Allan Wachowich (justice)
Encyclopedia
Colonel, The Honourable Allan H.J. Wachowich B.A.
, LL.B. (born March 8, 1935 in Edmonton, Alberta) is the former Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
.
in 1944, setting down in Opal, Alberta, but moving to Edmonton when Allan was nine years old. His parents had eight children of which Allan was the seventh. He has an older brother and six sisters.
Wachowich attended St. Joseph's High School
, played for the basketball team, and was elected president of his graduating class. A Catholic
, Wachowich served as an altar boy at St. Joseph's Basilica
and originally intended to become a priest.
in 1957 and his Bachelor of Laws
degree in 1958, both from the University of Alberta
. He was called to Alberta Bar
in 1959, the Northwest Territories Bar in 1963, and the Yukon Bar in 1964. He founded the firm of Kosowan, Wachowich and was a partner there from 1959 until his first judicial appointment in 1974.
He was appointed a Judge of the District Court of Alberta in 1974 by the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau
and then a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta when the district and supreme courts merged in 1979. He was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in 1993 and Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench on January 24, 2001, by Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
, following the retirement of Chief Justice W. Kenneth Moore, QC. He has admitted over 600 lawyers to the Alberta Bar, a record.
He has recently tendered his resignation as Chief Justice to take effect on October 1, 2009. He has assumed supernumerary
(part time) status with the Court until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75 in March 2010.
On 28 Sept 2008 he accepted an Honorary Colonel appointment to 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance for an initial term of three years. As Colonel, the Honorable Allan Wachowich, he has attended military functions with his unit and attended national meetings of Honorary Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels. 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance is a Reserve Force unit of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group
.
Prior to his judicial appointments, he was an active campaigner for the Liberal Party of Canada
.
, and together they have four children: David, Patrick, Jane, and Nancy. Two of his children are lawyers: David Joseph Wachowich is a Calgary lawyer and partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain
and Jane Ann Wachowich is no longer practising. Patrick Wachowich is a teacher for the Edmonton Catholic School District
. Dr. Nancy Wachowich is a lecturer in Social Anthropology at University of Aberdeen
, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Allan and Bette have eight grandchildren.
His older brother, Ed Wachowich, was the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta
until his retirement in 1999.
In jest, Wachowich calls himself "the Polish Prince". He plays hockey and baseball, is an avid golfer, and an Edmonton Eskimos
and Edmonton Oilers
fan.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, LL.B. (born March 8, 1935 in Edmonton, Alberta) is the former Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta is the superior court of the Canadian province of Alberta....
.
Early life
Born Allan Harvey Joseph Wachowich to Polish parents Philip and Nancy. His family was one of the first five Polish families to immigrate to AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in 1944, setting down in Opal, Alberta, but moving to Edmonton when Allan was nine years old. His parents had eight children of which Allan was the seventh. He has an older brother and six sisters.
Wachowich attended St. Joseph's High School
St. Joseph High School and Ascension Collegiate
St. Joseph High School and Ascension Collegiate is a high school located in Downtown Edmonton. Ascension Collegiate High and Jean Forest All Girls Leadership Academy are also located with in the high school.-History:...
, played for the basketball team, and was elected president of his graduating class. A Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Wachowich served as an altar boy at St. Joseph's Basilica
St. Joseph's Basilica, Edmonton
St. Joseph's Cathedral Basilica is a minor basilica in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The basilica, located just west of the downtown core is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and is one of the largest churches in Edmonton...
and originally intended to become a priest.
Career
Wachowich received his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1957 and his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1958, both from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. He was called to Alberta Bar
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
in 1959, the Northwest Territories Bar in 1963, and the Yukon Bar in 1964. He founded the firm of Kosowan, Wachowich and was a partner there from 1959 until his first judicial appointment in 1974.
He was appointed a Judge of the District Court of Alberta in 1974 by the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
and then a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta when the district and supreme courts merged in 1979. He was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in 1993 and Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench on January 24, 2001, by Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, following the retirement of Chief Justice W. Kenneth Moore, QC. He has admitted over 600 lawyers to the Alberta Bar, a record.
He has recently tendered his resignation as Chief Justice to take effect on October 1, 2009. He has assumed supernumerary
Supernumerary
A Supernumerary is an additional member of an organization. A supernumerary is also a non-regular member of a staff, a member of the staff or an employee who works in a public office who is not part of the manpower complement...
(part time) status with the Court until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75 in March 2010.
Community Activities
He has served on the boards of many religious organizations, including the Western Catholic Reporter, the Friars, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Catholic Charities, and he founded the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers' Guild in 1963. He was president of the Mu Theta Chapter of the Zeta Psi Fraternity.On 28 Sept 2008 he accepted an Honorary Colonel appointment to 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance for an initial term of three years. As Colonel, the Honorable Allan Wachowich, he has attended military functions with his unit and attended national meetings of Honorary Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels. 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance is a Reserve Force unit of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group
Canadian Forces Health Services Group
The Canadian Forces Health Services Group is a formation of the Canadian Forces within the Military Personnel Command reporting to the Chief of Military Personnel...
.
Prior to his judicial appointments, he was an active campaigner for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
Family and Personal Life
He married his wife Elizabeth (Bette) Louise Byers in 1959 in Ponoka, AlbertaPonoka, Alberta
Ponoka is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the south/central parkland region of rolling hills. Industries are agriculture , and oil and gas production...
, and together they have four children: David, Patrick, Jane, and Nancy. Two of his children are lawyers: David Joseph Wachowich is a Calgary lawyer and partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain
Fraser Milner Casgrain
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP is one of Canada’s leading business & litigation law firms. With more than 520 lawyers it is the sixth largest law firm in Canada as well as the largest law firm in Western Canada...
and Jane Ann Wachowich is no longer practising. Patrick Wachowich is a teacher for the Edmonton Catholic School District
Edmonton Catholic School District
The Edmonton Catholic School District is the Catholic school board in Edmonton, Canada.-Size and transportation:In size the School Board is medium with 33,441 students, 1,858 Certificated Staff, and 1,191 Classified Staff. There are a number of schools operating under the board, 84 schools in...
. Dr. Nancy Wachowich is a lecturer in Social Anthropology at University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Allan and Bette have eight grandchildren.
His older brother, Ed Wachowich, was the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta
Provincial Court of Alberta
The Provincial Court of Alberta is a Provincial Court for the Canadian province of Alberta. The court oversees matters relating to criminal law, family law, youth law, civil law and traffic laws....
until his retirement in 1999.
In jest, Wachowich calls himself "the Polish Prince". He plays hockey and baseball, is an avid golfer, and an Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
and Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
fan.