The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) recognizes and congratulates the recipients of the following awards:

CBABC Equality and Diversity Award

Anna Fung, QC of Vancouver is the recipient of this award which celebrates the accomplishments of a lawyer who has succeeded in advancing equality in the legal profession or generally in BC. The award recognizes significant contributions to improving the status of women, people with disabilities, people of colour, aboriginal people or peoples, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or two-spirited people, or people who are members of historically marginalized communities.

Anna Fung, QC is a senior legal counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of Terasen Inc. and is the current President of the Law Society of BC. Anna has held the positions of Director and President of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, Director and Secretary of the UBC Law Alumni Association, Director of the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Director and President of the Association of Chinese Professionals, and a Director of the West Coast Legal Education Action Fund. In his letter of nomination, Alec C. Robertson, QC says, "Anna Fung is a champion of equality and a tireless worker to improve the lot of the disadvantaged. She is also an outstanding role model for women of diverse ethnic backgrounds and for women generally."

Harry Rankin, QC Pro Bono Award

This award is given in recognition of the immense contribution of Harry Rankin, QC in supporting access to justice for the poor. It recognizes outstanding contributions by a lawyer in the area of pro bono work.

Carman J. Overholt, QC, senior partner in the Vancouver office of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, has over many years worked to promote and to assist the provision of pro bono legal services by the lawyers of BC, and, through his leadership example, has contributed to the promotion of pro bono culture among lawyers.

Carman Overholt served as the founding President of Pro Bono Law of BC, which has been integral in facilitating the efforts of lawyers providing pro bono legal services province-wide. BC's Chief Justice, The Honourable Lance Finch says, "I believe that it (Pro Bono Law of BC) has the potential to foster the availability of pro bono services in every BC community, and active pro bono programs within every law firm in the province." Carman's diligence in fundraising and his commitment to the betterment of all facets of Pro Bono Law of BC has ensured that the organization will continue to be successful. Carman is a past president of the CBABC and a past member of the Judicial Council of British Columbia.

President's Medal

Awarded by the CBABC president, this medal recognizes one or more of the following: legal academic proficiency; outstanding works of legal scholarship; significant contribution to the profession; or noteworthy contribution to Canadian public life.

Arthur Close, QC is the recipient of the President's Medal. Mr. Close served as Counsel, Commissioner, Vice-Chair and finally Chair of the Law Reform Commission of BC between 1973-1997, during which time he authored a number of reports that were implemented through legislation. Following the abolishment of the Law Reform Commission, Arthur, along with other members of the legal community, founded the British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI) where he subsequently became Executive Director. In 2003 Arthur spearheaded the creation of the Canadian Center for Elder Law Studies (a division of BCLI), which is the only body in Canada devoted exclusively to legal research and law reform in the area of elder law. His commitment to law reform is evident in his more than 50 published works. His legal best seller Gender-free Legal Writing: Managing the Personal Pronouns published in 1998 continues to be a staple in every legal library. Frits Verhoeven, President of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, commented,

"More than anyone else in this Province, over the course of his long career spanning 37 years from 1970 until his retirement this year, Arthur L. Close, QC has dedicated himself to the cause of law reform, and to the goal of improving the law - a core value of the Canadian Bar Association. As President of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, I take great pride in recognizing Arthur's many contributions by awarding him the President's Medal for the BC Branch for 2007."

Photos are available online at http://www.cba.org/BC/Public_Media/news_2007/news_06_26_07.aspx

The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization representing the interests of more than 35,000 members in Canada, and 6,000 members in British Columbia.