I have lived in 3 provinces in 18 communities, 3 of them under 100 people (4 years) and 5 under 2,500 (14 years).
My career can be summarized with a little ditty (maybe put to the music of Sinatra's "That's Life"):
---- "I've been a logger, a lender, lawyer and a leader, laterally in Lumby, Langley, law school and lawyers Lawson Lundell" (17 "L"s!). ---- (maybe later to be a linguist or layabout!)
In summary, I spent a couple of years logging, 15 years in banking (9 branches in 7 BC communities, 4 years as branch manager) & 16 years in law, the last 13 with a large Vancouver firm. I was called to the Bars of BC in 1988 & Alberta in 1999.
I've been on about 40 Boards of Directors, heading 13 of them, including:
-the British Columbia Scotiabank Officers’ Association (1975-1976),
-my Law Class (1987) at University of Victoria Law,
-the BC Chamber of Commerce (1992-93),
-the Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada (2004 - 2008) and
-managed a couple of election campaigns (1984 and 2006).
I have been honoured with a few awards, including:
- Governor General of Canada 125 Medal (1992),
- Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
- Fellow of the BC Chamber of Commerce (1994) &
- Outstanding Clansperson, Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada (2012).
I am a poster child for lifelong learning, having taken courses through 7 universities. I earned my pre-law credits from University of Victoria, Vancouver Community College, Simon Fraser University, Fraser Valley College and Okanagan College. I also took courses through University of British Columbia and University of Western Ontario. I then went to law school ("University of Victoria) at age 35.
My wife and I have been married for over 48 years and have 4 adult kids – all of whom doing well in their chosen careers. We have 9 grandchildren (5 girls and 4 boys, ages 19 years to 2 years) and one step-granddaughter (26).
I was on medical leave (multiple sclerosis) from my law corporate practice since 2000, and retired in 2014. While the MS created challenges, my doctor told me that “getting MS probably added at least 10 years to my life” – meaning that my lawyer’s lifestyle was likely to bring on my early demise. It meant a change of lifestyle, and has “given” me time with my family (especially the grandchildren) and time to read (about 100 books - 40 non-fiction - in the last year) and write – so no great complaints.
All told, it's been a blast!