THE ADVOCATE 427
VOL. 79 PART 3 MAY 2021
arrangements, practising on his own and also alongside Susan Wallach, Eric
Watson, the late Terry Napora, Troy Trillo and Matthew Yates. He appeared
as counsel in a multitude of cases at every court level in British Columbia
and practised in several subject areas over the course of his career, although
dating back to his time as a prosecutor, the protection of children was his
deepest professional passion. Over more than 30 years of private practice,
he served as counsel for parents and for the Ministry of Children and Family
Development, offering services as a litigator, lawyer, chartered arbitrator,
parenting coordinator and mediator.
His Honour Don Sperry (retired), reflecting on Greg’s career, observed
thoughtfully:
It was his conduct while acting in child apprehension that endeared him
to me. He was able to be compassionate in questioning deeply flawed parents
while looking only after the interests of their children. It was a rare
and valuable talent that was immeasurably helpful to judges.
In addition to providing services to his client base, Greg assisted the justice
community. He was supervising lawyer to the Nelson Advocacy Centre
for 20 years and a director of the Legal Services Society. He represented
Kootenay County at the CBABC council table and sat on its Court Services,
Legal Aid and Provincial Judicial Council Advisory committees.
It is no surprise that Greg’s personal reach was formidable, as his personal
investment in community building was a lifelong practice, including
the management of the Nelson Rotary Club youth exchange for 19 years;
chairmanship of the boards of the Nelson United Church, Kootenay School
of the Arts, and Kootenay Lake Hospital; service on the boards of the Nelson
and District Credit Union, Simon Fraser University, and the Legal Services
Society; Kootenay representative to the CBA; and a director with Health
Labour Relations as well as supervising lawyer for the Nelson Advocacy
Centre.
His 42 years of practice and these historical facts do not show the mentorship,
generosity and ethical behaviour that Greg practised and championed
throughout his career. Many new, younger lawyers benefitted from
his kind words and encouragement and calm demeanour. Since his passing,
colleagues from across the Kootenay legal sector have noted that he was
“professional, fair and human,” “welcoming and kind” and “a good man and
a good lawyer.”
There is, in fact, a doppelgänger of Greg still standing tall in the West
Kootenay in the form of lawyer Ken Wyllie, a good friend. These two fellows
have had intermingled histories since attending the UBC law school
together in 1969, and their uncanny resemblance is the source of legend. As