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

At the Bench and Bar Dinner, in front of more than 260 members of the legal profession, Madam Justice Lynn Smith received the Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award, the highest honour the CBABC bestows.

“As a practitioner, as an academic and as a judge, Madam Justice Smith has made, and continues to make, a distinguished contribution to the law, the profession and the community,” said Albert McClean, QC in a letter supporting Madam Justice Smith’s nomination.

Madam Justice Smith was recognized for, among other actions, being an inspirational role model throughout her career – from her days as a young practising lawyer, taking important precedent-setting constitutional cases to the Supreme Court of Canada, to her present role as a thoughtful and careful judge in our courts. Perhaps most notable is her passion for human rights, Charter equality rights and women’s equality rights.