Gilbert Schmitt, QC Receives Goyer Award
Vancouver lawyer Gilbert R. Schmitt, QC was awarded the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch’s highest award at the November 1998 Bench and Bar dinner.

In nominating Mr. Schmitt for the Goyer Award, colleagues recounted his 52 years of academic contributions as a teacher of law at both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of British Columbia; his prolific contributions to legal writing and jurisprudence; his Canadian Bar Association involvement at both the provincial and national levels; his service on the BC Attorney General’s Committee to revise the Supreme Court Rules (1974-76); his service as a Bencher of the Law Society (1974-77); and his contributions as a private bar lawyer from more than 50 years.

The Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award For Distinguished Service was created to recognize exceptional contributions to the legal profession, to jurisprudence or to the law in British Columbia. The award was established in 1992 in memory of Georges A. Goyer, QC, a respected member of the BC Branch who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.


Lawyer in the Community: Fred W Hansford
It is Glasgow, 1997, and the Abbotsford Police Pipe Band is competing in the World Championships in Scotland. Among the police are members of the Bar, and they too pipe with vigor and pride. One such piper is Fred W. Hansford (78) of the Chilliwack firm of Thome, Jesperson, Hansford.

A fellow lawyer and piper in the New Westminster Bar Association All Star Pipe Band, Hal Senyk of Surrey, says that piping “has been part of our lives since we were very young.” Fred has been piping since 1971, playing in numerous bands at many public events, including local parades, functions, and tattoos.

In 1998, Fred became the Pipe Major of the Chilliwack and District Pipe Band. Classified as a Grade 4 band, the group participates in many parades and community functions in the Upper Fraser Valley. As Pipe Major, Fred is responsible for the musical direction of the band, and is the band’s “conductor” and instructor. The band practices twice per week, and Fred teaches piping to band members and beginning pipers of all ages. Fred’s piping activities are a service to the community says Hal, because “any kind of music or arts enriches our community.”

Fred’s enthusiasm for piping is shared by his wife, Laurel, and their children. When speculating on Fred’s future piping activities, Hal laughs and says, “It’s a bad disease. I expect Fred will be actively involved for a long time to come.”

We’re looking for more outstanding lawyers
If you know of a lawyer who has made a vital contribution to life in his or her community beyond the law, please call BarTalk Editor Caroline Nevin at 604.687.3404 or, if you’re outside the Lower Mainland, call our toll free line at 1.888.687.3404.

These articles were published in the February 1999 issue of BarTalk. © 1999 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.