History of Edmonton's Legal Build - Past Honourees
Since 1999, Edmonton's Legal Community has come together to sponsor and build a home for a local family. Each build is named in honour of a distinguished member of the judiciary and represents a lasting legacy of the legal profession in Edmonton.
1999 Legal Build - Justice Tevie Miller
Justice Tevie Miller was the first person to be honoured by the building of a Habitat home in his name. He was born and raised in Edmonton, where he studied and practiced law until his appointment to the District Court in 1974 and later the Court of Queen’s Bench. He served on the latter Court until his untimely death in 1997.
Justice Miller was heavily involved in the community, serving as President of many organizations including the United Way, the Edmonton Symphony, and the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and Chancellor of the University of Alberta.
2002 Legal Build - Justice William Sinclair
Justice William Sinclair received a Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1941. He enlisted in the Canadian Navy and served as a commander of landing craft in the Dieppe Raid and invasions of Algeria, Sicily and Normandy. Following the end of World War II he took his law degree at the University of Alberta and practiced in Edmonton and Calgary until his appointment in 1968. After serving on the Trial Division, he became a member of the highest court in Alberta, the Appellate Division. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench for five years.
Justice Sinclair was the head of a Commission of Inquiry into Bilingual Air Traffic Services in Quebec from 1976 to 1979. He also was involved in legal education and activities of the Canadian Judges Conference.
2005 Legal Build - Justice John W. “Buzz” McClung
Justice John W. "Buzz" McClung was a grandson of the pioneer women’s activist, Nellie McClung. He was born in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta where he obtained his Arts and Law degrees. He gained a reputation as an outstanding criminal defense counsel. He was active in legal education of students and lawyers.
Justice McClung was appointed to the District Court of Alberta in 1976 and to the Supreme Court of Alberta, Trial Division, in 1977. He became a member of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in 1980, where he remained until his death in 2004.
2008 Legal Build - Justice Allan Cawsey
Justice Allan Cawsey spent most of his life in the administration of justice. He was an RCMP officer, lawyer, the first Chief Judge of the Provincial Court and a member of the Court of Queen’s Bench for 18 years.
He joined the RCMP shortly before the outbreak of World War II but then enlisted
in the 10th Calgary Tank Regiment. He became a Tank Commander in Sicily and Italy and was engaged in fierce fighting at battles including Monte Cassino. After a second severe injury in battle he returned to Canada and took his Arts and Law degrees at the University of Alberta. He was admitted to the Bar in 1952 and practiced in Wetaskiwin, where he was the District Crown Prosecutor. He served as a Bencher. He was appointed as the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta in 1976 and to the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1979.
One of his lasting contributions was chairing a Provincial Task Force on the impact of the justice system on the First Nations people of Alberta. The 1990 report, Justice on Trial, made many recommendations, a large number which have been adopted.
2011 Legal Build - Justice Vernor W. M. “Mac” Smith
Justice Smith was a cherished member of Edmonton's judiciary. Born on June 13, 1925 in Edmonton, he attend the University of Alberta, graduating in Law in 1951. He was called to the Bar in 1952 and became a partner in the Edmonton firm of Stanton and Smith. He was appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in July 1980.
2014 Legal Build - Justice Cecilia Johnstone
Madam Justice Cecilia Johnstone is remembered by all who knew her for her spirit and energy, as well as her devotion to her profession and her role as a highly-respected judge.
Cecilia Johnstone graduated from law at the University of Alberta in 1974. She was called to the bar in 1975 and became a partner with Lucas Bowker and White three years later. She later moved to the firm Fraser Milner. Justice Johnstone was the first female president of the Canadian Bar Association and a strong proponent and agent of change for equal rights for those working in the justice system.
Justice Johnstone was appointed to be a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench in 1996, where she remained until her in death in 2006.
2017 Legal Build - Judge Edward R. Wachowich
Edward R. Wachowich (1929-2012) was a well-known Edmonton lawyer, judge and community volunteer who was proud of his heritage and even prouder of his devoted family.
