Queen's Law at 50 - A Capital Matter

Photo By Ronald Aube, Reno Video & Photography

(Standing l-r) Professor Don Stuart, Professor Emeritus Tung-Pi Chen, Heather Perkins-McVey, Law ’86, (sitting l-r)Maureen Llanos, Law ’86, Mai Chen, former Access/Technical Services Librarian, and Janet Fuhrer, Law ’85.

When Janet Fuhrer, Law ‘85, arrived at the west block of Parliament Hill for the Queen's Law at 50 Parliamentary Reception and Dinner on May 22, 2007, she knew she was in for a special evening. Participants in the festivities included the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada and Peter Milliken, ArtSci '68, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Sheila Bayne, Law '69, a member of the Queen's Law at 50 Steering Committee, served as the master of ceremonies, welcoming everybody to the reception and introducing Milliken, who offered a toast to the law school.

Keynote speaker Chief Justice McLachlin followed her, addressing the assembled alumni and dignitaries. Like Fuhrer, the audience was captivated.

"I have been fortunate to hear the Chief Justice of Canada speak on a number of occasions in recent years," said Fuhrer. "She is good at reminding us in subtle ways and sometimes more directly of the importance of an independent judiciary as a cornerstone of the fair and impartial justice system we enjoy in Canada."

Chief Justice McLachlin's speech was followed by the presentation of a coat of arms to commemorate Queen's Law 50th anniversary. Darrel Kennedy, Assiniboine Herald of the Canadian Heraldic Society, presented a set of Armorial Bearings for Queen's Law to Dean Bill Flanagan.

At the end of the reception, Fuhrer had the pleasure of seeing her former law partner, Senator David Smith, Law ‘70, receive the 2007 H.R.S. Ryan Law Alumni Award for significant contribution to the Faculty, University or legal profession, as selected by the Faculty's Dean's Council members. In the mid-1990s, prior to his political work, Senator Smith was in private practice at the same firm where Fuhrer was a partner.

"In accepting the award, he spoke eloquently about the Obstacles Report [of] 1981, a Report of the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Disabled and the Handicapped," said Fuhrer. "[That] Committee was chaired by Senator Smith."

By the time Fuhrer left, she had witnessed an historic event. But for Fuhrer, the night was also important for another reason - after years away from the law school, she was able to spend time with the friends and peers she remembered from her student days.

"Some of the connections we make at law school become an enduring part of our personal and professional lives," said Fuhrer. "Reconnecting and catching up with old friends is a rare treat in our busy lives."

 

For more pictures of the Parliamentary Reception and Dinner, see http://law.queensu.ca/events/queensLaw50Events/law50Ottawa.html.