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use any juniors). One rule that was absolutely immutable was the “rule
against sub-delegation”, whereby a junior who had been given work by
Sherman could not further delegate that work to another associate without
his approval, which was rarely given. The incident that gave rise to that rule
resulted in a scolding of both delegator and delegate, but the rule was a salutary
one as it was rooted in Sherman’s need to ensure his client’s interests
were well served. However, being a junior to Sherman was not all negative.
If you made the grade and did not disappoint him, he stood firmly by your
side. While he liked to adopt a stern or curmudgeonly exterior, that façade
was often quickly pierced as he was, at heart, a genial man who came to
care about the welfare of the junior lawyers who worked with him. Such former
juniors as the Honourable Marion Allan, Tom Manson, Q.C., Richard
Olson and Murray Blok (now Blok J.) were the beneficiaries of his guidance
and advice and, later, his friendship.
Every summer, the siren call of the Soo came to Sherman and he would
drive across Canada in his beaten-up Chevrolet Blazer to return to the
Camp. Sherman’s uncle had the foresight to install indoor plumbing after
Roberta’s first visit to the Camp, which ensured that she too returned every
year.
Sherman, his father and his brother had discovered a little-known lake a
full eight hours from the Camp, accessible only after the last portion of the
journey was completed by an hour-long, insect-infested hike while packing
a canoe. Sherman would go there with his children and his brother and stay
for a week. Presumably, the Camp looked like the Hilton in comparison
upon their return. At the Camp, the family would swim, fish and hike up
the Goulais River as far as they could go, then float down on inner tubes.
Sherman went back to the Camp religiously every year of his life.
Sherman was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia on
June 30, 1989, joining his good friend McEachern. He was a fine and dedicated
judge and a careful problem solver. Sherman’s facility for mentoring
younger talent continued while he was on the bench. In 1997, Chief Justice
McEachern asked Sherman to take a new appointee under his wing as she
was coming from a criminal law background and did not know much civil
law. Sherman grumbled about it until McEachern said “she’s from the Soo”.
That was enough to sway him. Sherman took on Elizabeth Bennett (now
Bennett J.A.) as requested, and a lasting friendship ensued. She, too, has
been to the Camp.
He elected supernumerary status on March 31, 2004 and retired on
August 11, 2007 upon reaching the mandatory age of retirement. Never one
to remain idle, he returned to his former firm (now Fasken) as associate