the Schulich

hiking, golfing and spending time

and joy in connecting daily with

School of Law’s Weldon Award

with his grandchildren and many

his closest friends. Murray was

for Unselfish Public Service in

friends.

happiest when surrounded by

2012. He was deeply committed

loved ones at lively gatherings,

to his community, especially

where he shared his warmth,

Summer Street Industries where

insight and deep affection for

he served as president at age 23

those closest to him.

and remained involved for more

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,

RICHARD (DICK) RAFUSE

Ed, and began a life filled with

(’70) died on March 17, 2025,

adventure, laughter and lifelong

at the age of 79. A respected

friends. Mary was called to the

business and insolvency lawyer,

Newfoundland Bar in 1968,

Dick spent 50 years in practice

RAYMOND (BERT)

becoming the first woman to be

with Kitz Matheson, Patterson

PLAMONDON (’71) died on

admitted since 1955. She articled

Palmer and ultimately became

April 1, 2025, at the age of 88.

with the Justice Department

partner with McInnes Cooper.

Born in Lac-Édouard, Que.,

and was appointed to the newly

Known for his sound judgment

Bert earned a Bachelor of

created Family Division of the

and personable style, he attracted

Arts from Université Laval, a

Supreme Court in 1985. Mary

major institutional clients whose

Bachelor of Engineering from

cherished her life on the Pine

ties to the firm continue today.

St. Dunstan’s University and

Line, and enjoyed activities like

He was a generous mentor

Nova Scotia Technical College

skidooing, camping, cross-country

and long-serving member of

and later completed his law

skiing and Sunday night boil-ups

firm management committees,

degree at Dalhousie University.

on the pond. She lived a fortunate

contributing to the development

He began his legal career as

life, surrounded by wonderful

of three leading Atlantic Canadian

a Crown Prosecutor and was

neighbours, friends and a loving

firms. Dick was also a dedicated

later appointed to the Bench as

family.

sailor and longtime member

a Provincial Court judge, where

of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht

he served with distinction until

Squadron, serving as Commodore

his retirement. Known for his

in the mid-1980s during a

integrity, intellect and public

period of expansion. He led key

service, he was deeply respected

fundraising efforts supporting

within the legal community. He

MICHAEL ROCHE (’72) died

junior and Paralympic sailing and

was an avid outdoorsman who

on November 26, 2024, at the

the Marblehead races. In January

found joy in the natural beauty of

age of 79. Michael was born in

2025, he was honoured as a life

Prince Edward Island. He spent

Montreal, Que. He graduated from

member of the Squadron.

many happy hours fishing local

Regina High School in Corner

rivers, walking forest trails with

Brook, Nfld., and went on to study

his dogs and occasionally hunting

at McGill University, Memorial

with friends across P.E.I. and Nova

University and Dalhousie

Scotia.

University. Michael practiced law

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,

56 |

specializing in corporate and

MURRAY MCENIRY (’71) died

commercial law. As a successful

on February 9, 2025, at the

entrepreneur and real estate

age of 79. He was called to

developer, Bill was responsible

the Bar in 1973 and went on to

H E A R S AY

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.

for most of his career in Corner

Brook, first as a lawyer, then as

was known for his intelligence,

GORDON JOHNSON (’75) died

as a part-time instructor at Saint

a Crown Prosecutor and later as

warmth and dedication to his

on March 1, 2025, at the age of

Mary’s University, a role she truly

a Provincial Court judge. He was

work and community. Deeply

74. Born in New Glasgow, N.S.,

cherished. Known for her love

Newfoundland’s first bilingual

engaged in Jewish communal

Gordon moved to Halifax in his

of animals, Della’s bond with her

judge. In retirement, he moved to

life, Michael served as president

early years. A highly intelligent

dogs was especially dear to her.

