Debra Van Ginkel, QC Mentoring Award 2010/2011

The CBABC Women Lawyers Forum (WLF) is pleased to announce that the recipient of our second WLF Debra Van Ginkel, QC Mentoring Award is Joan M. Gordon. The Mentoring Award is named in honour and memory of Debra Van Ginkel, QC who founded the WLF Mentoring Program in 2003 and served as WLF Chair from 2007 to 2008.

The Women Lawyers Forum congratulates and thanks Joan and all the other Award nominees and the mentors in the WLF Mentoring Program for their continued support and time dedicated to helping women in law in British Columbia.



L-R: Joan Gordon and Deborah Taylor



L-R: Murray Robinson, The Honourable Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzie and Joan Gordon

Joan has spent countless hours mentoring women in law both formally and informally and is noted by her mentees as exhibiting the greatest of skills at listening, understanding, and assisting them to work through many professional and personal issues. Described by her nominees as “gracious, kind, and courteous,” “a woman of determination, passion, and authenticity,” “fair, impartial, ... generous with her advice,” and “inspirational,” Joan exemplifies all of the best qualities of a mentor providing insight and wisdom on issues relevant to today’s women lawyers, such as practice and partnership track, work/life balance, alternate career and non-traditional career options, and women with family.

Joan acts as an Arbitrator and Mediator primarily for labour and workplace disputes, both provincially and federally. Joan is the President of the Arbitrator’s Association of British Columbia, a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators, amongst many other professional associations, and a supporter of West Coast LEAF and the CBABC Women Lawyers Forum. Joan also currently holds the position of Adjudicator in the Yukon for the Public Service Staff Relations Board and the Teachers Staff Relations Board. She previously acted as Vice Chair of the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia, and was formerly a law partner, with the Vancouver firm of Rankin and Company, acting as legal counsel for many trade unions and professional organizations in British Columbia. Joan has contributed many publications to our profession since 1984 through the UBC Law Review, CLE and others on labour issues, labour arbitration, human rights, workplace harassment and privacy issues.

Joan has been an active member of the CBABC Women Lawyers Forum and Mentoring Committee, standing as a Mentor numerous times and assisting with Board activities. Her contributions have helped establish and continue a strong mentoring program for women in law in British Columbia.

View photos of the luncheon held on February 25, 2011.

[posted March 1, 2011]