BarTalk August 2001
Volume 13, Number 4

What’s Been Happening at the Branch

by Frank C Kraemer

In this column I thought I would take the opportunity to bring you up-to-date on some recent events in the Branch.

Provincial Council – June 23, 2001
Since this meeting occurred just before some members may have gone on holiday, Provincial Council members may not have had an opportunity to fully report to you. As a result, I thought I might touch on some of the highlights of this meeting.

• Chief Justice Lance Finch addressed Council and complimented the CBA on the vital functions it performs. He had reviewed the goals and action plan of the BC Branch in advance of the meeting. He also spoke about the need for pro bono work as well as adequate funding for legal aid;

• Council elected the Executive Committee members for the coming year. Biographical information on each of them begins on page 13 of this issue;

• Council passed a balanced budget for 2001/2002 of almost $2.9 million;

• The Member Dispute Resolution Project was given a green light, and the steering committee was asked to establish the overall structure and to seek external funding during the next six months;

• Policies on financial matters, reserve funds and funding for external organizations were passed; and

• Council passed a Resolution authorizing the Legislation and Law Reform Committee to deliver to the Provincial Government its brief on Limited Liability Partnership Legislation and to continue to urge the government to enact legislation that will permit lawyers to form Limited Liability Partnerships.

Golf Tournament
On Thursday, June 28, 2001, CBABC joined forces with the Vancouver Bar Association to host the annual golf tournament. A total of 101 golfers participated in the event and, by all reports, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The afternoon concluded with a buffet dinner, the awarding of prizes and a silent auction. The proceeds from this event fund the Student Awards Program at UBC and UVIC. Annually, CBABC awards a $2,000 prize to a student at each Law School.

Committee Appointments Day
On Friday, July 6, 2001, the Executive Committee met to review applications and select appointees to the Branch’s 32 standing, special and ad hoc committees and task forces. More than 160 members from all over the province submitted expressions of interest in participating in a number of the Branch’s committees. The decisions of the Executive Committee were not easy; however, there is no question that the strong candidates chosen will ensure the continued vibrancy of the Branch’s committees.

Dinner at Government House
I had the pleasure of accompanying President Margaret Ostrowski, QC, to a retirement dinner for former Chief Justice Allan McEachern at Government House on the evening of July 5, 2001. The dinner was in honour of the former Chief Justice, who, by reason of his former position, had stepped into the shoes of the Lieutenant Governor when he was unavailable for his official duties.

The event was attended not only by the Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Gardom, the former Chief Justice and his family, but also by the Premier, the Attorney General, and several Deputy Ministers. The speeches, company and food were all delightful.

This article was published in the August 2001 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.