Jerome B. Paradis

THE HONOURABLE JUDGE JEROME B. PARADIS July 10, 1941 to February 16. 2010 With a deep sense of loss and sadness we announce the passing of our greatly loved husband, father, brother, friend, colleague and advocate. Jerome was born in Montreal, the son of Jerome E. Paradis, a lawyer with the CPR, and Marthe Cordeau. His grandfather was the chief law translator for the House of Commons and his great-grandfather a Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec. Growing up in his early years in Montreal and then later in Ottawa, he eventually attended Loyola College and then finally the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 1969. As a young man, Jerry spent seven formative summers working at the Chateau Lake Louise where he forged life-long friendships and met his wife. Always an excellent athlete, while there he also took up mountain-climbing and fly-fishing, which was to be a sustaining passion. It was partly this love of the outdoors that brought him to British Columbia. Jerry articled at Rankin, Dean and Robertson then began his legal career in private practice with Paradis, Lawrence and Saunderson in 1970. In February, 1973 he became first Administrative Chair of the newly created Workers' Compensation Boards of Review, established to hear appeals for WCB adjudications. He was appointed to the Provincial Court of BC in February, 1975 - at 33, one of the youngest ever to be appointed - and, taking a leave of absence from the bench, was appointed Vice-Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board in February, 1977. Returning to the bench in 1980, he was also Director of Continuing Education for the B.C. Association of Provincial Court Judges from 1981 - 1985, and President of the Association in 1987. He served as Administrative Judge for the Coast District from 1981 to 1989 and from 1992 to 1994 and, being fluently bilingual, was one of several judges who travelled throughout the province hearing French trials when required. He retired August, 2003. At that point, Jerry began writing a column for the North Shore News, commenting on various legal and other current affairs issues, which he had not been able to do while on the bench. He was involved with several organizations over the years and, since 2007, worked tirelessly as a board member and speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) which advocated the legalization and regulation of drugs. He welcomed every opportunity, in Canada and around the world, to argue that the criminalization of a health issue was hugely damaging to the fabric of society. Many of Jerry's friends and colleagues were kind enough to visit or send messages of support and appreciation throughout his illness, which touched him deeply. Jerry is survived by his best friend, travelling companion and loving wife, Barbara, his children, Lia (Edmund) and Luc, as well as siblings, Mike (Barb), Marc (Lorna), Lise-Anne and Jacques; his nieces and nephews, Jackie, Johanne, Marc, Emily, Simon, Michael, Christian, Sophie and Camille: and his cousin Val. The family wishes to thank Dr. Paul Klimo and all the staff of the chemo clinic of Lion's Gate Hospital for their care and assistance, with special thanks to Drs. Peter Edmunds and Paul Sugar of palliative care. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 at Boal Chapel, First Memorial Funeral Services, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver, followed by a private reception from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Bistro Chez Michel, 224 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage you to buy a nice bottle of wine, drink a toast in his honour, and make a donation to a charity of your choice.