Born in 1929, Ed spent his early years in the hamlet of Opal, Alberta where the Wachowich family home still stands. When he was 15, his parents moved the family to Edmonton to give their children every opportunity to pursue their education. Ed attended St. Joseph’s High School and enrolled in the University of Alberta to study engineering, only to discover it wasn’t for him. On the advice of a friend, he decided to apply to law school and graduated in 1954. Ed practiced law in Edmonton from 1955 to 1986 when he was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta. Three years later, he was appointed Chief Judge, a position he held until his retirement from the Court in 1999.
Ed was fortunate to be able to be involved in many aspects of service to his community. He held numerous volunteer positions on boards in church groups, service clubs, a seniors’ housing centre, the Alberta Catholic Hospitals Foundation, the University of Alberta Board of Governors, Senate and Alumni Association as well as bodies related to his profession such as the Edmonton Bar Association.
Throughout Ed’s life, his family, friends and home were of the highest importance to him. Ed and his wife Lucy raised six children and delighted in the antics of their six grandchildren who carry on his motto: It costs nothing to be nice.
2019 Legal Build - Jean McBean QC
Jean McBean QC (1948-2012) graduated law in 1972 from the University of Alberta with distinction and received her LLM from McGill University in 1987.
Jean established a private law practice as a sole practitioner in 1979 and was later joined by new partners creating the firm that became known as McBean Becker Cochard and Gordon which had the distinction of being Edmonton's all-female firm. Jean remained with the firm until 2001 when she made good on her commitment to making legal representation accessible for all by setting up the Legal Aid Family Law Office in Edmonton and Calgary at the request of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta.
Jean spent her entire life working in the area of women's equality and social justice, her legal career spanned an era when the battle for women's equality was transforming divorce, child custody and rules for property division, and Jean's fight for social change left a clear mark on the development of the law.
Jean was a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta from 1999 to 2001, and also served as the co-chair of the National Legal Committee of the Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF).
Jean was committed to sharing her knowledge with others in the profession. She was a frequent volunteer with the Legal Education Society of Alberta, and taught at the University of Alberta for many years becoming an inspiration and mentor to countless Edmonton lawyers.
Jean passed away from cancer on April 7, 2012.
1999 Legal Build - Justice Tevie Miller
Justice Tevie Miller was the first person to be honoured by the building of a Habitat home in his name. He was born and raised in Edmonton, where he studied and practiced law until his appointment to the District Court in 1974 and later the Court of Queen’s Bench. He served on the latter Court until his untimely death in 1997.
Justice Miller was heavily involved in the community, serving as President of many organizations including the United Way, the Edmonton Symphony, and the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and Chancellor of the University of Alberta.
2002 Legal Build - Justice William Sinclair
Justice William Sinclair received a Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1941. He enlisted in the Canadian Navy and served as a commander of landing craft in the Dieppe Raid and invasions of Algeria, Sicily and Normandy. Following the end of World War II he took his law degree at the University of Alberta and practiced in Edmonton and Calgary until his appointment in 1968. After serving on the Trial Division, he became a member of the highest court in Alberta, the Appellate Division. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench for five years.
Justice Sinclair was the head of a Commission of Inquiry into Bilingual Air Traffic Services in Quebec from 1976 to 1979. He also was involved in legal education and activities of the Canadian Judges Conference.
2005 Legal Build - Justice John W. “Buzz” McClung
Justice John W. "Buzz" McClung was a grandson of the pioneer women’s activist, Nellie McClung. He was born in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta where he obtained his Arts and Law degrees. He gained a reputation as an outstanding criminal defense counsel. He was active in legal education of students and lawyers.
Justice McClung was appointed to the District Court of Alberta in 1976 and to the Supreme Court of Alberta, Trial Division, in 1977. He became a member of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in 1980, where he remained until his death in 2004.
2008 Legal Build - Justice Allan Cawsey
Justice Allan Cawsey spent most of his life in the administration of justice. He was an RCMP officer, lawyer, the first Chief Judge of the Provincial Court and a member of the Court of Queen’s Bench for 18 years.
