It is with profound sadness that the Executive of the Women Lawyers Forum tells you about the loss of Debra Van Ginkel, QC, our wonderful Chair. Debra passed away on Saturday morning after an 8 month struggle with cancer that she handled in her usual gracious and optimistic way. We did not expect to lose her so suddenly, or so soon, as she looked her beautiful, energetic self up to the last.

Debra was an inspiration to all of us who knew her. She embodied generosity, love, inclusiveness and warmth. She made friends readily and was committed to those friendships. She was strong and forthright when acting on behalf of clients, friends or causes that she supported. In addition to running a busy and successful family law practice at Watson, Goepel, Maledy, she devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to making the legal profession a better place to work. The same compassion that she brought to her clients, she brought as well to her lawyer colleagues when they needed support.

Debra's professional achievements are many. She was the Chair of the CBA Family Law Section for 2 years and attended the national section meetings as the BC representative. She is one of two representatives to a project run by the International Institute of Child Rights and Development and funded by the Law Foundation designed to study child participation in court processes in BC.

She served on the Boards of both the Lawyers Assistance Program and the CBA Benevolent Fund. She spent 9 years on the LAP Board and 3 years as Chair. She spent 10 years on the Board of the Benevolent Society, serving as a director from its inception and spent two years as its Chair. Her volunteerism and mentoring to the profession was recognized in 2005 when she was awarded the "Lawyer Helping Lawyer Award".

In 2006 she was made a Queen's Counsel recognizing her contributions both to family law and to the profession.

In addition to her board work and fund raising efforts through organizing events such as the Battle of the Bar Bands, Debra knew that one of the best ways to support lawyers in our challenging lives was through mentoring. She had a dream to start a mentoring program for women lawyers that became a reality in 2003 through the CBA WLF. Debra's dream has now seen over 350 women lawyers partnered over the past five years.

Debra's vision included more than simply designing a mentoring program. She designed inspiring events like "Ten Hot Tips From Ten Hot Mentors". She applied to the Law Foundation for a grant to take the program province wide and worked to make that a reality. She personally called dozens of lawyers each year to convince them to become mentors. Her devotion to this program was remarkable to everyone who served with her on the Mentoring Committee. She was the driving force that got this program off the ground and infused it with such energy.

In mid- 2006, she became Vice Chair of the WLF and then stepped in as Chair in the fall of 2006 when Stella Frame was appointed to the bench. While still supporting the mentoring program, she took on a broader leadership role with the WLF that brought her vision for supporting women lawyers to everything we do.

Debra was a leader in the profession, not just with respect to issues affecting women but also for all lawyers. She has been at the heart of the WLF since our inception 6 years ago.

Outside of law, Debra was the Treasurer of Les Dames D'Escoffier an international organization of women in the food, wine and hospitality industries that raises funds for scholarships to advance women in that vocation. This work was a great marrying of Debra's legal, culinary and hosting skills.

Debra was a woman of beauty, style and elegance; a warm and gracious host of countless events in her home; a compassionate family lawyer respected and loved by her clients - always optimistic, energetic, inspirational, compassionate and kind. She was a sincere friend to so many.

Our thoughts are with her devoted and loving husband, Murray, her sister, brothers and mother in Calgary and her many friends in the legal profession and beyond.

Debra left us too soon and too suddenly but the gifts she gave us are many and lasting. She has left a legacy that has bettered and enriched the lives of countless clients, lawyers and friends. Her vision and energy will live on in the work of the Women Lawyers Forum and the other organizations she inspired.

We encourage those of you who are members of the CBA WLF Listserv to post your thoughts about Debra there.

For those of us who were honoured to be her friend, it was her generosity of heart that we will remember the most. We have lost a leader, a mentor, a lawyer and most of all a friend.

A Celebration of Debra's life will take place Friday, February 8, 2008 at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, 3811 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

All are welcome to attend.

[posted February 1, 2008]