(l-r) Ralph Young, Chancellor, U of A, and the Hon. Jim Wheatley2013 Alumni Honour Award presented to eminent alumnus The Honourable James Wheatley
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law would like to congratulate its distinguished alumnus The Honourable James (Jim) Wheatley (Class of '68 B.Ed., '71 LL.B.) on being named as a recipient of the 2013 Alumni Honour Award, the U of A Alumni Association's prestigious award recognizing the significant contributions he made over a number of years in his local community and beyond.
The Hon. Jim Wheatley received both his B.Ed. in 1968 and his LL.B. in 1971 from the University of Alberta. He was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1972, and was a member and partner with the firm of Trott, Robertson, Wheatley and Company from 1971 to 1984. During that time his practice was general, including criminal defence and prosecution, domestic law (divorce and custody matters), corporate/commercial law, real estate, administrative law and taxation. Between 1984 and 1989 Jim left active legal practice to become the Vice President, Finance and Administration for G.L.M. Tanks & Equipment Ltd. The company is a major steel fabricator with manufacturing facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1989 he returned to private legal practice with the firm of Cleall Pahl. He had a general practice once again and remained with the firm until 2003, when he was appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta as a judge in the Criminal division. From 2008 until 2013, he served as the Assistant Chief Judge in the Criminal Division in Edmonton.
Judge Wheatley has an extensive list of community organizations and events that he has provided volunteer service and leadership for. His main focus has been in the areas of sports events and administration, however his interests are wide and his support has benefited many areas in the community. In terms of sports and athletics, Jim has held director and chair positions with the following groups: Alberta Sports Council, Treasurer and Director of the Alberta Section of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, the Alberta Figure Skating Foundation, Kidsport of Alberta, Director of the 1994 Canadian Figure Skating Championships and 1996 World Figure Skating Championships - both events were held in Edmonton. He has also provided both legal expertise and volunteer leadership for the National Sport Centre in Calgary and the Royal Glenora Club of Edmonton. Judge Wheatley was Co-Chair of World Cup Swimming Events in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 which are part of Edmonton's continuing bid to bring the World Swimming Championships to Alberta. He served as president and director of the Windermere Golf Club and as the person responsible for volunteer accommodation for the 2002 World Championship of Athletics. He was also a Director and Chairman of the Alberta Figure Skating Foundation and a member of the Copper Jackets, as an Edmonton Oilers Ambassador.
In addition, Judge Wheatley has served as Chairman of Alberta Council to the National Entrepreneur Development Institute (NEDI), and the Western Canadian Governor to the Executive Council of NEDI. He played a key role in the formation and operation of the Whitemud Water Co-Op Ltd, which extended water service to an area of south Edmonton. He also served as Chairman of the City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence Awards Committee. This group selects individuals for recognition for achievements in sport, recreation, arts and culture. Wheatley was also a director of the Alberta Academy of Dance, which later became the dance program at Grant MacEwan Community College. He was a former Chair of the Legal Division of the United Way, a committee member for a retirement dinner event for the Faculty of Law, and a volunteer and actor for the Players de Novo (a group of Edmonton lawyers and judges who perform a play each year as a fundraiser for the Victoria School Foundation and one of the performing arts groups in Edmonton).
Judge Wheatley has also been a volunteer lecturer for a number of organizations including: NAIT, Grant MacEwan, the University of Alberta, Edmonton high schools, the Canadian Bar Association and Alberta Justice.
In recognition of his many contributions as a volunteer, sports administrator and mentor to athletes, The Hon. James Wheatley was inducted into the Alberta Sport Hall of Fame in 2000. Jim leads by example. He believes in our youth and encourages them to pursue their dreams
The breadth of his volunteer leadership is truly remarkable. Colleagues on the Bench describe his leadership ability, his innovation and hard work that have benefited the bar and Bench as well as the community-at-large. David Percy Q.C. stated that Jim Wheatley is a natural leader with most effective diplomatic skills.
"Jim Wheatley was a social and sporting dynamo during his time at law school," says David Percy, Q.C., Borden Ladner Gervais Professor of Energy Law and Policy, U of A Faculty of Law. "In a low-key way, he showed an enthusiasm for sports and superb administrative skills that would later be demonstrated in his work in organising major athletic events in Edmonton."
Judge Wheatley is a model of good character and brings intelligence and ability to working with individuals and groups to achieve success, The Faculty of Law takes great pride and pleasure in his being awarded this great honour by the U of A Alumni Association.