THE ADVOCATE 747
VOL. 79 PART 5 SEPTEMBER 2021
Paul, by the way, was a founder of the Community Foundation of the
North Okanagan back in the 1970s, soon after he returned to Vernon, while
still in his 20s.
When Paul died in his 73rd year of life in November 2020, there was nothing
more to be given or taken. His role on this earth was done, and done
well. He left having made pivotal positive changes in many, many people’s
lives. He knew all of this as fact.
Before he left, he wanted everyone else to know too that he was comfortable
saying goodbye. He would not have wanted us to feel sad for long. We
will feel sad for some time to come, and terrifically enriched forever.
Dale Kermode
The Honourable Shirley Giroday
The legal community in British Columbia lost one of
its longest serving and pioneering members with the
passing of Shirley Giroday in 2020.
Shirley was born Shirley Eileen McLeod. Her
father, Daniel, was a lawyer in Winnipeg. Unfortunately,
Daniel died from tuberculosis when Shirley
was a young girl. She and her mother moved to Vancouver,
where she was raised as an only child. She attended Crofton House,
where she was a classmate of Mary Southin. Shirley attended UBC to obtain
her B.A. and her law degree, and graduated from UBC law school in 1955
(one of only three women in the class). She then articled with Clark Wilson
under General Clark.
There were not many women being called to the bar in those days, and
the Law Society was not prepared for that. Shirley’s certificate stated, “He
now remains on the books of this Society as a Barrister thereof.” The certificate
recognizing her status as a solicitor contained the same pronoun.
Shirley remained at Clark Wilson until 1958, when her husband, Michael
Giroday, was called to the bar (there was no confusion with respect to the
wording on his certificates). They decided to move away from Vancouver