CECILIA JOHNSTONE

MADAM JUSTICE CECILIA JOHNSTONE On April 15, 2006, Madam Justice Cecilia Johnstone of Edmonton passed away at the age of 54 years after a lengthy battle with cancer. She lived a life of passion and grace. Cecilia is sur vived by her loving husband, John Day and his children, Jennifer, Jacquie and Olivia; her mother, Anne and her lifelong family friend, Ernie Foss; her brother, Tim and his wife, Ruby; her uncle and aunts and cousins. Cecilia was predeceased by her father, Lawrence in 1962. This extraordinary woman was an accomplished teacher, lawyer and jurist in our community. She was bor n, raised and educated in Edmonton. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in 1973 and her LLB from the Faculty of Law in 1974. Cecilia articled with the then Stratton Lucas firm, to Joseph J. Stratton (later a Justice of the Court of Appeal), and was admitted to the Bar in 1975. She remained with the firm, practicing in the area of wills and estates until her appointment to the Court of Queen's Bench in 1996. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988. Cecilia was a natural teacher. She was course head of the Wills and Estates Bar Admission Course, a member of the Board of Directors for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, a panelist for numerous legal education seminars, a mentor in the Wills and Estates Program and a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law. Cecilia was a leader at the bar. She was President of the Edmonton Bar Association (1988-89); the first female President of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (1990-91); a member of the American Bar Association; and the National President of the Canadian Bar Association (1993-94). Cecilia courageously championed the fair treatment of women in the legal system and played a major role in the adoption of the recommendations of the 1993 Bertha Wilson Task Force on gender equality. To celebrate her accomplishments in promoting equality in Canada, the Canadian Bar Association honoured Cecilia with the Touchstone Award in 1997. She also received the Distinguished Service Award for the Profession in 1995 from the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch). In 2000, she received the first Alumni Honour Award from the University of Alberta, recognizing her service to the community and her significant contribution to the legal profession. Cecilia was devoted to the community. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, President of the St. Thomas Moore Lawyers' Guild, President of the Estate Planning Council, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Western Catholic Reporter, Chair of the Northern Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation and then member of the Hospital's Board of Management (now the Stollery Children's Health Centre), Chancellor of Newman Theological College, Chair of the Judges' For um of the Canadian Bar Association and as a member of various governmental advisory committees. Cecilia was a woman well loved by a large circle of family and friends in her community, across the country, and beyond. Cecilia was known for her passionate efforts on behalf of others, whether ensuring underprivileged school children would have Christmas or penning ground breaking family or human rights decisions. We are sad to lose this elegant flame of conviction and compassion. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Basilica, 10044-113 Street, Edmonton with Reverend Mike McCaffery officiating, Concelebrants - Most Reverend J.N. McNeil, Archbishop Emeritus of Edmonton, Reverend Don MacDonald OFM, Reverend Dave Norman OFM and other priests of the Archdiocese. Cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Newman Theological College, 15611 St. Albert Trail, Edmonton, AB T6V 1H3 or specifically to the Father Mike McCaffery Chair at Newman Theological College. To send condolences, visit www.parkmemorial.com Park Memorial Edmonton (780) 426-0050 Family Owned Funeral Home, Crematorium, Reception Centre