Fall River and later to Beaverbank,

of the Atlantic Jewish Council

and accomplished individual,

N.S., where he enjoyed cooking,

for six years, extending his term

he excelled throughout his

reading and participating in the

out of commitment during a time

education, earning numerous

local theatre group in Sackville.

of leadership transition. He also

scholarships and graduating

volunteered with the Progress

with a Bachelor of Commerce,

Club and political organizations in

followed by his law degree from

his earlier years. Passionate about

Dalhousie University. In 1976, he

politics, especially American

became a member of the Nova

political history, he remained

Scotia Barristers’ Society, working

a voracious reader and a keen

with the Law Reform Commission

observer of current events. In

and the Nova Scotia Legislative

2023, he relocated from Halifax

Council for 35 years. He furthered

to Toronto where he rekindled

his education with a Master of

friendships and found joy in

Business Administration and

twice-weekly golf outings with

was appointed Queen’s Counsel

new companions. Known for his

in 1999. He was a dedicated

kindness, wit and generosity,

educator, teaching Commercial

Michael left a lasting impression

Law at Saint Mary’s University

on all who knew him.

for 30 years and Legislation

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

DAVID ARLINGTON COPP (’75)

became solicitor for Sydney

died on December 14, 2024, at the

Mines until its amalgamation.

age of 76. Born in Sydney, N.S.,

In 2023, he marked 50 years in

David moved to Saint John, N.B.,

legal practice. Bill had a strong

to do his Bachelor of Engineering,

focus on criminal law and was

then relocated to Halifax to earn

widely respected for his fearless

a Master of Chemical Engineering

advocacy, legal creativity and

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

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

Barristers’ Society.

appointed a judge of the CPP

from the Technical University of

DELLA FRANCES RISLEY (’75)

complex cases across Canada

articulate courtroom presence. He

Nova Scotia and a Bachelor of

died on January 16, 2025, at

until her retirement from law in

served on the boards of Miners

Laws from Dalhousie University.

the age of 75. Born in Halifax,

2016. Throughout her career she

Memorial Manor, the Sydney

He practiced Intellectual Property

N.S., her life was defined by

was active in the Nova Scotia

Mines Credit Union and the

(IP) law and taught IP and Law

her deep compassion, wisdom

Barristers’ Society and several

Children’s Aid Society. He was

for Engineers at Dalhousie

and unwavering strength. She

civic organizations, and supported

also an honorary member and

University. David was particularly

was a beloved aunt, devoted

the arts through her involvement

deputy chief of the Sydney Mines

proud of successfully defending

friend and accomplished lawyer

with Symphony Nova Scotia,

Fire Department and was active

Glenora Distillery in a landmark

whose legacy of kindness will

Neptune Theatre and the Theatre

in the Knights of Columbus, the

case against the Scotch Whisky

be cherished forever. Della’s

Arts Guild.

Royal Canadian Legion and the

Association. A passionate sailor,

family was her greatest joy. She

Sydney Mines Sportsman Club.

he was the captain of Sequester

played a steadfast role in the

and a long-term member of

lives of her niece, nephews and

the Armdale Yacht Club. He

great-nephew, always offering

also served as a Scout leader,

guidance and encouragement. A

practiced Tai Chi and Aikido

graduate of Dalhousie University,

and was an avid motorcyclist,

Della specialized in labour

enjoying his Harley Davidson

law, spending many years in

Sportster. David is remembered

Vancouver before returning

for his adventurous spirit and

to Halifax to continue her

deep commitment to both his

distinguished career with the

profession and his many passions.

Halifax Regional Municipality.

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

She also shared her expertise

Tribunal, where she adjudicated

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

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| 57

she continued to distinguish

DENNIS WILLIAM THEMAN

career in Summerside, where

the people he worked with, Mark

herself as a skilled and principled

(’77) died on October 16, 2024, at

he practiced for 45 years. He

balanced a successful business

advocate. Known for her deep

the age of 74. Born and raised in

was appointed Queen’s Counsel

life with devotion to his family and

commitment to the ideals of the

Bedford, N.S., Dennis developed

in recognition of his dedication

community.

legal profession, she served the

an early love for the outdoors,

to the legal profession and

Law Society of British Columbia

sports and learning. He earned

the high standard of his work.

with distinction as a bencher and

a Bachelor of Arts and then

Known for his integrity, warmth

was appointed Queen’s Counsel in

his law degree from Dalhousie

and professionalism, Ken built

2000. Respected for her intellect,

University. His legal career began

enduring relationships with his

integrity and professionalism,

with Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

clients and colleagues and was

Jo Ann was also known for her

and Nova Scotia Legal Aid, where

deeply respected. He valued the

warmth, generosity and keen

he served clients in Halifax and

camaraderie and support of the

sense of humour.

