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Why Independence Matters:
LSA Plenary at Alberta Law Conference
January 29, 2009
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Long Service Awards Celebrate Distinguished Careers
By Perry Mack, QC, President, Law Society of Alberta
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The year 1958 in which Canada's Avro Arrow made its debut flight, Sir Edmund Hillary reached the South Pole overland, and John Diefenbaker led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to victory, 65 lawyers were called to the Alberta bar.
Fast forward 50 years, the Law Society of Alberta celebrated on October 2, 2008 in Calgary five decades of service by Donald J. Kelly, QC; the Honourable John Charles Major, QC; David J. MacLean, QC; Edward S. Pipella, QC and Ernest R. Shymka.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Donald Kelly, QC studied at U. of A. earning his B.A. (1954) and his LL.B. (1957). He articled under Miles Hudson Patterson, QC and began his law career with the firm of MacPherson, Kelly & Company in 1958. He worked as counsel for the firm Miles Davison LLP after it merged with McNiven Kelly, focusing on corporate law, commercial transactions, land development, wills and estates. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1999.
The Honourable John Charles Major, QC was born in Mattawa, Ontario and earned a commerce degree (1953) from the U. of Montreal and his LL.B. (1957) from the U. of Toronto. After articling under Robert G. Black, he began his 34-year law career with Bennett Jones. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1972, appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal in 1991, and to the Supreme
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Court of Canada in 1992. As a driving force in the Alberta legal community, he was involved in cases that brought about significant changes in local, provincial and federal policies and legislation. On the Supreme Court of Canada, he presided over nearly 1000 cases. He returned in 2006 to private practice with Bennett Jones LLP in Calgary.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, David MacLean, QC received his B.A. (1955) and LL.B. (1957) from the U. of Saskatchewan. He articled under Donald Rae Fisher in 1957, and after being admitted to the Alberta bar, he began his 50 year law career with the firm, MacLean, Wiedemann and Company in Medicine Hat, AB.
Edward S. Pipella, Q.C. was born at Lamont, Alberta, and entered the U. of A. where he earned his B.A. (1954) and U.B.C. where he received his LL.B (1957). After articling under Edward J. McCormick, QC, he hung out his own shingle, under the name Edward S. Pipella. As a small practitioner, his 50-year career focused particularly on serious personal injury claims. Along the way, his Calgary firm changed names to become Pipella Law under which he still practises today.
Ernest R. Shymka was born at Smoky Lake, Alberta, and studied at the U. of A. where he earned his B.A. (1956) and his LL.B. (1957). He articled under Jerome Reyda and began his 50-year career with the firm of Shymka and Company (now called Calgary East Legal Services).
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