Annual Report 2017
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2017 Annual Report “To understand the evolution of law and society in Alberta is to understand our past... The Legal Archives Society of Alberta is your link to this understanding.” Society Profile ________________________________________________ The Legal Archives Society of Alberta (LASA) is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and understanding the evolution of law and society in Alberta by establishing and preserving a complete and accurate historical record of the legal profession in Alberta. Incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta in 1990, LASA is governed by an independent Board of Directors. In fulfillment of its mission, LASA operates a legal heritage program and facility for the private legal community. LASAʼs principal objectives are to: • preserve the documentary heritage of lawyers, judges, and legal organizations in Alberta; • provide services for the legal community to identify, retain, and use their archival records; • provide source material for legal and public research on the history of law and society in Alberta; • enhance awareness of and celebrate the role of law in Albertaʼs history. LASAʼs seven program areas are: • Archives • Legal History Library • Oral History • Research Services • Exhibits and Interpretation • Records and Archives Consulting • Publications 1 Presidentʼs Report ________________________________________________________________________ The Legal Archives Society of Alberta received some significant records in the past year, including those from the Hon. Milt Harradence, Q.C., the Hon. Lawrie Smith, Q.C., and the Hon. Neil Wittmann, Q.C., retired Chief Justice, Court of Queenʼs Bench of Alberta. Highlights of 2017 were the dinner in Edmonton featuring the Hon. James Foster, Q.C. in March, and the dinner in Calgary featuring the Hon. John Reilly, Q.C., as well as a successful casino fundraiser in July. We are pleased that the legal profession continues to choose LASA as its repository for preserving its history. LASAʼs staff work diligently to provide archival and research services, and promote Albertaʼs legal history through LASAʼs various programs. Once again, the Law Society of Alberta provided our core funding, for which we are grateful. Our annual campaign and the generosity of our donors provided the financial assistance that allowed us to meet our project goals. We would like to thank our donors for making 2017 another successful year for LASA Shaun T. MacIsaac, Q.C. Chair Executive Directorʼs Report ________________________________________________________________________ 2017 was exciting year for the Legal Archives Society of Alberta. We secured a ten-year extension on our lease. We submitted and received approval for amendments to our By-Laws. LASA made robust upgrades to our IT security to ensure our data is protected. We hosted our Annual Historical Dinner in March at the Hotel Macdonald with the Hon. James Foster, Q.C., and in Calgary at the Palliser Hotel in October with the Hon. John Reilly, Q.C. Following the success of our 2016 film, The Agreement, we continue to explore new and exciting ways to preserve and promote Albertaʼs legal heritage. In 2017, LASA applied for and received several grants for projects to be completed in 2018. LASA continues to grow and received a number of significant archival donations throughout 2017. Our finances remain stable, and we look forward to continuing as Canadaʼs only independent legal archives. Stacy F. Kaufeld, M.A. Executive Director 2 Highlights ______________________________________________ Administration and Finances • $180,000 from the Law Society of Alberta in operating grants • $39,540 in special project grants • $46,360 raised through our annual campaign • $600 in publication sales • $12,280 in Endowment fund income • $64,615 from casino proceeds (pro-rated over 2 years from the 2017 casino) Archives • acquired 12 accessions amounting to approximately 1 metres of textual records • holds consist of over 850 metres of records at the end of 2017 Exhibits and Interpretation • LASA participated in “Law Day” in Red Deer where The Agreement was screened • LASA participates annually in the Archives Society of Alberta virtual exhibit (archivesalberta.org) • LASAʼs website (legalarchives.ca) is regularly updated with information about upcoming events and news, as well as several virtual exhibits covering topics in Albertaʼs legal history • LASA has joined social media with LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. • LASA has developed several exhibits for special events celebrating Albertaʼs legal heritage • LASA screened The Agreement in the Edmonton Courthouse on February 2, 2018 Research Services • completed 78 requests for research Oral History • LASA received funding from the Edmonton Heritage Committee and Alberta Historical Resources Foundation to conduct interviews in Edmonton in 2018 • LASA received funding from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation to conduct interviews in Calgary in 2018 • Blake, Cassels, Graydon LLP transcribed the following interviews in 2017: the