CelebratesHearsay 30 Years HearsayHTehe Dalhoausie Lawr Schoosl Alumnai Magaziyne 2006 A Festive Tribute to Dawn Russell as the Law School welcomes new dean, Phillip Saunders Justice James MacPherson returns to Dalhousie Angus L. Macdonald Dawn Russell and Dean Phillip Saunders remembering a distinguished alumnus 8 FROM THE EDITOR PROFESSOR J O H N Y O G I S [email protected] The fi rst issue of Hearsay… THIS YEAR births, marriages, deaths, job changes MARKS the 30th and promotions, or any matters the read- anniversary of Hearsay which made ers would like to write about. its first appearance in January 1976. Much like the first issue today’s Hear- Then dean, Ronald St. John Macdonald say strives to keep alumni acquainted (LL.B.’52) announced the establishment of with what is going on at the Law School, an office of alumni affairs which was to and attempts to be the principal link have as one of its responsibilities the es- between alumni and their alma mater. tablishment and maintainenance of a Since our last issue we entered the regular news bulletin. The cover pho- “post Dawn era.” Our cover depicts the to was taken by Professor G.V.V. Nicholls passing of the torch from Dawn Russell to depicting the sculpture by Gord Smith Dean Phillip Saunders. We have included a at the entrance of the still relatively new few of the photos and comments from the Weldon Building. In contrast, the back gala dinner celebrating the close of Dean cover contained a photograph of the Russell’s decade as the Law School’s first library in the “old law building” — now female dean. For his part, Dean Saunders the University Club — on the Studley is not entirely a stranger in his new role. Campus. He served as Acting Dean during the Dean Ronald St. John Macdonald Our first issue profiled three indi- 2001-02 academic year. viduals. It was noted that the recently The Law School welcomed back an retired John Willis was busy completing alumnus and old friend, Justice James C. the history of the Law School that Horace MacPherson (LL.B.’74) of the Ontario Court Read (LL.B.’24) was working on at the time of Appeal. Justice MacPherson chose to of his death. George V.V. Nicholls, “one spend his sabbatical year from the Court of the Law School’s best known and re- at Dal. In addition to his own work “Jim” spected teachers”, had become a member was very much a part of the life of the of the part-time Faculty. H. Leslie (Les) School. He was one of the judges of the O’Brien (LL.B.’67) had been appointed As- Smith Shield. He taught classes, attended sociate Dean. lectures and renewed many old acquain- Professor R. Graham Murray (LL.B.’40) tences. Hearsay is delighted that Justice wrote an eloquent piece about the “Old MacPherson agreed to share some of his We hope that you will find in this Law Building” on the Studley Cam- observations of the “current lay of the issue much to interest you in all our pus. Professor Clayton Hutchins (LL.B.’41) land” at the School. reports on the comings and goings of reported on admissions policy. Profes- I personally enjoy stories which record your classmates, news of the faculty sor David Mullan told about small group aspects of our history. Dianne Marshall and the accomplishments of the student seminars in Contracts, a new approach has contributed a feature on Angus L. body. As Professor James A. Rendall said to first-year studies “which is proving MacDonald (LL.B.’21). Best known as one in introducing the first issue of Hearsay valuable and stimulating to students and of Nova Scotia’s most distinguished 30 years ago, “We are going to send you teachers alike.” Professor Hudson Janisch and beloved premiers, MacDonald was news of the school and of the people in it. wrote on the new emphasis on continu- also a brilliant law student, lecturer and We hope that we shall tell you things that ing legal eduaction undertaken by the Assistant Dean of Law. With regard to are interesting and informative....(But) Public Services Committee. Professor more contemporary matters I also find we want to know about you. You are Douglas Johnston (who sadly passed much interest in learning of the careers also doing important and interesting away on May 6, 2006) outlined the very of our alumni who choose a somewhat things. We very much hope you will exciting special program in Marine and less traditional way of putting their legal contact us with news of yourself and Environmental Studies. As it was the talents and skills to work. In this issue we other graduates....We hope that Hearsay first issue Hearsay said it had been able to profile a star basketball coach, a standup can serve as a very positive vehicle for collect only a few notes about the alumni, comedienne, and a film and TV writer increasing the contact among the entire but asked for help in getting news on and producer. group of our graduates.” • Dalhousie Law School Hearsay 2006 start1 HearsayDalhousieDalhousie LawLaw SchoolSchool AlumniAlumni MagazineMagazine Volume 29 Contents Dean Phillip Saunders, LL.B.