742 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 5 SEPTEMBER 2021
When the Dongs would arrive in Port Alice, his friends and their families
would immediately arrive at the house. There was always someone ready
to go fishing or play golf. The days’ activities were inevitably followed by
delicious dinners and entertaining stories. I never saw Barry more relaxed
than when he was in Port Alice.
Barry had a deeply loving and supportive relationship with Barb, Jeremy
and Taylor and their partners Jessica and Rachel. Barb was totally devoted
to Barry, and the boys treasured the time they spent with their father.
Jeremy liked to fish with Barry, and Taylor liked to cook for the family. Jessica
and Rachel were accepted as daughters.
When you were with Barry and Barb, they were unfailingly generous.
Barry and I shared a love of French wine. I remember coming in from fishing
and taking my boots off. I would then be presented with a glass of Meursault.
He would smile and simply say he had lots more.
Barry’s remarkable gifts of friendship and generosity extended to his professional
life. He was a mentor to young lawyers and a leader in the labour
law community. He treated everyone with respect and epitomized the spirit
of collegiality that our profession expects.
Chief Justice Richard Wagner has commented that “if we want to deliver
an exemplary justice, … we need to make a more conscious effort to be civil,
and collegial, even when we disagree with each other. Indeed, I’d say especially
when we disagree with each other!”1
Barry took this direction to heart. In the recent celebration of life held for
Barry, opposing lawyers spoke about the universal respect they and other
lawyers had for Barry, who always treated them fairly and courteously. He
never personalized a dispute and always opened himself to friendship.
Adjudicators who spoke on the same occasion remarked on his reputation
for integrity. They also noted that Barry could be tenacious counsel
when circumstances required.
Barry decided early in his practice that he would not take his work home
and did not work on weekends unless the work was emergent. He stayed in
the office until 7 p.m. every night to answer every e-mail he had received
that day. He used to prepare his cases well in advance and then put them
in a filing cabinet until the hearing. He did not have any paper on his desk—
an impossible standard for the rest of us.
Barry made a significant contribution to labour relations in the province
when he was appointed along with Michael Fleming and Sandra Banister,
Q.C., to the Labour Relations Review Panel to review the Labour Relations
Code and to report to the Minister of Labour in 2018. His appointment to this
panel reflected the respect held for Barry in the community.