FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 1, 2002

VANCOUVER–Lawyer R Paul Beckmann QC will receive one of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch’s highest honours at the annual Bench & Bar Dinner on November 21, 2002. The Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award will be presented to Mr. Beckmann at the dinner, held at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. A limited number of tickets are available for the event and may be purchased from the Canadian Bar Association.

The Goyer Award was created in 1992 to recognize exceptional contributions to the legal profession, to jurisprudence or to the law in British Columbia. The award was established in memory of Georges A Goyer QC, a respected member of the BC Branch who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mr. Beckmann, a partner at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault, was nominated for the honour by Sholto Hebenton QC, Winton Derby QC and Peter D Fairey. His nomination was supported by numerous respected members of the legal community who lauded his ‘outstanding contributions,’ ‘marvellous efforts,’ ‘unimpeachable good character,’ and ‘limitless capacity for service to the profession.’

Mr. Beckmann’s nominators, while recognizing the breadth of his contributions, in particular cited his role in bar admission education: “What stands out in our minds, is Mr. Beckmann’s role in the work 15 years ago that elevated the then rudimentary system of bar admission courses into the internationally recognized professional legal training program that now operates in BC.” Continuing Legal Education Society Executive Director Jack Huberman QC, has called Mr. Beckmann the ‘father’ of the modern era of bar admission education in British Columbia.

CBABC President David Paul, who chaired the selection committee, said “Mr. Beckmann is universally admired and respected, and this was an instance where long overdue recognition has been given to a lawyer whose generosity and influence have left a substantial mark both within the profession and within his community.”

For more information contact:
Caroline Nevin, Director of Communications and Government Relations
Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch
T: 604.687.3404 x320
cnevin@bccba.org