The new CBA President takes office on September 1 of every year, but this year the changing of the executive marks a couple of significant firsts: he’s the first Indigenous president in the Association’s 124-year history. As well, the ceremony surrounding the transfer of the chain of office – on Sept. 10, 2020 – will be virtual for the first time, due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel and gathering.
It’s safe to say that Brad Regehr’s presidential year will be unprecedented. At the Sept. 1 starting gun the new CBA president usually starts a marathon of travel, both domestically, visiting branches across the country, and internationally, taking part in conferences and ceremonial legal traditions around the world. For the fall at least – if not well into the 2021 – we’re expecting travel opportunities to be extremely limited for both Brad and the membership at large.
Called to the bar in Manitoba in 1997, Brad is a partner with Maurice Law, Barristers and Solicitors, in Winnipeg, where his practice focuses on Aboriginal, administrative, corporate/commercial and real property law. He is a long-time active member of the CBA, both at the Branch level, where he has served as President, and at the National level.
Brad’s personal priorities for the year include advancing the CBA’s Truth and Reconciliation activities, and continuing the focus on young lawyers. He’s looking forward to kicking off the presidential podcast, Conversations with the President, this fall, and finding new ways to communicate with members.
Joining Brad on the Board this year will be these new members:
Eden F. Alexander – Yukon – legal counsel serving with the Department of Justice Canada – Northern Region in Whitehorse since 2016.
David G. O’Brien, Q.C. - New Brunswick – A partner with Cox & Palmer in Saint John, David has been a CBA member since he entered law school at Dalhousie University in 1980.
Jonathan M. Coady, Q.C. – Prince Edward Island – A partner with Stewart McKelvey in Charlottetown, he has a practice focusing on administrative law, constitutional law and civil litigation involving the Crown.
Brittany J. A. Scott – Northwest Territories – Called to the bar just three years ago, Brittany has already served as the President of the Northwest Territories Branch. She is a senior advisor with the NWT government.
Susan M. Johnson – Nova Scotia – Called to the bar in Nova Scotia in 2019 after a career in business in Jamaica,, Susan is an associate with McInnes Cooper’s Corporate and Tax Practice Group in Halifax.
John Stefaniuk – Manitoba - John Stefaniuk, a partner with the Winnipeg-based law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, has racked up extensive legal and CBA experience since being called to the bar in Manitoba in 1988.
Melanie Mortensen – British Columbia – Melanie is a Legislative Council with the Ministry of the Attorney General in the Government of British Columbia. First called to the bar in Quebec in 2005, she’s been a member since 2000.
Melanie Mortensen won a mid-term election in British Columbia to replace William Veenstra, who was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in June.