BarTalk October 2003
Volume 15, Number 5

Sharon Matthews Receives President’s Medal

At the June 2003 Provincial Council meeting Sharon Matthews was presented the President’s Medal. This award recognized her outstanding work on both the 2003 President’s Forum, and the 2002 universal membership campaign, and her service as a member of Provincial Council, the Audit Committee and the Resolutions and Bylaws Committee.

“What struck me about Sharon was her genuine drive and commitment to work behind the scenes in promoting CBABC activities,” said immediate Past-President David Paul. “She was not necessarily in the foreground but her accomplishments and efforts certainly were. Sharon is a true CBA champion. She contributed greatly to achieving my presidential mandates.”

National CBA President’s Award

Greg DelBigio of Vancouver is the 2003 recipient of the CBA President’s Award. “Through his pro bono work during the course of 2001 and 2002, Greg DelBigio has made a tremendous contribution to the CBA and is a worthy recipient of the President’s Award,” said CBA President Simon Potter.

During the past two years, Mr. DelBigio has volunteered countless hours to the CBA in presenting the Association’s position on a number of important legal issues. In October 2001, he was instrumental in developing the CBA’s submission to government on Bill C-36, the federal Anti-terrorism Act. He later joined then CBA President Eric Rice, QC before a special Senate Committee in presenting the CBA’s recommendations to government, calling for a sunset clause to this legislation, as well as a more concise definition of the term “terrorism” and increased funding for law enforcement.

Later that same year, he was front and centre again as the CBA prepared and delivered submissions to government on the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act and Bill C-24, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (organized crime and law enforcement). In May 2002, he helped develop and present the CBA’s submission on corporate criminal liability before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

An active CBA member, Mr. DelBigio serves on the executive of the National Criminal Justice Section and on the Legislation and Law Reform Committee and will chair the Legislation and Law Reform Committee during the 2003/2004 term. He has also served as co-counsel on two CBA interventions, one before the Supreme Court of Canada and the other a successful challenge to the inclusion of lawyers in the federal money laundering legislation.

National CBA Pro Bono Award

John-Paul Boyd of Vancouver received the 2003 Young Lawyers’ Conference Pro Bono Service Award at the CBA Annual Meeting in Montreal in August. “The jury chose John-Paul Boyd because it was most impressed with the scope of his pro bono work, both privately and within the clinic,” says Ming Song, Chair of the Young Lawyers Conference.

One of Mr. Boyd’s most impressive private pro bono contributions was to the case of a single mother, pregnant with a second child, and supporting her family on welfare. His client was in conflict with the Ministry for Children and Families with respect to her elder child, and was hospitalized for stress during their investigation. After calling a number of witnesses, Mr. Boyd was, remarkably successful in having the Ministry’s application dismissed at the presentation hearing.

Since joining the firm Aaron MacGregor Gordon & Daykin in 2002, Mr. Boyd has become an active member of the Salvation Army’s Pro Bono Program. Mr. Boyd also maintains his personal Web site, www.bcfamilylawresource.com, a comprehensive, plain-language site about family law and the court process.

CBABC Student Awards

The Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch annually awards two $2,000 Student Awards to the law student who best exemplifies CBABC ideals at both the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.

The CBABC is pleased to announce that the 2003 Student Award recipients are Kathryn Hamm, a first year law student at UVic and Agnes Huang, a second year law student at UBC.

Award criteria include student participation in activities supporting members of the profession; promotion of justice and law reform; equality; and demonstration of public and community service.

These articles were published in the October 2003 issue of BarTalk and are subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.