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FEATURE Originally from Alberta, Forrest came from selfdescribed humble beginnings. “I joined the army to make some money to fund my university, to travel, and simply to enjoy life, and everything went from there. The only thing remarkable about my career path was that I didn’t have one.” By September 11, 1989, Forrest had finished his probationary fire fighting training and, true to his challenge-driven persona, was contemplating embarking on a Masters degree in History. But a chance visit to the Faculty of Law and a brief chat with Professor Roland Penner ignited a different notion in the young Forrest. “We had this conversation about law and how it can take you in different directions. It really struck a chord in me.” Forrest followed his impulse and earned his law degree while working full time as a firefighter. “I did this by changing all my day shifts for night shifts at the fire department during law school and for the year that I articled with Krawchuk and Fleishmann. I was called to the bar in 1996, and then I practiced with Edmond & Associates for two years.” What Forrest calls the ‘perfect job’ culminated in his election as president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, a position that brought together his two abiding passions, firefighting and the law as it relates to advocating for firefighters’ rights, health, and safety. “It’s the best possible job. I represent firefighters nationally from coast to coast.” Forrest still takes on fire fighting shifts, but concedes that the more successful you get in this business the more you are drawn off by different things, so it is all about priorities. “I want to do as many fire shifts as I can, but can’t because I’m involved with issues that literally mean life and death to firefighters.” While acting locally, Forrest has effected global change for his work on presumptive legislation. This legislation presumes that fire fighting is the cause of certain cancers that are more frequently experienced by full-time firefighters than by the rest of the population. Initiated in Manitoba in 2002, but retroactive to 1992, the legislation ensures that firefighters suffering from these occupational diseases receive appropriate benefits. “It was the perfect storm because of my legal background and knowledge, and many of the issues were based in the law and legislative drafting. I worked in Manitoba and then I assisted in Alberta, and then basically every province was calling me to make a presentation. Within five years, most of Canada had adopted some model of presumptive legislation.” The rest of the fire fighting global community took notice. “I had the tremendous honour of speaking 103 ROBSON HALL ALUMNI REPORT
PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Alex Forrest poses with Govenor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper after receiving the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in Sweden and Finland and, on separate occasions, to the European Union. Next, Australia extended an invitation to speak.” Forrest adds, “These countries are all now moving forward based on the Manitoba model.” A recent unscripted event occurred in April 2012 when Forrest, accompanied by his nine-year-old son, flew to Ottawa’s Rideau Hall to receive one of 60 Queen’s Jubilee medals presented by the Governor General and the Prime Minister. But it is in the local arena that Alex engages daily with City Hall and the Province of Manitoba. Asked to define his idea of a healthy, productive relationship between union and government, Forrest says, “It’s a matter of respect. We all have people we have to answer to. I have to answer to the firefighters. I have to do what I can to ensure that firefighters are safe. You have to be able to stand and say I believe in this, and I think that resonates in any relationship you have.” Mayor Katz’s respect is evident. “Alex is passionate about ensuring firefighters are represented fairly. I believe his experience as a lawyer has been invaluable on issues such as presumptive disability law, ensuring that firefighters with a disease or condition that has been shown to be a hazard in fire fighting receive proper compensation and recognition.” UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, FACULTY OF LAW robsonhall.ca 104
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2012 A l u m n i RepoRt robson hall
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CONTENTS 27. 17. PROFILES 17. Abori
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INTRODUCTION continued... research
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BRIEFS An Evening of Excellence 201
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BRIEFS The Idea of a Human Rights M
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BRIEFS DISTINGUISHED VISITOR LECTUR
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Photo courtesy of Joe Byyksa Winnip
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Photo courtesy Joe Bryksa, Winnipeg
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A seminAr series held At the Univer
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law students who face challenges as
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BRIEFS Rebels with a Cause LAW STUD
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BRIEFS REBELS WITH A CAUSE continue
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AWARDS AND PRIZES LIEUTENANT M.M. S
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BRIEFS D.A. THOMPSON, Q.C. PRIZE Bu
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Front-Line Legal Magdalena Siepka -
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“There is often simply no time to
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New York New York Mark Adkins - Cla
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“My prior firm merged with a New
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37 ROBSON HALL ALUMNI REPORT
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education I got at the Manitoba Law
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International Law a Passport to the
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FEATURE Fenwick was given an opport
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permanent international criminal co
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BRIEFS Cheers to the Charter! ROBSO
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BRIEFS Mishpatim Program A Life Cha
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Pro Bono Students Open New Campus L
Page 54 and 55: RURAL ROUTES U of M lawyers extol c
Page 56 and 57: FEATURE Recalling his own experienc
Page 58 and 59: Raising funds and awareness Rana Bo
Page 60 and 61: FEATURE Trish Goulet briefly consid
Page 62 and 63: It’s fun being ‘Green’ James
Page 65 and 66: Business Law Education Moves from t
Page 67 and 68: FEATURE Left: Marshall Ring, Biomed
Page 69 and 70: BRIEFS Marcel A. Desautels Centre f
Page 72 and 73: In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canad
Page 74 and 75: New Courses & Program Offerings SEV
Page 76 and 77: Did the Supreme Court of Canada Get
Page 78 and 79: FEATURE JP: Does the Court’s deci
Page 80 and 81: Here at Robson Hall, unlike most No
Page 82 and 83: BRIEFS Moots & Competitions ROBSON
Page 84 and 85: Faculty Research Report 2011 - 2012
Page 86 and 87: Meet Our New Dean DR. LORNA A. TURN
Page 88 and 89: Faculty News TENURES AND PROMOTIONS
Page 90 and 91: BRIEFS Faculty Awards & Achievement
Page 92 and 93: The Gender Divide In Corporate Law
Page 94 and 95: Students questioned whether they sh
Page 96 and 97: New Boundaries of Philanthropy and
Page 98 and 99: oriented approach. The double botto
Page 100 and 101: Alumni News HOMECOMING 2011 & REUNI
Page 103: Alex Forrest - Class of 1995 By Mar
Page 107 and 108: FEATURE lesser extent Dreyfus, they
Page 109 and 110: FEATURE Churchill’s viability as
Page 111 and 112: 1995 Gary Gervais, founder and pres
Page 113 and 114: Class Notes continued... 2008 Danie
Page 115 and 116: Osprey Capital Partners is a proud
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