RETIRED LAWYER WALKS FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE RESEARCH
Harry McMurtry never listened to the doubters.
The retired lawyer, who has Parkinson’s disease, was set to walk 500 miles (804.6 kilometres) with others to spread awareness and raise money for Parkinson’s research. Two of the other people who round out the core of his group — Ross Sugar and Sue Thompson — also suffer from the affliction.
“A lot of people doubted we could pull this off, but I think we have,” he says. “There are a lot of doubters out there, but I had a dream and it’s come to fruition.”
McMurtry and his group left his adopted home of New York City on May 6 and have since made their way up to Canada, as various guest walkers have joined them along their way. They planned to finish the walk in Toronto.
McMurtry retired in 2010 as a partner of Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP, after living in Toronto for many years.
McMurtry says the trip is “marrying two countries and two major cities in each country.”
The 500 Mile Walk has raised $300,000 so far, according to McMurtry, and hopes to reach $500,000 by the end of the initiative.
McMurtry says all the money raised will go to charity as expenses are covered by sponsorships.
CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS CONFERENCE
Next year’s Canadian College of Construction conference is set to take place in Quebec City in May.
Incoming president Olivier Kott, of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, will host the event May 25-28 at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.
The details of next year’s event were released at this year’s CCCL conference, which took place in St. John’s, N.L. The three-day conference included talks on a variety of issues that affect construction law.
BLG CHANGES
Corporate lawyer Melinda Park is set to become the first female chairperson of national council for Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
Park is a partner in the law firm’s securities and capital markets group in Calgary and has practised securities and corporate law for more than 20 years.
Park takes over from Bob Shouldice, a commercial lawyer who specializes in infrastructure, M&A, and corporate governance. The national council has also appointed David Whelan to become the national group head. Whelan, who is a partner in the firm’s financial services group, has been the regional partner in the Calgary office since 2007. The firm also announced that Alan Ross, a partner of the firm’s commercial litigation group, was elected to become its regional managing partner in Calgary.
LAW TIMES POLL
Law Times reported recently that an Ontario man was prosecuted for possessing $10 worth of marijuana.
Readers were asked if this was a ridiculous use of public resources.
More than 88 per cent of respondents said yes, this is a total waste of court and judicial resources, and the fact that the man had to forfeit most of the $25,000 in his vehicle is also questionable.
Almost 12 per cent of respondents said simple possession is still a criminal offence under the law and should be treated as such.
Harry McMurtry never listened to the doubters.
The retired lawyer, who has Parkinson’s disease, was set to walk 500 miles (804.6 kilometres) with others to spread awareness and raise money for Parkinson’s research. Two of the other people who round out the core of his group — Ross Sugar and Sue Thompson — also suffer from the affliction.
“A lot of people doubted we could pull this off, but I think we have,” he says. “There are a lot of doubters out there, but I had a dream and it’s come to fruition.”
McMurtry and his group left his adopted home of New York City on May 6 and have since made their way up to Canada, as various guest walkers have joined them along their way. They planned to finish the walk in Toronto.
McMurtry retired in 2010 as a partner of Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP, after living in Toronto for many years.
McMurtry says the trip is “marrying two countries and two major cities in each country.”
The 500 Mile Walk has raised $300,000 so far, according to McMurtry, and hopes to reach $500,000 by the end of the initiative.
McMurtry says all the money raised will go to charity as expenses are covered by sponsorships.
CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS CONFERENCE
Next year’s Canadian College of Construction conference is set to take place in Quebec City in May.
Incoming president Olivier Kott, of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, will host the event May 25-28 at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.
The details of next year’s event were released at this year’s CCCL conference, which took place in St. John’s, N.L. The three-day conference included talks on a variety of issues that affect construction law.
BLG CHANGES
Corporate lawyer Melinda Park is set to become the first female chairperson of national council for Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
Park is a partner in the law firm’s securities and capital markets group in Calgary and has practised securities and corporate law for more than 20 years.
Park takes over from Bob Shouldice, a commercial lawyer who specializes in infrastructure, M&A, and corporate governance. The national council has also appointed David Whelan to become the national group head. Whelan, who is a partner in the firm’s financial services group, has been the regional partner in the Calgary office since 2007. The firm also announced that Alan Ross, a partner of the firm’s commercial litigation group, was elected to become its regional managing partner in Calgary.
LAW TIMES POLL
Law Times reported recently that an Ontario man was prosecuted for possessing $10 worth of marijuana.
Readers were asked if this was a ridiculous use of public resources.
More than 88 per cent of respondents said yes, this is a total waste of court and judicial resources, and the fact that the man had to forfeit most of the $25,000 in his vehicle is also questionable.
Almost 12 per cent of respondents said simple possession is still a criminal offence under the law and should be treated as such.
