A beautiful spring evening in an elegant lounge with a rooftop patio offering a spectacular view from Maple Leaf Square provided the perfect backdrop for celebrating all things Queen’s Law. Over 150 alumni, faculty, staff and students gathered for the school’s annual Toronto event, where they enjoyed good company, applauded the stellar results of a major fundraising campaign, met a new key figure in the business law program, cheered on an outstanding young alumnus, and reflected on the career of a criminal law giant.

“What a wonderful mini-reunion!” exclaims Kathy McBey, Law’80. “It gave us the chance to celebrate and be inspired by the achievements of the school and colleagues who honour the high ideals of Queen’s Law and have found creative ways to make this the kind of world in which we all want to live, learn, grow, and give back.”

And best of all, she adds, was doing all that the in the company of a friendly, congenial, loyal and upbeat crowd of grads from all years. “Every one of us is always delighted to connect with friends old and new, and share memories of the joys and hijinks from back in the day,” she says.  

“It’s been a remarkable year for Queen’s Law,” Dean Bill Flanagan told the crowd. 

To mark the school’s 60th anniversary and continue building upon a long legacy of leadership and success, an ambitious target was set last fall to raise $600,000 for bursaries to support students with financial needs. “I’m delighted to announce we have surpassed our target, raising close to $700,000,” he said. “I want to thank all of you who generously contributed to our QL60 campaign. Our students are also most grateful to you.”

Tim Bates, Law’74, one of the many donors, was impressed. “Exceeding the QL60 target is meaningful, not just in monetary terms but also because the enthusiasm for giving by graduates is emblematic of the spirit of the law school that has been engendered by the Dean and many others,” he says.

At last year’s Toronto event, the Dean announced the establishment of the Stephen Sigurdson Professorship in Corporate Law and Finance. This time he introduced the first holder of the professorship – Robert Yalden, a senior partner with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP who as a young lawyer there was mentored by Sigurdson and later partnered with him on cases. 

“Rob Yalden is the ideal person to be the inaugural holder of the Sigurdson Professorship,” says Betty DelBianco, Law’84, the classmate of Sigurdson who spearheaded the fundraising campaign. “Not only is Rob highly respected in the field of corporate law, he was a friend and colleague of Steve’s throughout his career. The fact that he is coming to Queen’s from Oslers, which was such a big part of Steve’s life and such a generous supporter of the professorship, is particularly meaningful.”

Brian Kolenda, Law’10, the newest partner with Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP, accepted the 2018 Dan Soberman Outstanding Young Alumni Award. “It was very special to be able to celebrate Brian’s award – a well-deserved honour,” says Chris Rae, one of several Law’10 alumni in attendance. “It was also great to be able to catch up with so many classmates.”

Don Stuart, the legendary and beloved criminal law professor, was also honoured. Paying tribute to him were former students, Justice David Stratas, Law’84, LLD’12, and Pam Hrick, Law’13, and colleague Professor Nick Bala, Law’77. “This year’s event was memorable for the heartfelt outpouring of affection for Don Stuart,” says Tim Bates.

For the fourth consecutive year, the event was hosted in the heart of downtown Toronto at CI Financial Inc. by Sheila Murray, Law’82, CI Financial’s President and General Counsel, and Chair of the Queen’s Law Dean’s Council.

“From start to end,” says Kathy McBey, “everything was super.”

Check out all the highlights of Celebrate Queen's Law in our photo gallery!

Watch for the July 2018 issue of Queen’s Law Reports Online for more coverage on Rob Yalden’s introduction as the first Sigurdson Professor, Brian Kolenda’s outstanding achievements as a young lawyer and the tribute to Don Stuart. 

QL60 Bursary Campaign results will be featured in Supporting Excellence 2018.  

By Lisa Graham