A Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient, Ted Hawthorne has made tremendous contributions to his community, including his law firm Hawthorne, Piggott & Company where he served as a partner for nearly 50 years. He has served as a president, chairman, director and trustee in many non-profit charities including, the Columbus Long Term Care Society, the Veterans’ Care Facility, the Royal City Youth Ballet Company Society, The BC Regiment (DCO) Charitable Trust and the Army Cadet League of Canada.
We recently had the chance to ask Mr. Hawthorne a few questions about this career and community work.
You graduated from law school in 1971. Looking back now, what would you say was the highlight of your time here?
My attendance at Law School was quite challenging in that my wife and I had three children at the time and we both worked (she was a secretary and I worked at a Liquor Store). I found the coordination of daycare and classes was often quite difficult and my wife Gayle was hospitalized for some time after the birth of our third child during my graduating year. Accordingly, my graduation became the highlight of “our” time at Law School.
If you could go back and give your law student-self one piece of advice, what would it be?
I never thought about the extended meaning of UBC’s motto, Tuum Est, until I was in Law School and soon realized that, in fact, you are indeed on your own and it is entirely up to you! I was quite naïve in those days.
How did you originally become involved with the military and the British Columbia Regiment (DCO)?
I joined Cadets in 1960 and The British Columbia Regiment (DCO) (the “BCRs”), an Armoured Reserve Unit in Vancouver, in 1961. These were quite formative years for me. As my trade was a driver, I drove my first tank at 16 years old which had a lasting impression on me. Years later, I returned to assist the BCRs regarding certain legal matters requiring attention and later become President of the Veterans’ Association and then became the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, on appointment by the Minister of National Defense (see attached List of Activities).
How do you think your involvement with DCO influenced your legal practice? Or alternatively, did your legal education influence your subsequent roles within the DCO?
As a student, I was given all files relating to Not for Profits (BC and Federal), Charities and corporate governance issues as the called lawyers could not bill on them. I became reasonably proficient at this pro bono aspect of the practice of law and over the years it has expanded to a very large and diverse part of my community support practice (care facilities, numerous support programs for soldiers, veterans’ rights, pensions and recognition, cadets, ballet companies, art gallery, offender programs and civilian and military scholarships/bursaries).
With so many unique and exciting ventures on the go, what would you say has been the highlight of your career to date?
The National and Provincial Awards recognition of my firm by the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Department of National Defense) in 2017. Nationally, the firm was recognized with an Award for Support to the Reserve Force and the Most Supportive Employer in BC and Provincially, an Award of Excellence presented by the then Lieutenant Governor of the Province, the Honorable Judith Guichon, OBC.
What do you feel is the most challenging thing you’ve faced in your career to date?
The start of my own firm in 1973. I had been called just over one year and my partner George Piggott was recently just called. Our new legal secretary was my wife Gayle who worked with the firm for 30 years as a first-class legal secretary, accountant and practice manager.
Outside of your current professional roles, what do you like to do in your free time?
Enjoy visiting with my family, our grandchildren and great grandchildren, reading and travel (Gayle likes to cruise so we have cruised on 45 voyages all over the world).
In an alternate universe, if you had not pursued law, what would be your dream career?
Wheat Farmer.
Is there anything you would like people to know about you?
The knowledge I gained at Law School, in my articles and in my early years of practice has enabled me to provide a much-needed service to my community (civilian and military) since 1971. Ultimately, I would say that it defines who I am. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I also feel that my involvement in the community over these many years has contributed to the ultimate success of the firm today (it has not helped our billings though!). Many of the firm’s clients respect and support my work for our soldiers, veterans and cadets and other community initiatives I have become involved in. The unconditional support of my wife of 53 years in my civilian and military activities and the excellent support received from the staff and lawyers of the firm have made all such activities a reality. Of minor note, I was a contributor to The UBC Law Review in 1971.