Events

Law Class of 1973 
(Photo by Stoo Metz Photography)

On September 22, 2023, the Schulich School of Law welcomed more than 260 Dalhousie law school alumni and guests to the Student Union Building's McInnes Room for the Law Alumni Reunion Mixer.

Tony Amoud (LLB '09), President of the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association was the MC. The event began with Schulich Law Dean, Sarah Harding, welcoming alumni to the event and providing some law school updates.

Schulich Law’s alumni awards were then presented to this year’s recipients. The Honourable Don Oliver (LLB '64, LLD '03) received the Schulich School of Law’s 2023 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service. 

Six alum were also inducted into the Bertha Wilson Honour Society - Robbie MacKeigan, KC (LLB ’69), The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, MP, KC (LLB ’90), The Honourable Linda Oland (LLB ’76), Madeleine Schwarz (LLB ’94), Drew White, KC (LLB ’88) and Peter Zed, KC (LLB ’80).

The evening was capped off by a message from Danielle Bailey-Heelan, President of the Dalhousie Law Students’ Society (LSS), who spoke about the value law alumni add to the student experience.

After class photos were taken, guests were invited to a special Domus gathering in the Grawood Pub. 

On Saturday, the Weldon Law Building opened its doors for an Open House at the law school. More than 75 alumni attended and got the opportunity to tour the building, look at their graduation pictures and learn the ways in which the law school has changed since they were students. 

Thanks to all who participated in making the weekend such a success! It was a pleasure to reunite and celebrate.

Photos from the 2023 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Reception & Dinner

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2022Law Class of 1965
 

On September 9, 2022, the Schulich School of Law welcomed more than 450 Dalhousie law school alumni and guests to the Halifax Convention Centre for the annual Law Alumni Reunion Weekend Reception and Dinner.

Tony Amoud (LLB '09) and Tricia Ralph (LLB '09), President and Vice President, Dalhousie Law Alumni Association were the entertaining hosts for the evening. The event began with Schulich Law Dean, Camille Cameron, welcoming alumni to the event and providing some law school updates.

The dinner featured two guest speakers. The first, Catherine Poyen Zemans (JD '91) talked about the impact Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (DLAS) had on both she and her husband, David Zemans (JD '91), as students and why they continue to be avid supporters of the Clinic today.

The second speaker, Igor Yushchenko (LLM '12), a Ukrainian-Canadian lawyer, spoke about the war and how the legal and Dal community can continue to come together to provide support.

Schulich Law’s alumni awards were then presented to this year’s recipients. International human rights lawyer Alex Neve (LLB ’87) received the Schulich School of Law’s 2022 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service, seven alum were inducted into the Bertha Wilson Honour Society, and the Dean’s Cup was presented to Don MacDiarmid, representing the Class of 1990, for achieving $100,000 in lifetime giving by class members.

The evening was capped off by a message from Grace Mangusso, President of the Dalhousie Law Students’ Society (DLSS), who spoke about the value law alumni add to the student experience. In her words she shared “I often say that law school is a team sport, and it would be quite impossible to achieve anything worthwhile without the kindness, collegiality, and selflessness of those around us. It’s one thing to learn about the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service, but it’s another to feel it. Whether or not alumni are seen by students, I promise that your generosity and support is felt. Thank you for believing in students like me and spending your time and resources investing in us.”

After class photos were taken, guests were invited to an on-site starter Domus gathering which spilled over into new and old-favorite Halifax downtown watering holes!

On Saturday, the Weldon Law Building opened its doors for a reception at the law school. More than 200 alumni attended and got the opportunity to tour the building, look at their graduation pictures and learn the ways in which the law school has changed since they were students. 

Thanks to all who participated in making the weekend such a success! It was a pleasure to reunite and celebrate.

Photos from the 2022 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Reception & Dinner

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2019 

This year Over 200 law alumni and friends celebrated their anniversaries—the classes of ’54, ’59, ’64, '69, ’74, ’79, '84, '89, '94, '99, '04, '09, and '14—returned to Halifax for the 2019 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with an Alumni Student Panel where current students were given an opportunity to learn about alternative career paths with a law degree. Panel members were The Honourable Judge Corrine Sparks ('79/'01), Maureen Reid ('84), Bob Hanf ('89), Daphne Loukidelis ('94), Nasha Nijhawan ('09) and Adam Picotte ('09). 

In the evening the Annual Law Alumni LAWbsiter Dinner and Reception were held in the McInnes Room at the Student Union Building where the 2019 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was presented to Dr. Fred Fountain ('74).

Highlights from the evening included words from the guest speaker, The Honourable A. Anne McLellan ('74) and recognition of the Class of '74 for reaching the fundraising milestone of $200,000. Classmates Mary Clancy, Jim Coleman and Brent Cotter accepted the award on behalf of their classmates. 

For the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners as well as Domus Night with current students after the dinner on Friday evening. 

