Lawyer Darrell W. Roberts, QC received one of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch’s highest honours at the annual Bench and Bar Dinner on November 17, 2005. The Georges A. Goyer, QC Memorial Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Mr. Roberts at the dinner, held at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver.

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. Roberts, Member and Partner of Miller Thomson in Vancouver, was nominated for the honour by Wendy A. Baker, Allan McEachern QC and Irwin G. Nathanson QC. His nomination was supported by numerous respected members of the legal community who lauded his ‘scholarship, intellect, common sense, integrity and courage,’ ‘innovative teaching abilities,’ ‘professionalism,” and “tireless energy on behalf of his clients.”

Mr. Roberts’s nominators, while recognizing the breadth of his contributions, in particular cited his contributions to legal education: “Darrel has worked tirelessly for many years in promoting legal education within the profession.” Joost Blom, Q.C., a UBC law school professor said: “Darrell Roberts exemplifies the professionalism, dedication and readiness to go out of his way to help that characterized Georges Goyer”.

CBABC Vice President Frits Verhoeven, who chaired the selection committee, said “Mr. Roberts is one of the most admired and respected senior trial counsel in the Province, and has argued many significant cases that have shaped the law of the Province and of Canada. He is noted for the skill and determination with which he represents his clients, while at the same time showing courtesy and fairness to the other counsel and parties. In addition Mr. Roberts has served for more than 30 years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia Law School, has authored many important legal articles, and has been a regular contributor to Continuing Legal Education programs.”