Truro with a deep commitment

legal community and took great

to justice. A passionate advocate

pride in the many friendships he

for civil liberties, he served as

formed throughout his long and

vice president of the Nova Scotia

distinguished career.

she returned to Fredericton with

MARK EDWARD MACDONALD

family business, opening a legal

(’80) died on May 5, 2024,

practice with her brother David.

in Halifax, N.S., at the age of

Over the course of more than 40

67. Born in Charlottetown and

years, Barbara built a respected

raised in Parkdale, P.E.I., Mark

legal career and was known

completed a Bachelor of Science

for her fairness, integrity and

in Engineering from Dalhousie

compassionate approach to law.

in 1977 and then his law degree.

She was also actively involved in

He articled at Stewart McKelvey

her community, volunteering with

and practiced with the firm

organizations like the Fredericton

from 1981 to 2003, focusing on

Heritage Trust.

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

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

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

principles and deep compassion.

service to the Port of Halifax, the

later worked with Wine Visions,

JOHN KENNETH (KEN) CLARK

Limited, Acadian Seaplants and

combining his love of wine and

(’78) died on March 28, 2024, at

the Murphy Hospitality Group. He

travel. He will be remembered

the age of 69. Born and raised in

also sat on the Board of Interferry,

for his integrity, wit, intellectual

Kensington, P.E.I., Ken graduated

a global ferry industry leadership

depth and for being a devoted

from Dalhousie University with his

entity. Known for his integrity,

family man.

law degree and began his legal

leadership and deep respect for

Forces Atlantic newspaper. He

58 |

Civil Liberties Association and as

H E A R S AY

Bragg Group, Scotia Investments

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, her husband, Paul, and joined the

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

of the Women in the Law group.

Systemhouse, MCI Systemhouse,

resident Michael O’Connell.

who knew and loved him.

Christine’s peers recognized her

EDS Systemhouse, EDS Canada

Linda’s greatest joy was her

outstanding scholarship and

Inc. and EDS Canada Corporate.

grandchildren. Whether at soccer

contribution to the law school by

In retirement Penny remained

fields, hockey rinks, basketball

awarding her one of the two top

active in her community,

courts, swimming pools or art

annual awards. She clerked at

volunteering with the Canadian

galleries across North America,

the Supreme Court of Canada — a

Institute of Child Health and the

she was always their biggest fan.

prestigious start that could have

Ottawa Humane Society where

led her anywhere. She chose to

she became a dedicated foster

return to Smithers. For the first

caregiver to cats with special

decade of her career, Christine

needs. Known for her love of

practiced criminal defense and

nature and animals, her care and

family law, often working on

commitment extended to all who

Indigenous and environmental

knew her.

Dalhousie University before

LINDA LORRAINE ZAMBOLIN

built a distinguished 22-year

(’87) died on September 23,

career at the downtown Toronto

2024, at the age of 78. Linda

Crown Attorney’s office. Known

began her career as a dental

for his honesty, compassion and

hygienist after graduating from

unwavering sense of justice, Mike

Dalhousie University in 1966. In

was respected for his ability to

1984, with three young children,

connect with people across the

she returned to Dalhousie to

legal system which extended

study law and went on to practice

to victims and accused persons

for over 20 years in Dartmouth

to colleagues and courtroom

and Halifax. She worked in private

staff. A strong advocate for

practice, chaired the Workers’

fairness, he championed a

Compensation Appeals Board and

united and inclusive Canada.

concluded her legal career with

In 2020, Mike was appointed

the Workers’ Advisor Program

to the Ontario Court of Justice,

in 2012. She argued landmark

where his empathy, intelligence

workers’ compensation cases

and integrity left a deep and

and was known for her sharp

lasting impression in his brief

mind, tireless work ethic and

judicial career. He was admired

deep compassion, especially for

for his leadership, humour and

life was too short, it was very rich.