Photos from the 2019 Annual Law Alumni Reunion LAWbster Dinner and Reception

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2018

Dalhousie University celerbrated its 200th Anniversary in 2018 so the reunion weekend looked a little different than in previous years. The Law School hosted a reception at the Halifax Citadel Historic Site in downtown Halifax in the North Casements. Over 125 law alumni and friends celebrated their anniversaries—the classes of ’53, ’58, ’63, '68, ’78 ’88, '93, 98 and ’08—returned to Halifax for the 2018 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with an Alumni Student Panel where current students were given an opportunity to learn about alternative career paths with a law degree. Panel members were Fred Glady ('93), Carla Black ('08), Vicki Stokoe ('93), Dave Mollica ('08) and Tilly Pillay ('89). 

We  then moved festivities to the Halifax Citadel for the Annual Law Alumni Reception where the 2018 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was presented to Mark Knox, QC ('94).

After the afternoon reception the celebration moved to the Nova Centre for  the university's 200th celebration event, the Ignite Gala. 

For the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners as well as a Garden Party with current students Officer's Mess at Royal Artillery Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Two classes chose to celebrate earlier in the summer and fall. The Class of 1953 spent the weekend of August 3 & 4 at Atlantica Oak Island Resort and the Class of 1963 returned to Halifax from September 13-15. 

Photos from the 2018 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Reception

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2017 

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2017 Annual Law Reunion Weekend! The reunion was a great success. Over 200 law alumni and friends celebrating their anniversaries—the classes of ’62, ’67, ’77, '82, ’92 ’97, and ’07—returned to campus for the 2017 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with an Alumni Student Panel where current students were given an opportunity to learn about alternative career paths with a law degree. We then moved festivities to the McInnes Room in the Student Union Building where nearly 150 alumni, faculty, staff and students attended the Reception and East Coast LAWbster Supper. 

The 2017 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was presented to Trinda Ernst, QC ('83).

After the supper the party moved to the Grawood for a Domus Night with current students.

For the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners.

Photos from the 2017 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2016 

Tracing familiar paths down University Avenue on Sept. 30, alumni from the classes of ’66, ’76, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’06, and ’11 climbed the stairs to the second floor of Dalhousie’s Student Union Building to attend the Schulich School of Law’s 2016 East Coast Lawbster Party, the first of many events arranged to celebrate the annual Law Alumni Reunion Weekend.

In the atrium of the McInnes Room, an eager alumnus in a grey suit greeted new arrivals with the same question: “Class of ’86? Class of ’86?” Scanning names, he fished a fair selection of colleagues from a sea of ’76 and ’91 tags – the years with the largest turnout. Regardless of grad year, classmates from as far as Singapore, Australia, and the U.K. were excited to reconnect in the traditional Maritime way – over lobster and drinks.

In the dining room, guests were greeted by Schulich School of Law Dean Camille Cameron. “Events like this one are a very warm and welcome opportunity to bring our graduates together from near and far. They give each of you a chance to catch up with one another and the rest of us the chance to meet you or meet you again, and hear about the interesting careers you have built for yourselves.”

Dean Camille Cameron and third-year student Bart Soroka, president of the Law Students' Society.

As guests helped themselves to salad, coleslaw, and roasted potatoes, bright-red lobsters were brought out by the bucketful. CBC journalist and alumnus Ian Hanomansing ('86) took the stage during dessert. “I see a look of puzzlement on some faces,” he began. “Some of you are not quite sure who I am and why I’m speaking to this group. That’s fine. Hopefully that’ll become clear. There’s a second group of you who have only seen me on TV, and up until tonight – if you’re not a member of the class of ’86 and haven’t seen me in person – you’re saying, ‘Man, he is a lot shorter than I thought.’”

Hanomansing kept the crowd laughing. “Why did Dal get the one guy who came to law school not planning to be a lawyer, didn’t article, who never worked a day in law in his career...Why is he speaking at the Dal Law Alumni dinner? That’s a good question,” he said. “I was wondering the answer to that, too.”

Hanomansing had two criteria when it came to choosing a law school. One: it had to be a national law school, which Dalhousie has been since 1890. Two: it had to be located in a small city in the Maritimes. “Pretty clearly Dal was going to be that choice,” he said.

Dalhousie was the only place he applied, and he never opened his acceptance letter – our school was the only choice he wanted to make. After all, said Hanomansing, “Where else in the world do you learn to rattle off Latin phrases with a Nova Scotia twang?”

CBC journalist and alumnus Ian Hanomansing ('86) was the event's guest speaker.

As a student, Hanomansing took judicial remedies from a young professor named Tom Cromwell who brought in an antique car to teach his class about special damages. “I remember that moment clearly, and I remember that concept even more clearly 30 years later,” said Hanomansing.

Today, he contends that Dalhousie law grads feel connected to what’s going on in the world because old and new professors alike are prominent public figures. He mentioned Rollie Thompson, renowned for his expertise in family law, and Wayne MacKay ('78), a cyberbullying expert. These people help the law school garner the national profile it deserves, he added.

