Honourable Gerard Greenan, Attorney General, announced the Queen’s Counsel appointments today. The Q.C. designation is presented annually to lawyers who have distinguished themselves through their careers and their contribution to the public. Candidates are considered based on characteristics including professional integrity, good character, expertise, leadership qualities and community service.

“These distinguished lawyers are recognized by their peers for their individual experience, commitment and dedication to the practice of law, and to the communities in which they live,” Minister Greenan said. “They are worthy recipients of this honour, and I extend to each my sincere congratulations.”

An appointment to Queen’s Counsel may be bestowed upon any member of the Prince Edward Island Law Society who has at least ten years standing, and has been recommended to Executive Council by the Queen’s Counsel Recommendations Committee.

Appointments to Queen’s Counsel are made pursuant to the Legal Profession Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. L-6.1.

BACKGROUNDER:

Gregory A. Cann

• Educated at Acadia University (B.A.), and Dalhousie University (LL.B 1988)

• Admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1989 and to the Prince Edward Island Bar in 1991

• Practices with the law firm of Cox & Palmer

• Extensive experience in negotiation, mediation and other dispute resolution processes as counsel to parties involved in disputes

• For fifteen years he has represented the interests of Canada’s leading insurance companies in all levels of the Courts of Prince Edward Island and the Supreme Court of Canada

• Elected member – Federation of Defence and Corporate Counsel

• Member – Association of Defence Trial Attorneys, Defence Research Institute, Canadian Defence Lawyers

• President – Canadian Bar Association, P.E.I. Branch, 2007

• Council Member – Law Society of P.E.I., 1997 - 1999

• Civil Procedure Rules Committee – member, 2005 - present

• Chair – Continuing Legal Education Committees – Law Society of P.E.I. and Canadian Bar Association, P.E.I. Branch, 2005 - present

• President Canadian Mental Health Association, P.E.I. Branch, 1998 - 1999

• Canadian Mental Health Association, National Board of Directors, 1998 - 2000

• Board of Directors, West Royalty, P.E.I. Minor Baseball Association, 2004 - present

• Coach, West Royalty Minor Baseball Association

• Coach, P.E.I. Flag Football Association

William F. Dow

• Educated at University of Prince Edward Island (B.B.A.1988) and Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B.1991)

• Admitted to the Prince Edward Island Bar 1992

• A partner in the firm Carr, Stevenson & MacKay

• Born and raised in Charlottetown

• Practices in the areas of Civil Litigation, Real Estate and Corporate and Commercial Law

• Currently a Lecturer of Business Law Courses at the University of Prince Edward Island

• President of the PEI Branch of the Canadian Bar Association

• Past Chairperson for the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal

Brenda J. Picard - PEI Legal Aid

• Educated at Dalhousie University

• Admitted to the Prince Edward Island Bar in 1992

• Legal Aid Lawyer with the Office of the Attorney General

• Recipient of the first “Distinguished Community Service Award” presented by the Law Society of Prince Edward Island for her work as advisor, educator, director, Vice President and President of local, provincial and national organizations

• Involvement in family violence prevention activities eventually led to the establishment of the Premiers Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention

• Activities have included serving as president of the Ladies Division of the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club, member of the Women’s Business Network, advisor to the PEI Citizen Advocacy, member of the East Prince Committee on Family Violence, founding member and president of the Conflict Resolution Co-operative of PEI Ltd., member of Board of Directors of The Church Council on Justice and Corrections, member of the Sisters of St. Martha’s advisory committee, Sunday school teacher, member of her local church women’s group and she has been asked to sit on the Board of Directors for Christian Child Care International

Barbara E. Smith

• Educated at University of Prince Edward Island (B.A., 1987) and Dalhousie University (LL.B., 1991)

• Admitted to the Prince Edward Island Bar in1992

• Practices with the law firm of Stewart McKelvey in the areas of Property and Real Estate Development, Owner - Managed Business, Corporate / Commercial, Financial Services, Technology and Intellectual Property, Trademark and Copyright law

• 1998 - present, Chair, Articling & Admissions Committee and Board of Examiners, Law Society of Prince Edward Island

• Member, Firm-wide Professional Development Committee, and Articling Committee

• 2005 - present, Vice-Chair, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation

• 2004 - present, Director, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation

• 1992 - 2006, Member, Advocacy Committee, Prince Edward Island Division, Canadian Cancer Society

• 1993-1999, Chair, Colonel Gray Education Foundation Inc.