L to R: The Hon. Anne McLellan, P.C., O.C., A.O.E., Rose Carter, Q.C., Karen Hewitt, Q.C. (with Dean Paton in 2015), Heather Treacy, Q.C.
The Women In Law Leadership (WILL) Awards - presented annually by the Association of Women Lawyers and The Counsel Network - recognize the contributions of women in the legal profession in Alberta. This year, four individuals with connections to the University of Alberta Faculty of Law were honoured with WILL Awards at a November 17th ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.
"On behalf of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, I would like to congratulate The Honourable Anne McLellan, P.C., O.C., A.O.E., Rose Carter, Q.C., Karen Hewitt, Q.C., and Heather Treacy, Q.C. on their 2016 WILL Awards," said Dean Paul Paton. "It is heartening to see so many award recipients with connections to UAlberta Law recognized for their leadership in the legal profession. All four individuals are tremendous ambassadors for the Faculty who have contributed to the profession and to the community in myriad ways. Each one serves as a model and mentor to future generations of women at the law school and in the profession."
The Honourable A. Anne McLellan, P.C., O.C., A.O.E. (LLD Hon. '07) was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. McLellan's distinguished career in law and politics includes four terms as a member of Parliament (1993-2006) and tenure as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (1993-1997), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (1997-2002), Minister of Health (2002-3), and the first Minister of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Prior to her career in politics, Ms. McLellan was an Associate Professor at UAlberta Law, teaching Contracts and Constitutional Law. She served as Associate Dean (1985-7) and Acting Dean (1991-2). Ms. McLellan has also been a generous supporter of the Faculty. She serves on the Dean's External Advisory Board, and in 2014, contributed funds for the purchase of video conferencing equipment for the Law Centre and the establishment of an endowment to help finance areas of pressing operational need.
Ms. McLellan joined Bennett Jones LLP in Edmonton in 2006 as Senior Advisor, Canadian and International Strategic Planning. That same year, she was also appointed Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Alberta in the Alberta Institute for American Studies, a position she held until she retired from the University in June 2013.
In 2009, Ms. McLellan was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2013, she was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence. She has served on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Edmonton Regional Airport Authority (2007-2015) and Nexen (2006-2013). She currently serves on the board of the Edmonton Community Foundation, Agrium, Cameco, and Fulbright Canada. Ms. McLellan is also vice-chair of the board of the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the current chancellor of Dalhousie University.
Rose M. Carter, Q.C. ('87 LLB), Karen Hewitt, Q.C. ('89 LLB), and Heather Treacy, Q.C. ('89 LLB) were recognized with Leadership in the Profession Awards. The awards recognize women lawyers who have shown tremendous leadership in one or more of several areas, including: legal skills and capabilities, contribution to legal education and / or scholarship, mentoring of law students and junior lawyers, demonstrated leadership in law and diversity initiatives, and a commitment to being a positive role model for other lawyers.
Rose M. Carter, Q.C. - Leadership in the Profession (Private Practice) Award
Ms. Carter is a partner at Bennett Jones LLP in Edmonton. Representing medical practitioners and individuals, she practices general litigation, administrative law representing professionals before their regulatory bodies, corporate/commercial litigation, and participates in public inquiries and medical malpractice actions. Ms. Carter is also an Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and a former Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta. She lectures frequently at local, national, and international seminars for physicians and medical students on medical negligence and bioethics issues.
Karen Hewitt, Q.C. - Leadership in the Profession (Government) Award
Ms. Hewitt is a Crown prosecutor with the Specialized Prosecutions Branch of Alberta Justice. In this role, she prosecutes serious, complex, and high profile cases, while also providing advice and assistance to police departments on investigational issues. She is also a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, teaching Advanced Criminal Trial Advocacy and Sentencing. In 2015, Ms. Hewitt was recognized with the Faculty's Pringle/Royal Sessional Teaching Excellence Award. She is currently serving as a member of the Faculty's Strategic Planning Steering Committee.
Heather Treacy, Q.C. - Leadership in the Profession (Private Practice) Award
Ms. Treacy is the managing partner of the Calgary office of DLA Piper. She has more than 25 years of experience acting as counsel to clients in complex litigation and disputes, and has extensive experience with negotiations and mediation on matters related to energy and resources law, aboriginal and constitutional law, general commercial disputes, transportation, aviation, products liability, human rights, employment law and intellectual property law. Ms. Treacy is also active in the Calgary arts community, serving as chair of the board of directors of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.