Profiles

When David Tupper takes office as Treasurer of The Law Society of British Columbia in January, 1987, he will be following in the footsteps of his father, Reginald Hibbert Tupper, Q.C. who was Treasurer for two years from 1949 to 1951, and his grandfather, Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper, Q.C., who was Treasurer in the nineteen twenties. David's great-grandfather, also Sir Charles Tupper, being a physician rather than a lawyer, was not eligible to be Treasurer and so contented himself by serving as a Founder of Confederation and as Prime Minister of Canada…

Edward Thomas Cantell, QC (1918 – 2007) was always very proud of his West Coast roots. Born in New Westminster, BC, Mr. Cantell naturally entered UBC after graduating high school. However, the young man’s studies were interrupted by World War II, whereupon he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, trained as a navigator and completed numerous tours of duty over Europe. Upon his safe return, Mr. Cantell applied and was admitted into the newly created Faculty of Law at UBC.

Gordon Martin graduated as a member of the first class of the law school at UBC, completed his articles and appeared to fulfill all of the requirements for admission to the bar of British Columbia. His application was controversially rejected by the Law Society of British Columbia “based on the finding that [he was] a communist and an adherent to and a supporter of communist doctrines and teachings..." This ostensibly violated the requirement of being "a person of good repute within the meaning of the Legal Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1936, c. 149".

“I was born in 1922, when you had to have cranks to start the cars - some of us have remained cranky ever since. I was born in Saskatchewan in a snow storm ... My father was a general manager there. He remained in the prairies until about 1925. Immediately prior to his departure from Saskatchewan, he was involved in the bank hold up," begins Blair Baillie ...

In 1946, George McAllister joins the UBC Faculty of Law, after having worked at the Institute of Public Administration at Dalhousie. He taught labour law, which was a relatively new subject in Canadian schools at the time. 

George F. Curtis (1906-2005) served as Dean from the founding of the law school at UBC in 1945 until his retirement in 1971. He remained actively involved in the law school, addressing every incoming class and continuing to meet with students, faculty and staff throughout his retirement. He was an unfailingly positive presence at UBC, and shared his joy with faculty, staff, students and alumni to the end.

“I know of no Canadian who has served his country in war and peace with greater distinction and more unselfishly” – Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson

Sherwood Lett was a decorated veteran of the First and Second World War, Chancellor of UBC from 1951 to 1957, Chief Justice of the BC Supreme Court from 1955 to 1963, and Chief Justice of the BC Court of Appeal for a short time before his death in 1964. While Chancellor of UBC, he also served as a Canadian representative on the International Control Commission overseeing the withdrawal of French forces from North Vietnam.

Thomas Woods, a recently retired judge from the BC Provincial Court, has had a multifaceted career that extends beyond the courtroom. After graduating from UBC Law in 1987, Judge Woods began writing under the pen name P.W. Bridgman, and today is an author of both short fiction and poetry. He also served as editor of the Advocate for 17 years. 

In this Q&A, Thomas reflects on his extraordinary career, sharing insights from his time as a law student at UBC, his tenure on the bench, and his latest book. 

What started as road trip to Alaska turned into a lifelong career in the Canadian North for retired Nunavut Chief Justice Robert Kilpatrick. Justice Kilpatrick fondly looks back on the adventure he embarked on following his graduation from law school at UBC in 1980. He reflects on the emerald lakes, towering mountains, friendly people, and all that inspired him to build his career in the “land of the midnight sun.”

“I used to explain to my kids that I worked with the police but I wasn’t a police officer,” says Allard Law alum Sean Hedley (JD ’ 15). “Now I explain that I work for the airplane company but I’m not a pilot. They consider both occupations equally unexciting.”

Allard Law alum Aleem Bharmal, KC (LLB '94) began his legal career as an articling student at one of Vancouver’s oldest law firms. But his experience with overt racism by one of the lawyers at that firm and the lack of any real action from the Law Society in addressing it, led him to rethink his career plans.

Nancy Scott always knew she wanted an international career. After completing her law degree at Allard Law and a year of practicing law in Vancouver, she found herself wanting to try something new. “The more international the environment, the more I thrive, and that’s why I wanted to move to London,” says Scott.

As a child, Robin Gage (LLB ’01) wasn’t entirely sure what a lawyer did, but she knew she wanted to be one. 

Today, Robin’s legal practice is driven by a passion for equality and social justice. As Managing Partner at Arvay Finlay, she focuses on areas of public law including environmental, Aboriginal, human rights, administrative and employment law.