“You make a lot of naive choices where you’re 21, 22 years old, but when I look back at my decision to come here, I realize it was the right choice,” said Hanomansing. “We’ve all taken different paths to get to this university and we’ve followed different paths since then, but we share a few basic things – we are a little older now, we’re a lot wiser, and we couldn’t be prouder to be alumni of this great law school.”

Filling the space Hanomansing left on the stage after his address was Donna Franey ('86), the President of the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association, who introduced this year’s recipient of the Weldon Award. Stewart McInnes (’61) of Halifax was a man with a concern for humanity and a want for positive change, said Franey, who exemplified the values embedded in the Weldon Tradition. “He put his heart and soul into everything he believed in. He was a doer, a pragmatist – the kind of ‘roll up your sleeves and get to work’ kind of guy.”

McInnes died of heart failure last year in Halifax at age 78. His daughter Sarah McInnes, a fourth generation Dalhousie law grad, accepted the award on his behalf. She opened her address by saying that she and Hanomansing had something in common – she never opened her acceptance letter, either: “I got home and my father had already opened it.”

Sarah McInnes ('04) accepted the Weldon Award on behalf of her father, Stewart McInnes.

McInnes described her father as a lawyer, politician, volunteer, fundraiser, and philanthropist. He served on as many as 64 boards and community organizations, received the A.J. Sandy Young Award for Great Contribution to Sport in Nova Scotia, and was voted Dalhousie Alumnus of the Year in 1998. “My father wasn’t only committed to causes he cared about. He was passionate about his community as a whole and about the people in it. That’s the story I’d like to contribute.”

Chronicling her father’s love of gardening and unwavering commitment to his family, McInnes paused, briefly overcome with emotion. Former Schulich Law Dean Kim Brooks encouraged her to continue with a bolstering cry of, “Go Sarah!” to which everyone in attendance applauded. Looking into the faces of her supporters, McInnes said: “For my father, public service was not an obligation. Being able to contribute to his community, his province, and his country was a privilege. To be a member of this profession is a privilege.”

Photos from the 2016 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2015 

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2015 Annual Law Reunion Weekend! The reunion was a great success. Over 200 law alumni and friends celebrating their anniversaries—the classes of ’60, ’65, ’75, '80, ’90 ’95, and ’05—returned to campus for the 2015 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with the Horace Read Lecture featuring Professor Nancy Levit which was followed a Back to Class session with Professor Diana Ginn in the Weldon Law Building them moved across the street to the McInnes Room in the Student Union Building where nearly 160 alumni, faculty, staff and students attended the Reception and East Coast LAWbster Supper. 

The 2015 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was presented to Heather Ann McNeill, QC ('94) and Class of '74 were presented the Dean's Cup for their extraordinary fund raising efforts.

After the supper the party moved to the University Club's Pub for a Domus Night with current students.

For the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners.

Photos from the 2015 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2014

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2014 Annual Law Reunion Weekend! The reunion was a great success. Over 300 law alumni and friends celebrating their anniversaries—the classes of ’54, ’64, ’74, ’84, ’89, '94 and ’04—returned to campus for the 2014 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with a Back to Class session with Professor Rollie Thompson in the Weldon Law Building them moved across the street to the McInnes Room in the Student Union Building where nearly 200 alumni, faculty, staff and students attended the Reception and East Coast LAWbster Supper. 

The 2014 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was presented to John S. Fitzpatrick ('84) and the guest speaker was Justice James MacPherson ('74).

After the supper the party moved to the University Club's Pub for a Domus Night with current students.

For the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners.

Photos from the 2014 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner

Reunion 2013

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2013 

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2013 Annual Law Reunion Weekend! The reunion was a great success. Over 200 law alumni and friends celebrating their anniversaries—the classes of ’53, ’58, ’63, ’73, ’88, ’93 and ’03—returned to campus.

Our Annual Law Alumni Dinner was held on Friday, October 4th at the McInnes Room on campus with guest speaker, Al Meghji ('88). The Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service was also presented to Bill Fenrick ('73). Saturday morning we invited everyone back to the Law School for breakfast, tours of the school and an opportunity to meet with some of our current students. Over the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners.

Photos from the 2013 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner

Reunion 2012

Law Alumni Reunion Weekend: 2012 

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2012 Annual Law Reunion Weekend! The reunion was a great success. Over 300 law alumni and friends celebrating their anniversaries—the classes of ’52, ’57, ’62, ’72, ’87, ’92 and ’02—returned to campus for the 2012 Annual Law Reunion Weekend.

Our Annual Law Alumni Dinner was held on Friday Sept. 28. And Saturday morning we invited everyone back to the Law School for breakfast, tours of the school and an opportunity to meet with some of our current students. And while we did have a bit of rain on Saturday afternoon, nothing seemed to dampen the spirits of all those participating. Over the remainder of the weekend, alumni took part in local excursions, social events and class dinners.

Photos from the 2012 Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner