John V. Lawer

Background

John V. Lawer was born in 1929 and was associated professionally and organizationally with Toronto, Ontario. He maintained a legal office at 40 St. Clair Avenue East and was also connected with several Canadian fraternal, heraldic, and charitable organizations. He died on March 29, 2016.

Education

Lawer studied at the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and subsequently attended Osgoode Hall, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree. His legal education preceded his admission to the bar in 1955 and his subsequent Toronto practice.

Career

Lawer practiced law in Toronto from at least 1955, when he was admitted to the bar, and worked at 40 St. Clair Avenue East. His practice was described as covering general practice, estates law, and real estate law. He was identified as a barrister at law in connection with a professional office lease at that address in 2004, with the lease running from December 1, 2004, to November 30, 2007. In addition to his legal work, he served in leadership and administrative roles within Canadian Scottish Rite, York Rite, heraldic, and charitable organizations. He was president of the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada from 1997 to 2008 and served as Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada in 2001.

Achievements

• John V. Lawer was listed as a reputable lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

Works

• article

  • The Double Headed Eagle

    (Article by John V. Lawer, 33°, on the historical developm...)

    2011

Membership

Lawer participated actively in Canadian fraternal, heraldic, and charitable organizations. He served as secretary of the St. George's Society of Toronto Charitable Trust Fund in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was associated with the Scottish Rite of Canada and served as president of its charitable foundation from 1997 to 2008. He was also connected with the York Rite Sovereign College and its charitable foundation, the Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada, the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, and the Rameses Shrine.

• Served as secretary.

  St. George's Society of Toronto Charitable Trust Fund

  1998 - 2001

• Served as president.

  Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada

  1997 - 2008

• Served as a director.

  York Rite Sovereign College Charitable Foundation of Canada

• Served as Grand Sovereign in 2001.

  Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada

  2001 - 2001

• Listed in the society's Members' Roll of Arms.

  Royal Heraldry Society of Canada

• Identified as a deceased member in the shrine's 2016 report.

  Rameses Shrine

  March 29, 2016

Interests

• Heraldry, Scottish Rite and York Rite symbolism, and charitable organizational work.

References

• Roll of the Order 2025 Lists John V. Lawer as a Toronto member of the Order and records his admission in 1992.
  2025
• Clarion Magazine 2025 Records John V. Lawer, 33°, as president of the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada from 1997 to 2008.
  2025
• Past Grand Sovereigns Lists John V. Lawer as Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada in 2001.
• Toronto Public Library Board Meeting Minutes, February 14, 2005 Documents a professional office lease for John V. Lawer, Barrister at Law, at 40 St. Clair Avenue East in Toronto.
  2005
• Rameses Papyrus, September 2016 Reports the death of John V. Lawer of Toronto on March 29, 2016.
  2016