March 23, 2021
Iris Barry Yake Posthumous Bar Call & Memorial Robe Bank
The Law Society of Alberta is pleased to have approved the posthumous bar admission of Iris Barry Yake. Her bar admission ceremony is taking place on April 9, 2021 at 12:45 p.m. in Virtual Courtroom 07 (Edmonton) via Webex.

Life and Legacy

Ms. Barry Yake received a bachelor of arts degree in 1950 from the University of Saskatchewan. She went back to university in her forties after her kids were in school. In addition to the challenges of balancing school and raising her family, she was in constant pain after sustaining a severe back injury in a motor vehicle accident. In 1973, Ms. Barry Yake obtained a master's degree in education from the University of Alberta and remained at the University of Alberta to attend law school.

Near the end of law school, Ms. Barry Yake was diagnosed with final stage skin cancer and was tremendously challenged by the disease and related medical treatments. She did not immediately find an articling position following graduation, but was able to get permission from the Law Society to start the bar admission course in October 1976. On December 22, 1976, she was taken on as an articling student by Harold (Hal) W. Veale, QC, who was very proud to be her principal.

In April 1977, she passed her bar exam with a few months of articling behind her. She obtained robes in anticipation of her bar admission ceremony, however, she was too ill to attend. On January 12, 1978, at the age of 49, Ms. Barry Yake died of cancer and never had the opportunity to wear her robes in court.

Five years after her death, her daughter Susan Yake Phillippe, QC was admitted to the bar and honoured to wear her mother's robes. She wore them for three decades until her appointment as Queen's Counsel in 2014, when she replaced them with silk.

Ms. Barry Yake never got to wear her robes in court but her legacy and her robes continue to appear in Alberta court rooms forty years after her passing.

Iris Barry Yake Memorial Robe Bank

Ms. Barry Yake’s robes, purchased in anticipation of her bar call, were the first robes donated to the Robe Bank, which originated in Edmonton at the initiative of Bencher Moira Váně.

Heather Spicer has expanded the initiative to Calgary and has been assisted by LEAD Alberta, an organization devoted to increasing equity in the profession.

In Edmonton, the Iris Barry Yake Robe Bank is now set up to receive donations and space in the Courthouse has been secured to place them there. Courts in Calgary and Lethbridge have also started collecting court clothes to create their own robe banks.

The Robe Bank is accepting donations of robes, waistcoats, and tabs. They are also considering the purchase of dickie style shirts.

To Donate Robes

Calgary: Freshly dry-cleaned gowns and waistcoats can be dropped off at DLA Piper. Please contact Katrina Edgerton-McGhan (403.999.4714) to make arrangements. To arrange to have your gowns picked up from your home or work, please contact Heather Spicer.

Edmonton: Contact Moira Váně via LinkedIn or Twitter.

Financial donations are also being accepted to assist in related costs. Please contact Kate Andrews, Chair of the LEAD Board or Katrina Edgerton-McGhan for specifics.
Joseph J. Arvay Legacy Fund
A Legacy Fund has been established to honour the memory of Joseph J. Arvay, OC, OBC, QC, LLD.

The fund, created by UVic Law, intends to support and inspire a new generation of law students to follow in his footsteps as a visionary public interest law advocate.

See the link below for further information on Joe Arvay and an opportunity to donate to his Legacy Fund.
Appointment Opportunity for Chairperson, Human Rights Tribunal
Justice Canada has posted an appointment opportunity for the position of Chairperson, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. View the full posting.
Correction to Announcement — Justice Canada HELP Family Violence Toolkit
Justice Canada has contacted us with a correction to the March 11 announcement regarding Justice Canada's HELP Family Violence Toolkit and advised that they are currently only seeking feedback from law societies and will be seeking broader feedback later in 2021.
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