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The BC Court of Appeal’s 100th anniversary affords us the chance to join as a profession together with the citizens of British Columbia to acknowledge the hard work of our predecessors and to inspire the next generation. We look forward to welcoming you to the events and celebrations planned for 2010.
The existence of the highest court in the province originates in the Court of Appeal Act, 1907, which came into force in late 1909. The first sitting of the Court took place in Victoria on 4 January 1910. Since its establishment in a frontier province in 1910, the Court has played an important role in Canadian jurisprudence and in the social fabric of the province of British Columbia. It boasts a rich and colourful history that deserves to be recognized and celebrated. The Court of Appeal’s evolution, from its early pioneering efforts to its status today, has been transformative and significant.
Today, the twenty-first century BC Court of Appeal has as many women as men and includes judges who come from a wider range of practice experience than previous courts. It is a court known for its transparency and ongoing efforts to improve public access to the justice system. In more recent years, the Court has been transformed through its leading edge administrative practices, the new jurisprudence of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the impact of the dramatic change in society’s attitudes towards the justice system. The BC Court of Appeal in 2009 is a court representative of its time. It has rigorously met the needs of the public it serves, progressively adapting to changes and their implications.
To commemorate the Court’s centenary, and to honour the many men and women who, as judges, lawyers, and staff, have helped to make the history of the Court, a number of events are planned. Special sittings of the Court are being held in Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George, Kamloops, and Kelowna during 2010 with accompanying dinners to celebrate the occasion. In addition, there will be the commemorative symposium, conference, and gala dinner on April 22-24, 2010.
These events will be a mix of academic, professional, and social gatherings. All offer the chance to recognize the accomplishments of those who went before, and to add our contribution to that history.
The Court will mark its centenary in a lasting way through four special projects:
- A film entitled “Though the Heavens Fall: 100 Years of the BC Court of Appeal”. The film will be aired on Knowledge Network throughout 2010 and will be available through Justice Education Society for use at schools or other public screenings.
- A book by Christopher Moore entitled “The British Columbia Court of Appeal: The First Hundred Years”, which offers an account of the institutional history of the Court.
- A special edition of BC Studies, published by the University of British Columbia, in which several aspects of the Court’s jurisprudence over the last 100 years have been canvassed by leading academics from both the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
- An issue of The Advocate, published by the Vancouver Bar Association, that will include a number of articles on some of the century’s leading counsel, whose names remain with us today in many Vancouver law firms.
The events and publications planned for the 100th anniversary of the BC Court of Appeal provide an opportunity for the Court to become better known to all British Columbians. This centenary year is the milestone from which the Court can anticipate a promising future while acknowledging a remarkable past. It is the Court’s hope that these celebrations and commemorations will set the tone for the next century of achievement.
