BarTalk October 2001
Volume 13, Number 5

You went to Saskatoon?!

by Frank C Kraemer

Yes, indeed, the City of Bridges, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was the location of this year’s Annual General Meeting in mid-August.

While for most members the Annual Meeting is a three-day event, beginning with the opening reception on Sunday evening and ending with the closing dinner on Wednesday evening, it’s longer for elected members of National Council and even longer for Branch Presidents and Executive Directors.

This year the Board of Directors, consisting of the National Executive and the Presidents of each of the Branches, supported by their Executive Directors attended the National Board of Directors meeting on Friday. This meeting was followed by the meeting of the CBA National Council on Saturday and Sunday morning until noon. The Annual General Meeting then followed.

This was my first Annual Meeting in some time, and I am delighted to report that it was very worthwhile. In addition to being part of the Board of Directors and National Council meeting, I was able to meet with my Executive Director colleagues from across the country to discuss issues of common concern and share ideas and information about how each of us is managing the affairs of the association across the country. The Executive Directors, including our National Executive Director, John Hoyles, took the opportunity to meet with representatives of the CBA National preferred suppliers. This was a wonderful chance to meet face-to-face with our preferred suppliers and discuss areas where greater benefits might be reaped for our members and to discuss issues of concern about the provision of service including sponsorships.

I also had the privilege of attending the meeting of our National Membership Committee. During that meeting, plans were made for strengthening CBA membership across the country and in British Columbia. CBABC’s Membership Committee’s focus will be on law students, articled students, non-practising lawyers, and the judiciary.

It wasn’t all work though. I had the honour of being invited to the Presidents’ Formal Reception and Dinner. In attendance were members of the National Executive, the Chief Justice of Canada, as well as judges and bar leaders from the United States and Europe.

Our Branch, together with the Alberta Branch hosted a late night party on Sunday night which was very well attended (and was rumored to be the best of the three evening parties at the convention). There were also an array of law firm receptions and other luncheons and dinners during the course of the week.

Finally, it was a great pleasure to be in attendance at the Young Lawyers’ Luncheon on Wednesday, when the chain of office was passed from Daphne Dumont, QC to our new President and BC lawyer, Eric Rice, QC.

The Annual General Meeting and associated meetings gave me yet again an opportunity to meet our members and colleagues from across the country. The networking and relationship building opportunities presented by this meeting were immeasurable.

As for Saskatoon, I did have the opportunity to roller blade along a well paved path beside the South Saskatchewan River and to stay at the Bessborough, a wonderful, old, renovated former CN hotel.

I am glad I went to Saskatoon. It was a great opportunity and I would encourage all of you to attend annual and mid-winter meetings when you can. By the way, the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association will be hosting the 2005 Annual General Meeting. We are looking for volunteers now to help with the planning. If you are interested, please let me know.

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