582 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 4 JULY 2021
was based on Tom’s confrontation with Justice Manson 56 years earlier. It
can be viewed at <www.brucefraserauthor.com>.
Tom was an exceptional lawyer who believed—and proved—that the law
can be an effective instrument in the ongoing struggle to rid society of
oppression and injustice. He will be greatly missed.
Christopher Harvey, Q.C.
Allan Kenneth Hoem
Allan (“Al”) Kenneth Hoem was born on July 27,
1942 to John and Martha Hoem, who emigrated from
Norway to Canada after they married. Al had two
brothers, John and Palmer; one sister, Margaret; and
a stepbrother, Bernt, who lived in Norway. He grew
up in Delta and was in the first graduating class of
North Delta Senior Secondary School. He went on to
study at UBC, where he earned a bachelor of commerce degree and then a
law degree.
After graduating from law school, Al quickly moved to the Prosecution
Service, where he served as Crown counsel and then regional Crown counsel
overseeing the prosecutors in the South Fraser region. Many of the leading
counsel in the criminal bar in the ’80s and ’90s got their start in the
business because Al hired them as Crown counsel. He had a reputation as
a hard worker, someone with a great sense of people, who always looked
after and supported those who worked for him. Many who worked with Al
described him as the best boss they ever had. He and his friend Gary Hales
were known for their enjoyable Friday afternoon office parties. While he
was at the Crown, Al showed a passion for rooting out injustice; he was not
afraid to take on high-profile cases and prosecute them vigorously, even
when the risks were high.
Al left the Crown in 1982. From that time on, he was a criminal defence
lawyer, and his commitment to justice was channelled into vindicating individual
rights against the state.
He worked across the province, but mainly in the Lower Mainland, serving
his clients with creativity and diligence. He left no stone unturned and
/www.brucefraserauthor.com