BarTalk April 2005
Volume 17, Number 2

Cariboo Bar Plans AGM

The Cariboo Bar Association may just trump their last AGM (skiing in Wells) with this year’s May 12-15 sojourn at the renowned Hills Health Ranch at 108 Mile Ranch.

The AGM will begin with the traditional meet and greet on Thursday evening followed by seminars on Friday. Saturday is a fun day – golf, massages, and facials, anyone? The AGM will come to a close on Sunday at breakfast when bar members will select their new executive and the location for the next meeting.

The confirmed guest speakers are Law Society President Ralston Alexander, Q.C., CBABC Executive Director Frank Kraemer, and Nick Weiser, of Fulton & Company, who will speak on lawyers acting as real estate agents. Connie Sauter and Heidi Zetzsche will give a review of courses they have attended in the past year, primarily focusing on family law.

Anyone planning to attend the AGM is asked to call Heidi Zetzsche at 250-395-1071 to confirm their willingness to provide a brief overview of a course they attended in the past year.

HoopLaw 2005

When the final whistle blew at HoopLaw 2005 on March 5 at SFU, it was clear that the one-day event held by the HoopLaw Society (a non-profit organization comprised of Vancouver lawyers) had been a resounding success. Established in 1995/96, the HoopLaw Charitable Basketball Tournament is held annually by the Vancouver legal community and UBC law students, and this year raised a record-breaking $37,000.

In exciting hardwood action, Borden Ladner Gervais prevailed over Fraser Milner Casgrain to emerge as the Recreational Division Champions and UBC Law defended their title as Competitive Division champs, beating out Lawson Lundell. Of course, the real winners at HoopLaw 2005 were the charities to whom the proceeds will be donated: the Kenneth Gordon School, which is a specialized school for children with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities; and the Western Canadian Pediatric AIDS Society, an organization committed to helping children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

The HoopLaw Society thanks the players, sponsors and volunteers who made this year’s tournament the best ever for both the legal community and the children.

Battle of the Bar Bands Returns!

Mark your calendars for Friday, June 10 when the fourth annual Battle of the Bar Bands returns to the Commodore Ballroom! Following last year’s sellout event, expectations for this year's event are high. Eight bands representing the best of B.C.’s rocking lawyers will compete for the ZSA Cup, the Lexpert Cup and for bragging rights as the best bar band in the land.

Please see the ZSA inserts in this issue for a ticket order form for this event.

Musicians, please note that bands wishing to enter this event should call Jennie Wilson at 604-682-7474 to obtain competition rules and entry requirements.

VBA/CBA Golf Tournament

Register to enjoy a day of golf, dinner, and prizes at the ninth annual Canadian Bar Association/Vancouver Bar Association Golf Tournament. This hugely popular event will be held at the University Golf Course near UBC on Thursday, June 23.

Event proceeds fund an annual award for both a UBC and a UVic student who best exemplify the ideals served by the CBA.

See the related insert in this issue and register before May 1st to secure the early bird rate ($140).

New Westminster/Fraser Valley Bar Golf Tournament

Members of the bar, members of the judiciary, court reporters and their friends are invited to participate in this annual tournament to be held on Thursday, July 7 at the Guildford Golf Course in Surrey. Tee times start at 11:00 a.m. Texas Scramble is optional. There will be an evening barbecue dinner. Partial proceeds will be donated to the CBA Lawyers Benevolent Fund.

For details, call Rick Molstad at 604-526-1821.

Unrepresented Litigants Self-Help Centre

On April 18, the Supreme Court Self-Help Information Centre (“the Centre”), one year pilot project will open. The Centre will provide legal information, education and referral services to unrepresented litigants who are involved in civil actions (including family) in the Vancouver location of the Supreme Court of B.C. The Centre, located at Room 274, 800 Hornby Street, is available for walk-in clients from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. This project is funded by the Law Foundation of B.C., the Vancouver Foundation, the Ministry of the Attorney General, and the Department of Justice Canada.

For more information on the Centre, visit www.supremecourtselfhelp.bc.ca.

Canadian Legal Conference: Volunteers Needed

Many volunteers are needed for this event, which comes to B.C. in August. For information on the benefits of sponsorship, please call Kerry-Lynne Findlay at 604-609-3066.

If you are available to help for a few hours or so, please contact Miranda Lam (604-687-9444). In particular, volunteers are needed for:

At-Home Dinners – Host lawyers and spouses in your home for dinner and socializing on Saturday, August 13. This is one of the highlight events of the conference, so don’t miss your chance to participate! Call Barbara Sage at 04-244-9433 for more information or to volunteer.

Law Firm Receptions occur on Monday, August 15, in the afternoon. Perhaps your firm could sponsor a reception at the Art Gallery or the Terminal City Club? Call Ming Song at 604-899-0224 for more information or to volunteer.

Comox Valley & Campbell River Summer Barbecue

The neighbouring bar associations of Comox Valley and Campbell River have already begun planning an August barbecue. This family event will include a baseball match between the bar associations. BarTalk will keep you posted.

These articles were published in the April 2005 issue of BarTalk and are subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.