ANNOUNCING THE 2017 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
 We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Distinguished Service Awards. Join us in celebrating the achievements of these exceptional members of the legal profession on January 26 in Edmonton at 11:30am.
Service to the Profession: Virginia Engel, QC
The contributions of Virginia Engel, QC, to the legal profession are almost too numerous to list. Ms. Engel has been a prolific member of the CBA since first joining over 30 years ago, serving as the CBA Alberta President in 2001-02, and making many other contributions to both the branch and national arms of the organization. In addition to her work with the CBA, Ms. Engel has served on multiple Law Society of Alberta Committees, chaired the LESA Annual Refresher, and is an active member and past president of the Association of Women Lawyers, an organization which promotes the advancement, equality, interests and well-being of women in the legal profession.
Service to the Community: The Honourable Robert A. Philp, QC
The Honourable Robert A. Philp, QC has devoted much of his professional career to the service of his community, in particular to organizations dealing with mental health, addiction, homelessness, and support for aboriginal communities. Mr. Philp is a current Director of the Alberta Lawyers' Assistance Society, Board Member for Boyle Street Community Services, has served on the Board of Directors of the Jellinek Society, and provided fundraising support for the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, amongst many other contributions. His devotion to community service is reflected in his current position as Chief of the Commission and Tribunals for the Alberta Human Rights Commission.
Legal Scholarship: Professor Jonnette Watson Hamilton
Professor Jonnette Watson Hamilton has made significant contributions to legal scholarship, both in the form of traditional publications, as well as her work on ABlawg, the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Professor Watson Hamilton was one of the founders of ABlawg in 2007, and to date is still a regular contributor. She has also been published in more than twenty journals in Canada and abroad, with her work covering a diverse number of topics including arbitration, equality rights, legal ethics and property rights. Professor Watson Hamilton has also contributed to law reform in Alberta through her work with the Alberta Law Reform Institute, most recently co-authoring "The Matrimonial Property Act: A Case Law Review".
Pro Bono Legal Service: Buddy G. Melnyk
Buddy G. Melnyk has been a volunteer and lawyer mentor with the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic in Red Deer since 2008. He readily assumed the role of mentor to the first Staff Lawyer with the clinic, who was at that time a new call to the bar, regularly reviewing files and meeting with the lawyer to provide support as needed. His dedication to providing pro bono legal service through the clinic was on display in transition between staff lawyers, when he stepped in to assist with the role while the position was vacant. In addition, Mr. Melnyk is also the sole regular volunteer of the Family Counsel Project, which provides duty counsel-type service to self-represented litigants in family matters at the Court of Queen's Bench.
|
|
|
|
