Annual Bench and Bar Dinner - November 23, 2006
Hosted by the Canadian Bar Association B.C. Branch and the Law Society of B.C., the 22nd Annual Bench and Bar Dinner was held on November 23, 2006 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. The event offered members of the legal profession and the judiciary a unique opportunity to enjoy an evening of good company and conversation while joining the CBA Executive, Provincial Council members, and Law Society Benchers in paying homage to two worthy award recipients.

In the presence of more than 370 members of the legal profession, Thomas Berger, OC, QC received the Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award, the highest honor the CBABC bestows. Mr. Berger was nominated for the honour by several distinguished judges and lawyers who applauded “his commitment, his passion, and above all his integrity.”

Charles Locke, QC, a former B.C. Branch President, was presented the Law Society Award for outstanding contributions to the cause of justice in British Columbia. He was lauded as “a professional of unimpeachable good character.” CBABC President Frits Verhoeven and co-host Robert McDiarmid, QC expressed the gratitude and appreciation of the profession to both award recipients.


Law Week 2007
This year’s Law Week theme is “Access to Justice” and we will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The following are some of the Law Week events being planned across the province:

• Open House – Prince George – March 23rd

A Law Day Open House will be held at the courthouse and will include a Citizenship Court, a BBQ, mock trials, poster and public speaking contests, displays by local community services, presenters on a variety of justice related topics, and hourly draws.

• Fun Run – Locarno Beach Park, Vancouver – April 1st

A Law Day Open House will be held at the courthouse and will include a Citizenship Court, a BBQ, mock trials, poster and public speaking contests, displays by local community services, presenters on a variety of justice related topics, and hourly draws.

• Dial-A-Lawyer – Province Wide – April 21st
• Open Houses – Vancouver, Victoria, Dawson Creek, and Fort St. John – April 21st
• Student Mentor Program – Lower Mainland – April

Volunteers are needed to spend a half-day with high school students or attend a high-school class.

Detailed information about all Law Week events and volunteering opportunities, as well as information about how to become a Law Week sponsor, can be found at www.bclawweek.org.


CBA/LMA Marketing Boot Camp in Victoria
Mark Your Calendar! Friday April 20, 2007
One of the greatest challenges facing lawyers today is learning the effective use of marketing to support their achievement of professional goals.

Our second Boot Camp is designed to provide specialized training in marketing fundamentals and strategic planning. The program is structured to provide maximum one-on-one contact for participants with the seven legal marketing and business development professionals presenting.

This course will equip you with the critical knowledge and skills necessary to gain a professional advantage in growing your business. Watch for the CBA News and Jobs e-mail for further information or visit our website at www.cba.org/bc, look under “Spotlight” on the home page.


20th Annual West Coast Leaf Equality Breakfast
March 16, 2007 - Sheraton Wall Centre, Vancouver, B.C.
West Coast Leaf is honoured to have Dr. Sarah Weddington, counsel in the landmark Roe v. Wade case as the Equality Breakfast keynote speaker. Dr. Weddington is an internationally known attorney and spokesperson on women, leadership, and public issues. She is believed to be the youngest person ever to win a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is well known for her work on issues affecting women, and has been featured in TIME magazine, The Today Show and Good Morning America. For tickets and more information contact breakfast@westcoastleaf.org or call 604-684-8772 ext. 116.

These articles were published in the February 2007 issue of BarTalk. © 2007 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.