Hon. Marguerite J. Trussler, Q.C., Peter J.M. Lown, Q.C., the Hon A. Anne McLellan, P.C., Q.C., Graham Price, Q.C., Diane J. Pettie, Q.C., Francine Swanson, Q.C., the Hon. Dennis Hart, Q.C, John Armstrong, Q.C., the Hon. Blair Mason, Q.C., Rose Carter, Q.C., Phil Lister, Q.C., and the Hon. Joanne Veit. Legal History Library • seven titles were added to the library • LASA received $10,000 from the Highbury Foundation (headed by Peter Allard) to expand and specialize our legal history library to included books from countries outside of Canada, in particular from Commonwealth nations. Graham Price and Louis Knafla have both donated titles from their personal libraries. In 2018, LASA intends to hire a librarian who will properly process, catalogue, and organize these significant donations, as well as making them searchable online. 3 Administration ________________________________________________________________________ Cyber Security LASA dealt with an infection by ransomware which encrypted our data in early 2017. Once the immediate problem was solved, we followed up with a series of measures designed to protect LASAʼs data for the future. We installed a new HP server, cloud anti-virus Sophos endpoint protection, a new Sophos firewall, a new HP managed switch, Sophos intercept X, and new Sophos sandstorm software. As a result of the combination of steps taken, and further staff education, we believe that LASA now has state of the art protection that is robust and appropriate as protection going forward. By-Laws In 2016, the Chair and Executive Director circulated amended By-Laws for the Board of Directors to be presented for approval at the 2017 Annual General Meeting. The membership approved the amendments to the By-Laws at the AGM on June 7, 2017. The amended By-Laws were registered with Alberta Registries in early 2018. Lease Extension LASA finalized the extension on the lease for our premises in March 2017. The option for our extension began on August 1, 2017. We negotiated a ten-year extension to 2027 with $28,777 tenant inducement allowance, eighteen (18) months of free basic rent spread over the first four (4) years of the lease, and a basic rent of $13/square foot until August 2020, increasing to $14/square foot until August 2022, increasing to $15/square foot until August 2025, and increasing to $16/square foot until November 2027. For perspective, we were paying $16/square foot as of August 2017. Annual General Meeting On June 7, 2017, LASA held its Annual General Meeting via video conference in Edmonton and Calgary. Members of the current Board of Directors Shaun T. MacIsaac, Q.C. (Chair), Wayne Malcolm Schafer, Q.C. (Vice Chair), Susan V.R. Billington, Q.C., Dennis B. Denis, Q.C. (Secretary), the Hon. Judge John Maher, Dennis A. McDermott, Q.C., Duncan McKillop, Q.C., the Hon Mr. Justice Dallas K. Miller, the Hon. Mr. Justice Jack Watson, and Leanne Young were re-elected for two- year terms. Newly elected board members include Leah Hayes, Kevin T. Mott, the Hon. Mr. Justice Blair Nixon, the Hon. Madam Justice Dawn Pentelechuk, Donna Purcell, Q.C., and the Hon. Judge Susan Richardson. A presentation by Mark Minenko entitled “Civil Rights and Liberties During Conflict and War” provided an overview of some of the laws introduced pursuant to the War Measures Act that introduced a registration and reporting system to control the alien enemy population during World War I. LASA AGM Speaker, Mark Minenko 4 Finances ________________________________________________________________________ In 2017, LASA operated on a budget of $389,220. The Law Society of Alberta provided the core grant of $180,000. LASA is a registered charity and holds a category “A” status under the Cultural Properties Export and Import Act. 2017 Annual Campaign The purpose of the annual campaign is to raise funds to assist with covering operating expenses during a fiscal year (January 1 - December 31). Staff and volunteer supporters normally set out to achieve an annual goal of $50,000 (after expenses) through two major fundraising efforts: a direct mail/email campaign, and the Annual Historical Dinner. The total amount received in the 2017 campaign was $52,890. Direct Mail/Email Campaign LASA sent out via direct mail and email approximately 1,000 appeal letters and donor cards to Albertaʼs legal and judicial communities. Combined with other contributions throughout the year, the profession responded with $46,360 in direct donations. Historical Dinners LASA held its annual fundraising dinner in Edmonton in March 2017 with keynote speaker the Hon. James Foster, Q.C. who spoke about the merger of the Alberta Courts. In October 2017, LASA welcomed the Hon. John Reilly, Q.C. in Calgary who spoke about his career as a Provincial Court Judge and his struggle for Aboriginal Justice. Both evenings were a great success, and LASA is appreciative to all those who attended and continue to support preserving and promoting Albertaʼs legal heritage. Membership Membership stood at 129 on December 31, 2017, an increase over 2016ʼs total of 113. Revenue from the annual campaign donations for 2017 was $46,360, a significant increase over 2016ʼs amount of $34,097.