928 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 6 NOVEMBER 2021
Andrea and her boys returned to Canada in 2005. She resumed her legal
career working for the BCGEU once again, where she remained until her
appointment. Throughout her tenure at the BCGEU, Andrea was highly
respected. A very talented litigator, she was known for her formidable but
fair approach and her willingness to take on the most challenging of cases.
Her last case involved ten “clients” and 43 days of hearing. Especially
skilled at cross-examination, Andrea resolved many cases after cross-
examining the employer’s first key witness and negotiating skillfully. A
committed mentor and support to many junior colleagues, and intolerant of
unfairness and inequality in her midst, Andrea also represented her coworkers
in disciplinary and harassment matters within the BCGEU.
Always devoted to her boys, Andrea balanced the demands of working as
a lawyer and a thousand commitments at home with apparent ease, operating
the family calendar with military precision—or so the boys tell us. Not
only did she immerse herself in their school activities (homework, school
projects, parent advisory council meetings, etc.), but she also spent many
years managing and volunteering for their various and multiple sports
teams, including baseball, hockey, football and rugby. When she was not
endlessly organizing, fundraising and scorekeeping, Andrea was the noisiest
and most exuberant spectator in the arena and on the field. She and the
boys also travelled far and wide, to Australia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Africa,
and each summer throughout the United States and to West Hawk Lake,
Manitoba to visit family. But their greatest passion was and is skiing whenever
and wherever possible. Andrea hopes to continue to ski with the boys
and anyone else who can keep up with her, as did her father with her, well
into his 70s. Although sitting still is not her style, Andrea is also a hockey
and football fanatic and, more recently, rugby sevens fan. If you dare to
watch a game with her, bring some ear plugs and prepare to talk endlessly
about player stats and game strategy.
Another thing about Andrea: she has that rare ability to make people feel
heard—really heard. She listens intently because she cares deeply. And she
remembers. Many years later she will revisit a conversation once had with
someone about a difficult time in their life or a particular suffering that others
have long since forgotten. Andrea has not.
Her talent for listening, along with all of her other exceptional qualities,
are to the good fortune of all who appear before her. We have no doubt she
is already distinguishing herself in her new role.