He joined the RCMP shortly before the outbreak of World War II but then enlisted
in the 10th Calgary Tank Regiment. He became a Tank Commander in Sicily and Italy and was engaged in fierce fighting at battles including Monte Cassino. After a second severe injury in battle he returned to Canada and took his Arts and Law degrees at the University of Alberta. He was admitted to the Bar in 1952 and practiced in Wetaskiwin, where he was the District Crown Prosecutor. He served as a Bencher. He was appointed as the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta in 1976 and to the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1979.
One of his lasting contributions was chairing a Provincial Task Force on the impact of the justice system on the First Nations people of Alberta. The 1990 report, Justice on Trial, made many recommendations, a large number which have been adopted.
2011 Legal Build - Justice Vernor W. M. “Mac” Smith
Justice Smith was a cherished member of Edmonton's judiciary. Born on June 13, 1925 in Edmonton, he attend the University of Alberta, graduating in Law in 1951. He was called to the Bar in 1952 and became a partner in the Edmonton firm of Stanton and Smith. He was appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in July 1980.
2014 Legal Build - Justice Cecilia Johnstone
Madam Justice Cecilia Johnstone is remembered by all who knew her for her spirit and energy, as well as her devotion to her profession and her role as a highly-respected judge.
Cecilia Johnstone graduated from law at the University of Alberta in 1974. She was called to the bar in 1975 and became a partner with Lucas Bowker and White three years later. She later moved to the firm Fraser Milner. Justice Johnstone was the first female president of the Canadian Bar Association and a strong proponent and agent of change for equal rights for those working in the justice system.
Justice Johnstone was appointed to be a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench in 1996, where she remained until her in death in 2006.
2017 Legal Build - Judge Edward R. Wachowich
Edward R. Wachowich (1929-2012) was a well-known Edmonton lawyer, judge and community volunteer who was proud of his heritage and even prouder of his devoted family.
Born in 1929, Ed spent his early years in the hamlet of Opal, Alberta where the Wachowich family home still stands. When he was 15, his parents moved the family to Edmonton to give their children every opportunity to pursue their education. Ed attended St. Joseph’s High School and enrolled in the University of Alberta to study engineering, only to discover it wasn’t for him. On the advice of a friend, he decided to apply to law school and graduated in 1954. Ed practiced law in Edmonton from 1955 to 1986 when he was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta. Three years later, he was appointed Chief Judge, a position he held until his retirement from the Court in 1999.
Ed was fortunate to be able to be involved in many aspects of service to his community. He held numerous volunteer positions on boards in church groups, service clubs, a seniors’ housing centre, the Alberta Catholic Hospitals Foundation, the University of Alberta Board of Governors, Senate and Alumni Association as well as bodies related to his profession such as the Edmonton Bar Association.
Throughout Ed’s life, his family, friends and home were of the highest importance to him. Ed and his wife Lucy raised six children and delighted in the antics of their six grandchildren who carry on his motto: It costs nothing to be nice.
2019 Legal Build - Jean McBean QC
Jean McBean QC (1948-2012) graduated law in 1972 from the University of Alberta with distinction and received her LLM from McGill University in 1987.
Jean established a private law practice as a sole practitioner in 1979 and was later joined by new partners creating the firm that became known as McBean Becker Cochard and Gordon which had the distinction of being Edmonton's all-female firm. Jean remained with the firm until 2001 when she made good on her commitment to making legal representation accessible for all by setting up the Legal Aid Family Law Office in Edmonton and Calgary at the request of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta.
Jean spent her entire life working in the area of women's equality and social justice, her legal career spanned an era when the battle for women's equality was transforming divorce, child custody and rules for property division, and Jean's fight for social change left a clear mark on the development of the law.
Jean was a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta from 1999 to 2001, and also served as the co-chair of the National Legal Committee of the Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF).
Jean was committed to sharing her knowledge with others in the profession. She was a frequent volunteer with the Legal Education Society of Alberta, and taught at the University of Alberta for many years becoming an inspiration and mentor to countless Edmonton lawyers.
Jean passed away from cancer on April 7, 2012.