OTTAWA – Lucille R. Birkett, Q.C., of Sherwood Park, AB, has been named the winner of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)’s 2012 Douglas Miller Award. The award was presented to her on Feb. 11 at the CBA Mid-Winter Meeting of Council, during the President’s Dinner.
“Lucille brings her warmth, enthusiasm, and team spirit to everything she does,” said CBA President Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C., of Kentville, NS. “Her strong commitment to our association, as demonstrated through her participation and leadership in countless CBA activities, made the selection of this year’s winner an easy decision.”
An Alberta native, Lucille Birkett became involved in the CBA as a law student at the University of Alberta, and quickly established herself as a dedicated volunteer. A voting member of CBA’s National Council since 1993, she served as President of the CBA Alberta Branch in 2000-2001, and has chaired the National Health Law Section and her Branch’s Equality Committee, among others. She currently chairs the CBA’s national Small, Solo, and General Practice Forum, and sits on the Board of Directors.
In addition to her ongoing CBA involvement, Lucille Birkett is a member of the Edmonton branch of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and the Association of Collaborative Family Professionals in Edmonton. A former presiding Justice of the Peace, she is engaged in her community as a member of her local church and hospice society. Lucille Birkett was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2000 and currently practices collaborative family law at The Law House in Sherwood Park, AB. For a photo of Lucille, click here.
The Douglas Miller Award honours the late Doug Miller of Yellowknife, a former president of the Association’s Northwest Territories Branch and a very active CBA member who passed away in 1994. The award recognizes a CBA member in good standing who demonstrates outstanding dedication and team spirit, and who attends the Mid-Winter Meeting.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
 On December 16, 2011, CBA President Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C., announced that Michele Hollins, Q.C., of Calgary has been named the incoming CBA Second Vice-President. In addition, Annette Horst of The Pas, Manitoba, has been named CBA Treasurer for a second term.
Both Michele Hollins and Annette Horst ran unchallenged. Their acclamations will become official at the CBA Mid-Winter Meeting of Council on February 12, 2012.
Having served as President of the CBA’s Alberta Branch in 2007-08, Michele Hollins has been involved with the CBA for many years. Nationally, she is the Vice-Chair of the CBA Communications Committee, and is Chair of the CBA’s CLC and Mid-Winter Review Committee. A partner at Dunphy Best Blocksom in Calgary, Michele Hollins will become CBA president in 2014.
Annette Horst served as President of the CBA’s Manitoba Branch (MBA) in 2008-09 and was Chair of the Young Lawyers-CBA in 2006-07. A supervising attorney at Legal Aid Manitoba’s Northland Community Law Centre in The Pas, Annette Horst is currently serving a two-year term as CBA Treasurer. In 2012 she will begin her second term as Treasurer, a role she will hold until 2015.
Trinda Ernst congratulated both Michele and Annette on behalf of the CBA’s Board of Directors and staff.
Memo from Averie McNary, Director, Legislative Reform, Project Lead, Succession Law Reform Project:
As you may know, the Government of Alberta plans to proceed with the proclamation of the Wills and Succession Act ("WSA") on February 1, 2012. This Act was passed by the legislature in December 2012.
The WSA will replace the Wills Act, the Intestate Succession Act, the Dependants Relief Act and the Survivorship Act. Section 47 of the Trustee Act will be moved to the WSA. There are also consequential changes to the Administration of Estates Act and the Family Law Act, amoung others. The law is changed to maintain the principles of testamentary freedom, with the current Alberta Context ... >>Read more
HALIFAX – Arman Chak of Edmonton, legal counsel with the Alberta Human Rights Commission, is the winner of the 2011 Young Lawyers-Canadian Bar Association (YL-CBA) Pro Bono Award for outstanding legal services benefiting the community.
The jury was most impressed with the broad range of his pro bono activities as well as the long-term commitment of this outstanding public sector lawyer. “Through his substantial pro bono services, Arman has provided access to justice to countless individuals who would otherwise be marginalized by the system,” says Beth McGrath of St. John’s, Vice-Chair of the YL-CBA.
For the past five years, Arman Chak has been an evening volunteer at Pro Bono Alberta’s Edmonton Community Legal Centre, where he has provided direct pro bono legal advice in over 100 files. He has personally litigated 15 pro bono files – spending over 600 hours – before the Employment Insurance Boards of Referees, Residential tenancy Dispute Resolution Service, Provincial Court of Alberta, Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and Court of Appeal of Alberta. Mr. Chak’s commitment extends to filing applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of his pro bono clients... >>Read more
This legislative review summarizes the latest session of the provincial legislature, namely those Bills that impact the practice of law and the administration of justice.
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