History

History Image

The Canadian Bar Association is a professional, voluntary organization which was formed in 1896, and incorporated by a Special Act of Parliament on April 15, 1921. The Ontario Branch has been in existence since 1907 and was incorporated on April 22, 1985.

The National Office of the Association is located in Ottawa and the staff of that office serves the National functions of the organization.

Past Presidents

The following is a list of past presidents of the Ontario Bar Association.

  • Kelly McDermott
    2023-2024
  • Karen Perron
    2022-2023
  • Charlene D. Theodore
    2021-2022
  • Colin Stevenson
    2019-2020
  • Lynne M.J. Vicars
    2018-2019
  • Quinn M. Ross
    2017-2018
  • David L. Sterns
    2016-2017
  • Edwin G. Upenieks
    2015-2016
  • Orlando Da Silva, LSM
    2014-2015
  • Pascale Daigneault
    2013-2014
  • Morris A. Chochla
    2012-2013
  • The Hon. Paul R. Sweeny
    2011-2012
  • R. Lee Akazaki
    2010-2011
  • The Hon. Carole J. Brown
    2009-2010
  • The Hon. Jamie K. Trimble
    2008-2009
  • Gregory D. Goulin, LSM
    2007-2008
  • James C. Morton
    2006-2007
  • The Hon. Heather McGee
    2005-2006
  • Ian Kirby
    2004-2005
  • Jonathan Speigel
    2003-2004
  • Virginia MacLean, Q.C.
    2002-2003
  • James F. O’Brien
    2001-2002
  • Thomas C. Marshall
    2000-2001
  • Susan T. McGrath
    1999-2000
  • Steven F. Rosenhek
    1998-1999
  • William J. Simpson, Q.C., LSM
    1997-1998
  • The Hon. Michelle K. Fuerst
    1996-1997
  • Douglas J. Los
    1995-1996
  • Igor Ellyn, Q.C.
    1994-1995
  • D. Kevin Carroll, Q.C.
    1993-1994
  • Erica L. James
    1992-1993
  • J. Kenneth Alexander
    1991-1992
  • Garth Manning, Q.C.
    1990-1991
  • Thomas G. Heintzman, Q.C.
    1989-1990
  • J. Douglas Grenkie, Q.C.
    1988-1989
  • Harvey J. Bliss, Q.C.
    1987-1988
  • Stephen R. Cameron
    1986-1987
  • J. Alex Langford, Q.C.
    1985-1986
  • Thomas E. Evans, Q.C.
    1984-1985
  • The Hon. Lorraine Gotlib
    1983-1984
  • Raymond J. Ostiguy
    1982-1983
  • John R. Finley, Q.C.
    1981-1982
  • The Hon. Joseph Potts
    1980-1981
  • The Hon. Mr. Justice John R.R. Jennings
    1979-1980
  • William H. Kidd, Q.C.
    1978-1979
  • Ian W. Outerbridge, Q.C.
    1977-1978
  • Donald E. Smith, Q.C.
    1976-1977
  • Donald H.L. Lamont, Q.C.
    1975-1976 
  • Bernard Shaffer, Q.C.
    1974-1975 
  • T.B. Oliver McKeag, Q.C.
    1973-1974
  • The Hon. W.Z. Estey
    1972-1973 
  • Alan T. Marshall, Q.C.
    1971-1972
  • John M. Hodgson, Q.C., LSM
    1970-1971
  • William L.N. Somerville, Q.C.
    1969-1970
  • Patrick G. Furlong, Q.C.
  • The Hon. F. Joseph Cornish
    1967-1968 
  • D. Donald Diplock, Q.C.
    1966-1967
  • The Hon. George S. Ferguson
    1965-1966
  • Stewart S. MacInnes, Q.C.
    1964-1965
  • Arthur S. Pattillo, Q.C.
    1963-1964
  • The Hon. Gregory T. Evans
    1962-1963
  • The Hon. John H. Osler
    1961-1962
  • William S. Martin, Q.C.
    1960-1961
  • John T. Weir, Q.C.
    1959-1960
  • Joseph Jeffery, Q.C.
    1958-1959 
  • Vernon W. Armstrong, Q.C.
    1957-1958
  • Stanley E. Fennell, Q.C.
    1956-1957
  • George A. McGillivray, Q.C.
    1955-1956
  • Wilfrid Gregory, Q.C.
    1954-1955
  • Edson L. Haines, Q.C.
    1953-1954 
  • Cecil W. Robinson, Q.C.
    1952-1953
  • James R. Maclaren, Q.C.
    1951-1952
  • Arthur Kelly, Q.C.
    1950-1951
  • D. Park Jamieson, M.B.E., Q.C.
    1948-1950
  • E. Gordon Gowling, Q.C.
    1946-1948
  • Fred Holmes Barlow, K.C.
    1944-1946
  • James C. McRuer, K.C.
    1943-1944
  • Kenneth F. Mackenzie, K.C.
    1939-1943
  • John R. Marshall, K.C.
    1938-1939
  • Ward Wright, K.C.
    1935-1938
  • Henry Hague Davis, K.C.
    1934-1935
  • Dalton Lally McCarthy, K.C.
    1930-1934
  • N.W. Rowell, K.C.
    1927-1930
  • Wallace Nesbitt, K.C.
    1923-1927
  • George P. Henderson, K.C
    1922-1923
  • M.H. Ludwig, K.C.
    1919-1922
  • Sir Allen Aylesworth, K.C.
    1918-1919
  • E.F.B. Johnston, K.C.
    1915-1917