A Trailblazing Career Promoting Social Change

  • January 12, 2021

barbara findlay, QC honoured for exceptional contributions to BC’s legal profession

Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) congratulates Vancouver lawyer barbara findlay, QC as the 2020 recipient of the Georges A. Goyer QC Memorial Award for Distinguished Service. CBABC will present the award at its virtual Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 6.

“The common themes in each letter and statement nominating barbara are her fierce dedication to pursuing social change and her unwavering support of the LGBTQ2SI+ community within the legal profession, in Canada and internationally,” said CBABC president, Jennifer J.L. Brun. “barbara has paved the way for equal rights through her litigation, advocacy and educational work. She is a worthy recipient of this award.”

barbara findlay, QC was called to the BC Bar in 1977. She worked in the Legal Services Society for over a decade, and then as an Adjunct Professor and tenure-track faculty member at the Allard School of Law at UBC. Since 1996, barbara has operated a private practice specializing in LGBTQ2SI+ legal work.

barbara founded the CBABC Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) Section and co-founding the CBA National SOGIC federation. In BC, SOGIC is now a community of over 215 LGBTQ2SI+ lawyers, law students and judges. Over the years, barbara has continued to support SOGIC through mentorship of junior members, as a leader of the section for many years, and presenter of various topics of interest.

barbara has been involved in world-first litigation that moved the rights of marginalized communities to the centre. By putting pen to paper to ensure that inclusive and progressive concepts of law and legal principles are developed, her advocacy has reached beyond counsel and justices. barbara’s words have become instruction for law students, organization leaders and community members.

The Georges A. Goyer QC Memorial Award for Distinguished Service annually recognizes exceptional contributions to the legal profession, the law, jurisprudence, or a significant law-related benefit for British Columbians. The award is in memory of Georges A. Goyer QC, a respected lawyer who generously served as a member of the CBA.

The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization representing more than 36,000 lawyers, judges and law students across Canada with over 7,200 members in British Columbia.

Media Contact:
Eileen Huster
604.687.3404 ext 359
media@cbabc.org