‘84 Editors Professor John Yogis, LL.B. ‘64 Karen Kavanaugh Alumni Affairs .........................................................................................................6 Grapevine Editor Katherine Stanford Design and Production Karen Kavanaugh School News.............................................................................................................26 Student Notes..........................................................................................................34 The editors welcome contributions, information, and ideas from alumni. Please direct your submissions to: Editor Hearsay Dalhousie Law School 6061 University Avenue Halifax, NS Canada Faculty News.............................................................................................................41 B3H 4H9 tel: 902-494-3744 fax: 902-494-1316 2005 Alumni Reunions ......................................................................................22 E-mail: [email protected] Weldon Award for Unselfi sh Public Service..........................................49 Grapevine...................................................................................................................64 Obituaries..................................................................................................................72 Mailed under Canada Post publications agreement 40065040 Report on Giving....................................................................................................79 Dalhousie Law School Hearsay 2006 1 8 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN LAST JULY I ASSUMED the position of books published by faculty members Dean at Dalhousie Law School, as over the past year, on topics ranging Dawn Russell stepped down after an from judicial biography (Philip Girard’s extraordinarily successful 10 years of superb biography of Bora Laskin) to service in the position. In the intervening environmental law (Meinhard Doelle’s months I have had the opportunity timely work on the Kyoto Protocol) and to gain a greater appreciation for law and technology (Teresa Scassa and the strength and vitality of the Law Michael Deturbide’s text on the law of School programme, and the range electronic commerce). of accomplishments of our students Our students also continued to and faculty. In the summer of 2005, excel, both academically and in their we received the report of a University many other activities. This year saw the Senate Review of the School, which production of an outstanding edition was both extremely positive and of the student-run Dalhousie Journal of helpful in providing guidance for the Legal Studies, with a wide range of top coming years. The external reviewers, quality articles. Once again, Dal students both former Deans at other schools, continued to lead the country in their described “a law school that has a robust level of participation in the Pro Bono teaching programme, a committed and Students programme. Our first year industrious faculty, and an energetic and class, drawn from one of the strongest PHILLIP M. SAUNDERS DEAN, DALHOUSIE LAW SCHOOL talented student body”, and found that it applicant pools in a number of years, “is deserving of its national reputation.” I promises to continue this tradition of can only agree. achievement and commitment. A notable aspect of the Law School …“a law school that has a robust teaching programme, year has been the number and quality of our visitors and lecturers. It is impossible a committed and industrious faculty, and an energetic to name them all here, but in addition to the various lecture series, we have and talented student body ... is deserving had visitors such as Professor Roberta Romano from Yale (Tory’s Business Law of its national reputation.” Visitor), Roy Romanow (Health Law), Myron Scholes, Nobel Prize Winner in This issue of Hearsay will, I hope, give Economics (Smith Lecture) and Professor some idea of the busy and productive Merrit Fox of Columbia (Osler, Hoskin & year that we have had at the School. As Harcourt Lecture). We were particularly you will see, our faculty and students fortunate this year to have welcomed have won numerous honours, including Justice James MacPherson of the Ontario the award of the Order of Canada to Court of Appeal as a judicial sabbaticant, Professor Wayne Mackay, the selection teaching Constitutional Law and of Professor Dianne Pothier for the becoming, in short order, a familiar face Frances Fish Women Lawyer’s Award, at faculty and student events. the recognition of Professor Steve Over the past