the underdog. She was a valued

courage, and known for fostering

mentor to many junior lawyers

a profound sense of trust and

faith. He was a long-time member

PENNY ANN THERESA ROSS

and colleagues. In 1986, Linda

loyalty among those with whom

of the Cape Breton Chorale and

(’85) died on August 5, 2024,

was hired as a law student by the

he worked. He was deeply

was known for his tenor voice. He

at the age of 74. Born in Arvida,

Nova Scotia Canadian Association

committed to the pursuit of

also enjoyed travel, skiing and

Que., Penny completed her early

for Community Living to support

justice and brought warmth and

music. Above all, he was a devoted

education in Montreal before

a long-standing advocacy effort.

humanity to the courtroom. He

husband, father and friend,

earning a Bachelor of Arts from

Her research and position paper,

is remembered for his generous

remembered for his strength,

St. Francis Xavier University

presented to the Provincial

spirit, brilliant mind and joyful

kindness and unwavering

and a Bachelor of Education

Ombudsman, helped secure

presence, and for the deep love

optimism.

from Saint Mary’s University.

government funding to transition

he shared with his partner, Wade,

She later obtained a Master of

nine individuals from institutions

and their beloved dog Jaida.

Education from McGill University

into community housing. This

and went on to earn her law

work led to the formation of

degree from Dalhousie University.

Gateway Homes Incorporated,

Admitted to the Law Society of

where Linda was a founding

Upper Canada in 1987, she had

board member and dedicated

a diverse and accomplished

volunteer for 37 years. She served

legal career, holding positions

as chair, vice chair, secretary,

with Telesat Canada, Hewlett-

and committee member, and

Packard (Canada) Co., SHL

was also an advocate for original

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

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

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

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 moving to Toronto, where he

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

VOLUME 46 · 2025

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Schulich School of Law. Justine

father and husband. His legacy

had a passion for helping others

of unwavering advocacy for

and enjoyed working in the legal

justice and his profound love

field in Halifax for the last couple

for his family will forever be

of years. She liked a good debate

remembered.

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

CHUKWUMA CHUKWUKA (’24) died on March 26, 2025, at the age of 26. Born in Port

with her nephews.

Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria,

HARRINGTON (HARRY)

Elizabeth High School in

FITZGERALD CRITCHLEY (’22)

Enugu in 2014 before moving

died on February 21, 2025, at the

to Charlottetown, P.E.I., where

age of 32. Born in Toronto, Harry

he earned a degree in political

displayed exceptional intellect

science from the University of

and discipline from an early

Prince Edward Island. He later

age, excelling academically and

moved to Halifax to obtain his

as a competitive swimmer. He

Juris Doctor at the Schulich

graduated from the University

School of Law. David’s path

of King’s College in 2015

was shaped by dedication and

with the University Medal in

a wide range of experiences,

Contemporary Studies. During

from working on Brackley Farm

his time at King’s, he co-founded

to legal roles with EW Scott

the Burnside Education Project,

Dickieson (P.E.I.), the Armour

introducing a community-

Group (N.S.), Cambridge LLP (Ont.)

based humanities curriculum

and Monardo Estate Law (Ont.).

to Dartmouth’s Burnside jail. In

He earned numerous academic

2017, he co-founded the East

accolades and was committed

Coast Prison Justice Society

to community service, including

(ECPJS), advocating for the

pro-bono work with the Dalhousie

rights of incarcerated individuals

Wills Project and serving on the

and improving jail conditions.

board of the Dalhousie Black Law

After completing a master's in

Students’ Association. He was

philosophy and law at Queen’s

passionate about cooking, music

University in 2018, Harry returned

(especially Fela Kuti), sports,

to ECPJS as vice-chair and

gaming and live comedy. He was

co-chair, contributing to policy

also an avid athlete, participating

changes on police accountability

in both the Halifax Bluenose and

and civil oversight of correctional

Toronto Waterfront Marathons in

facilities. He also served on

2023. David will be remembered

the board of the Elizabeth Fry

for his incredible work ethic,

Society of Mainland Nova Scotia,

kind heart, calming presence

expanding services to women

and sharp wit. He inspired those

in the justice system. Harry was

around him through humility,

awarded the Justice Abella Prize

discipline and quiet excellence.

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

60 |

DAVID COVENANT

H E A R S AY

he graduated from Mea Mater

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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