Fun Run for the Legal Community
Designed with you in mind, the second annual Law Week Fun Run will take place at UBC on Sunday, April 10 at 10 a.m.

This is one of those rare events where the bench, bar, law school students, professors and everyone else in the legal community can come together to take part in a fun activity and support the B.C. Branch’s Law Week events. Please see the related insert in this issue to register.

The Law Week Committee encourages all members of the legal community to bring their families along to enjoy the second annual Law Week Fun Run. The 2005 Fun Run will have two main routes on the UBC trails – a 10 km and a 5 km. At the finish line, youngsters may paint their own T-shirt and enjoy clowns, music, and food.


Murder on the Nile to Delight
Don’t miss the fourth annual Lawyer Show: Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery Murder on the Nile. This co-presentation of the Arts Club Theatre Company and Touchstone Theatre stars the finest acting talents of Vancouver’s legal community. The show plays March 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. at the Stanley Theatre in Vancouver. Call 604.687.1644 for tickets. Early bird tickets are just $65 (early bird deadline: February 18).


West Coast LEAF
LEAF Equality Breakfast
West Coast LEAF will host its 18th annual Equality Breakfast on Friday, March 4 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. The event keynote speaker will be Roberta Jamieson, former Chief of the Six Nations Band in Ontario and internationally recognized expert in conflict resolution. Tickets are available for $55 ($550 per table). Event proceeds will support the legal and education work of West Coast LEAF. For details and tickets call 604.684.8772 (or e-mail breakfast@westcoastleaf.org).

LEAF Conference
West Coast LEAF and the National Association of Women and the Law will host a national conference from April 28 to May 1 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel. The focus of the conference is the 20th anniversary of the equality rights provision (section 15) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The conference offers a unique opportunity to meet, strategize and share information with lawyers, community workers, activists and others from across the country on the impact the equality rights provision has had in Canada. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.


Hooplaw Set for SFU in March
What can be more enjoyable than playing the great game of basketball with your law colleagues? Perhaps knowing that you’re also playing for a good cause. The Hooplaw Charitable Foundation organizes its annual charity basketball tournament to raise money for local charities which assist underprivileged or disadvantaged children. Last year’s tournament raised approximately $35,000!

This year’s Hooplaw Charity Basketball Tournament is fast approaching and is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Simon Fraser University. Newcomers are welcome! To participate in the tournament, please call Peter Rubin 604.631.3315 (or e-mail peter.rubin@blakes.com).


Law Firm Ski Championships
The B.C. Law Firm Ski Championships will take place Saturday, March 19 at the Pontiac Race Centre on Whistler Mountain. Open to any judge, lawyer, law office employee or law student, this triple slalom team race and party gets the gang out of the office and onto the mountains for a day of action on the slopes.

The race is open to teams of six, which must include at least one female racer and one racer over 40 years of age. Four times count toward the team total, as follows:

• the fastest female's time;
• the fastest time of a person over 40; and
• two other fastest times.

New Westminster/ Fraser Valley Bar Golf Tournament
Members of the Bar, judiciary, court reporters and their friends are invited to participate in this annual tournament to be held on Thursday, July 7th at the Guildford Golf Course in Surrey. Tee times start at 11 a.m. Texas Scramble is optional. There will be an evening barbecue dinner. Partial proceeds will be donated to the CBA Lawyers Benevolent Fund. For more information, contact Rick Molstad at 604.526.1821.


LAP: Options for Lawyers Seminars
Options for Lawyers Seminars are held in Vancouver on the third Wednesday of every month. This networking, education and support group for lawyers is free for members of the legal community. For assistance or information on meetings and resources call 604.685.2171 or toll free 1.888.685.2171. The LAP office is located at 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver.

The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) provides confidential support, counselling and referrals for lawyers, their families, support staff, judges and students suffering from alcohol and/or chemical dependency, stress, depression or just about any type of personal problem.


New Westminster Bar Association Festivities
Christmas Party
On December 10, 2004, 67 members and guests attended the New Westminster Bar Association’s gala Christmas party at Hart House in Burnaby. President Kenneth Armstrong, Vice President Samantha Hulme and Secretary Treasurer Robert Gunnell presided over the celebration, which concluded with enthusiastic dancing. Generous door prizes were contributed by the Four Seasons Hotel, the Guildford Golf and Country Club, McQuarrie Hunter, Cassady & Company and Goodwin & Mark. Michael Woodward was the lucky recipient of the grand prize which was accommodation and a meal at the Vancouver Four Seasons Hotel.

Annual Judges Dinner
The association’s annual dinner to honour new judges was held January 18th at the Inn at the Quay in New Westminster with 120 lawyers and judges in attendance, despite inclement weather. Supreme Court Justices David Brine, Barbara Fisher, Arne Silverman, Provincial Court Judges Gregory Bowden, Ellen Gordon, James Wingham and Supreme Court Master Peter Keighley were welcomed by the group.


Canadian Legal Conference: Volunteers Needed
Many volunteers are needed for this event, which this year comes to B.C. in August. If you are available to help for a few hours or so, please contact Miranda Lam (mlam@davis.ca; 604.687.9444). In particular, volunteers are needed for:

At-Home Dinners – Host lawyers and spouses in your home for dinner and socializing on Saturday, August 13th. This is one of the highlight events of the conference; so don’t miss your chance to participate! Call Barbara Sage at 604.244.9433 (barb.sage@shaw.ca) for more information or to volunteer.

Law Firm Receptions occur on Monday, August 15th, in the afternoon. Perhaps your firm could sponsor a reception at the Art Gallery or the Terminal City Club? Call Ming Song at 604.899.0224 (mingsong@novuscom.net) for more information or to volunteer.

These articles were published in the February 2005 issue of BarTalk. © 2005 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.