16 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 1 JANUARY 2022
“LISA 1.0”
Lisa attended high school in North Vancouver. In her teens, Lisa became
pregnant with a daughter. Given her young age, Lisa decided to give the little
girl up for adoption. Unbeknownst to her, the girl’s adoptive parents
named their daughter Lisa. It would be decades before Lisa and Lisa eventually
connected. But, once they met, they bonded and continue to have a
relationship to this day.
Meeting Lisa 2.0 (Lisa insists that the younger Lisa is an upgraded version
of her) has been a gift to Lisa 1.0. Lisa 2.0 recounts their first dinner together
and how at ease Lisa 1.0 made her feel. Putting anxious people at ease is
one of Lisa 1.0’s gifts. Lisa 2.0 quickly arrived at the same view that most
who know Lisa 1.0 hold, noting: “I enjoy her sense of humour and admire
her bravery and determination to always make the right decision, even
when it is difficult.”
“SALT”
In 1986, Lisa entered the University of British Columbia. She chose psychology
as a major.
Lisa had never considered becoming a lawyer but wanted to support a
friend who was taking the LSAT. Lisa helped her friend study for weeks and,
by osmosis, soaked up significant LSAT knowledge. Lisa decided to take the
LSAT, just “for fun”. Of course, Lisa obtained a stellar mark.
Lisa graduated in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree and was off to law
school at the University of Victoria.
Starting at another new school was stressful. But in the first week of law
school, Lisa and Marli Rusen met and became friends. Marli remembers her
time with Lisa as filled with laughter, support and encouragement: “From
day one, through her words and actions, Lisa worked against individualism,
unhealthy competition and divisiveness. Instead, she taught the rest of us
how to be a team and look after each other.”
Marli was fortunate to have the “Lisa Hamilton new school experience”,
and they became inseparable. Other students referred to Lisa as “Salt” and
Marli as “Pepa”.
“BIRTHGIVER”
During Lisa’s second year of law school, she became pregnant with twins.
While she managed to keep up her studies, she went into labour early, while
writing a final paper. Determined as ever, she finished the paper before
heading to the hospital.
With the arrival of her beautiful twin boys Keenan and Spencer, Lisa
attended part-time for her third year of law school.