Allan McEachern

Background

Allan McEachern was born on May 20, 1926 in Vancouver, Canada; the son of John A. and Blanche L. (Roadhouse) McEachern.

Education

Allan McEachern recieived a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Doctor of Laws from the University of British Columbia in 1949, 1950 and 1990 respectively.

Career

McEachern was the University of British Columbia"s 16th chancellor in 2002. He was also Douglas McK. Brown Visiting Professor and Peter Wall Distinguished Fellow in the Faculty of Law from September 2001 until June 2002 when he resigned these appointments upon being elected Chancellor.

McEachern practiced law with the leading Vancouver law firm of Russell and DuMoulin for 28 years after being called to the bar in 1951. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1979. In 1988 he was appointed Chief Justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. McEachern retired from that position in May 2001. Later that year he returned to the practice of law at his former firm, now called Fasken Martineau DuMoulin. His career as Chief Justice in both courts was distinguished by his reform of court procedure and for bringing the Canadian legal system closer to the public by being the first judge in Canada to host his own web site, which invited the public to e-mail their questions about the legal system. In addition, he chaired the Legal Aid Society from 1975 to 1976 and served from 1996 to 2001 as vice-chair of the Canadian Judicial Council, the body responsible for dealing with issues relating to the performance of federally appointed judges in Canada.

Achievements

• Allan McEachern has been listed as a noteworthy Canadian justice by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

McEachern also served as a Director of the Vancouver Bar Association, President of the Legal Aid Society, Bencher of the Law Society and a member of the Council of the Canadian Bar Association, President of the British Columbia Lions (1967-1969), President of the Canadian Football League, the third commissioner of the Canadian Football League and Ethics Commissioner for VANOC.

Interests

• sailing, gardening, walking, summer cottage

Connections

McEachern married Gloria on July 17, 1953. The couple had two children.

Father:

John A. McEachern

Mother:

Blanche L. (Roadhouse) McEachern