Queen's Law at 50 Celebrations Kick Off with Gala

Photo by Teddy Melvin

Professor Emeritus Bernie Adell (Dean of Law 1977-1982) and Peter Rekai (Law ‘80) preparing to entertain the crowd with their speeches at the Gala Dinner and Reception at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on January 24, 2007.

On Wednesday January 24, 2007, members of the Queen's Law community gathered together to celebrate our first 50 years.
Alumni, professors, staff and friends gathered at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto to begin the year-long celebration of Queen's Law's 50th anniversary with a wonderful Gala Reception and Dinner, the largest event of its kind ever in the history of the law school with over 280 people attending. Speakers from all eras of Queen's Law, including former Deans and Law Students' Society Presidents entertained those present with stories of past events and happenings in the law school. Although the hurdles that faced the law school 50 years ago differ greatly from those facing it today, the common thread of endurance, innovation and strength was evident in every speech.

For Robert Martin (Law ‘70), a partner at Martin & Hillyer who spoke on behalf of the Soberman Era (1968-1977), the experience of getting together with fellow alumni, and past and present Deans and professors will be fondly remembered. "In particular," he said, "it was just great to see [former] Dean Soberman's contributions to the evening and to the law school since its inception were deservedly and warmly recognized."

For Peter Rekai (Law ‘80) of Rekai Frankel LLP who spoke on behalf of the Adell Era (1977-1982), the Gala was a great venue to share a laugh with his former classmates and professors. "I think I initially went to the gala just to test my theory that no Queen's Law professor - much less [a former] Dean - could possibly stay within an allotted speaking time (imposed by the evening's organisers) of just two and a half minutes. My own recollection is that these professors could not raise an eyebrow in less than ten minutes. I was not disappointed - the time limits were brutally violated - but all in a worthwhile and happy cause. It was a great night - and Law ‘80 (about 25 of us) had the largest and noisiest contingent of any year!"

It was a contingent that included Justice Harvey P. Brownstone (Law ‘80) who enjoyed a relaxing night listening to Rekai's tales of former years. "It was a very special and nostalgic evening," said Justice Brownstone, "which evoked a lot of memories and gave us a chance to see many people we had not seen in years, especially [former] Deans Soberman and Adell. It was a wonderful way to renew our commitment to Queen's Law, and I hope we will have many more similar events like this in the future."

For Trevor Shaw (Law ‘05), an associate at Lerners LLP who spoke on behalf of the Harvison Young Era (1998-2004), being reunited with so many of his classmates and colleagues was a rewarding experience. "Being able to attend and participate in the Queen's Law at 50 Gala Dinner was truly an honour. While I am well aware of how Queen's Law has enriched my life, the dinner provided all [of us] with the opportunity to reflect on the impact of Queen's Law as a whole has had during its first 50 years."

Vanessa Grant, a Law ‘95 graduate from the Carter Era and partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, would agree. "It was a terrific opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones," said Grant. "The dinner was superb and so was the company. It was a wonderful way to kick off the year-long celebration of a great law school - and one poised to become even greater."

Shaw, reflecting on his time at the school remarked, "Although you can't have a law school without bricks and mortar, it's not the bricks and mortar that makes a law school; it is the faculty, the staff and the students. Yet being part of the Queen's Law community is something that extends beyond the three years of legal education and beyond the walls of Macdonald Hall and it was that sense of community which really made the Gala Dinner so special. It was a celebration of Queen's Law's milestone 50th year, but it was also so much more. It was the celebration of the accomplishments of each and every student that passed through its doors, each and every faculty member who taught within its walls, each and every staff member who helped make the Queen's Law experience absolutely unique."

The Gala Reception and Dinner is the first of a series of events celebrating the history of Queen's Law. Over the next 12 months Queen's Law will be hosting many gatherings, the next one being the student initiative Queen's Law Alumni: Leadership in Social Justice Symposium and Banquet Dinner on February 9th and 10th, 2007. "I came away [from the Toronto Gala] with a good feeling for Queen's Law," said Vic Freidin, Q.C., (Law ‘71) of the Richmond Adelaide Centre who is looking forward to the May 2007 Parliamentary Dinner in Ottawa.

David Pattenden (Law ‘71), Chair of the Queen's Law at 50 Steering Committee was the evening's host at the Toronto Gala. Speakers included Patrick Deane, Vice-Principal (Academic), Kent Plumley (Law ‘63), Professor Emeritus Dan Soberman (Dean of Law 1968-1977), Robert Martin (Law ‘70), Professor Emeritus Bernie Adell (Dean of Law 1977-1982), Peter Rekai (Law ‘80), John Saunders (Law ‘86), David Stratas (Law ‘84), Steven Zakem (Law ‘89), Professor Emeritus Don Carter (Law ‘66 and Dean of Law 1993-1998), Kelly James Harbridge (Law ‘96), Madam Justice Alison Harvison Young (Dean of Law 1998-2004), Trevor Shaw (Law ‘05), Dean Bill Flanagan and Jackie Swaisland (Law ‘06). The evening concluded with a presentation of the Queen's Law at 50 video featuring leading faculty, students and alumni from the past 50 years.