SPILL: Real and yet-to-be-realised heroic encounters

  • June 13, 2022

We asked members to tell us about a time they got to meet one of their heroes or about one they would most like to meet. Responses show the many forms role models take and the myriad ways a chance encounter can make a day or even change a career.
 

“I once met Katherine Graham who was then the owner of the Washington Post newspaper. I was at a conference of the Trilateral Commission in Washington DC, waiting for my boss (Liberal Cabinet Minister John Manley) to arrive and Mrs. Graham got out of her vehicle to attend the event.  I had just read her biography and it was a treat to meet her briefly in person.” – Jonathan Morse, BMO Wealth Management

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“I spent the better part of my last year of law school conducting independent research on construction law. A large number of cases I reviewed were penned by the former Master Carol Albert, as she was then. Her decisions were meticulous, reasonable, and well written. When I was articling in 2018, I found out that Master Albert was retiring. I was fortunate enough to attend a retirement recognition event hosted by the OBA in her honour. Although we only spoke briefly at this event, she took the time to congratulate me on starting my legal career in the construction industry and encouraged me to continue in this great industry. In addition to being star-struck, I left that event even more motivated to pursue construction law than before – and for that, I can’t thank her enough!” – Dan Fridmar, Fridmar Professional Corporation

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“When I was a kid, going to Vince Carter's basketball camp, one of the fun times after we finished our drills was when Vince dunked on me. I got posterized! It was a great reminder that no matter how much grunt work the task involves, there's a fun memory at the end of the proverbial rainbow.” – Matthew Gordon, lawyer, mediator, ADR Executive member

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“I would love to meet KimberlĂ© W. Crenshaw! Her scholarship on intersectionality and Black feminist legal thought in particular has been foundational in my legal work to date.” – Samantha Peters, Black Femme Legal

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“I have been blessed to have had the good fortune of meeting my professional hero, John B. Keyser. In all fairness, when I first met him, I did not know who he was. He became my professional hero shortly after I met him and had a chance to get to know him. Whether nobility, respect, professionalism, integrity, strength of character and/or faith, Mr. Keyser demonstrated all that and more, quickly becoming my professional hero (a hybrid mix of Batman and Superman with a touch of Iron Man).” – George Daoud, GD Law, OBA Central West Region representative

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“I have been involved in politics most of my life, and my heroes have been in that vein. One of my treasured belongings is a copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms signed by Pierre Trudeau and “the three men in the kitchen” who made the constitutional deal: Jean Chretien, Roy McMurtry, and Roy Romanow, lawyers all, from three different political parties.” – Doug Ferguson, lawyer, teacher, OBA Southwest Region representative

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“If I had Doctor Who’s TARDIS, I would go back to meet Lord Denning. Anyone who can write decisions with that level of whimsy, wit and insight is my hero.” – Laura Pettigrew, Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario

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“As a sole practitioner and relative ‘new call’, my practice thrives through the mentorship and guidance of fellow lawyers. Therefore, every lawyer who has ever answered my call or message with respect to legal mentorship is a professional hero to me. I aspire to build my experience and practice level to a standard where I can answer a similar call or message in the future.” – Ian Amirthanathan, IANANDREWLAW.ca