WHAT WAS YOUR PATH INTO LAW AND ONTO THE BENCH?

I was an inquisitive, sometimes contrary, child who asked a lot of questions. For those reasons, my parents formed the opinion that I would make a better lawyer than a doctor.  So almost as far back as I can remember, I always had in my mind that I would pursue a career in law.

WHAT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LEGAL CAREER BEST PREPARED YOU FOR WORK ON THE BENCH?

My journey through law has been interesting in that I have had the opportunity to reinvent my legal practice multiple times throughout my career. In law school, I did well in business organization and tax, so I was certain that a corporate commercial practice was in my future.  When articling at TDS in Winnipeg, I found myself attracted to the pace and variety of court work, so I became a Civil Litigator. In 1996, I moved to Brandon and joined a smaller firm where a strictly civil litigation practice was not viable. I then identified an opportunity to do income tax planning work, so my practice became a mix of civil litigation and tax planning, with some family law, real estate and wills thrown in for good measure.  On my return to TDS in 2002, the work available to me had changed, and I found myself doing not only general commercial litigation, but also advisory work to government and professional disciplinary bodies.  In 2008, I was appointed to the Appeal Commission for the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, where I began my career as a decision-maker.

In 2015, I was appointed to the Provincial Court and became immersed in criminal law, which was an entirely new area for me. It has been a privilege to be able to engage in a whole new practice area at 22 years into my career. While at times challenging, it has been extremely rewarding and stimulating to start from the ground up developing a knowledge base in criminal law.

All of this is to say that my career has taught me to always be ready to receive new information and experiences.  I have learned to be a good listener and I remain open and receptive to different perspectives.  I think one of the most important roles of a judge is to ensure that people are given a fair chance to tell their side of the story.  They may not always like the decision, but it is important for individuals coming before the courts to feel they have had a just opportunity to be heard.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR COUNSEL WHO APPEAR BEFORE YOU?

Integrity, preparedness and civility are the hallmarks of a great lawyer and counsel should always strive to reflect those characteristics in their practice.

From a personal development point of view, I would encourage counsel to remain curious and keep challenging yourself. Take the time to listen, watch and learn. Embrace new ways of doing things. I feel that changing my practice at various times through my career has served me well and I would commend it to others. Don’t be afraid to take on a new type of file/role/position. It may at times be scary and hard, but also exciting and invigorating. Sometimes it takes work to stay happy with what you are doing.