For Immediate Release
August 11, 2006
ST. JOHN’S, NFLD. – Brian C. Midwinter, Q.C., a The Pas, Man., lawyer instrumental in championing legal aid funding, has been selected to receive the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) 2006 President’s Award for his contributions to the legal profession and the association.
“Brian Midwinter believes fervently in access to justice and isn’t afraid to stand up for his beliefs,” said CBA President Brian A. Tabor, Q.C. “His particular efforts in calling for accountability and funding to protect some of the most vulnerable segments in society – those involved in custody, child support and refugee status disputes – mark him as a worthy recipient and an outstanding human being.”
As Chair of the CBA’s National Legal Aid Liaison Committee, Midwinter helped raise the profile of both the legal aid funding issue and how a decade of cuts have left Canada’s legal aid system – a key point of access to the justice system for Canadians – in crisis. The efforts he spearheaded led to a federal commitment of an additional $20 million in legal aid funding for criminal, young offender, and immigration issues. Midwinter also played a key role in the launch of the CBA’s ground-breaking national legal aid test case (see http://www.cba.org/CBA/Advocacy/legalAid/default.aspx).
Midwinter received his B.Sc. from Brandon University in 1974, and his LL.B from the University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall. He was called to the bar in June 1978. Midwinter articled in the Manitoba Attorney General’s office in 1977-1978, and worked as a Crown attorney in The Pas from 1978-1979, before beginning private practice. Midwinter was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993. He currently works for Legal Aid Manitoba.
As well as his contributions to law, Midwinter also has an extensive track record of community involvement and giving. He was an active Scouts Canada participant from 1959 to 1970, and is a past board member of Brandon Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Brandon United Nations High School seminar. Midwinter also served as an artillery officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve with 26th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery from 1973 to 1993. Having achieved the rank of major, he retired as deputy commanding officer of 26th Field Regiment.
The 2006 CBA President’s Award will be presented at 12:30 p.m. NDT on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, in Salon B/C/D at the Delta St. John’s Hotel and Convention Center, St. John’s, Nfld., as part of the 2006 Canadian Legal Conference.
To be eligible for the CBA President’s Award, a candidate must meet at least one of the following criteria: made a significant contribution to the legal profession, to the Canadian Bar Association, or to the public life of Canada. The award is presented only when there is a deserving winner, and was last given in 2004.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 36,000 lawyers, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, Canadian Bar Association, Aug. 11-15, Delta St. John’s Hotel and Convention Centre, St. Mary’s Room, (709) 726-7594; E-mail: hannahb@cba.org.
