It is with great sadness that we report the passing of LESA’s former Executive Director Hugh A. Robertson QC on October 19, 2013. He served as Executive Director of LESA and Director of Bar Admissions for the Province of Alberta from 1984 until he retired in 2007.
Hugh received his BA and LLB from the University of Alberta in 1963 and 1966 respectively and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1967. In 1990, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel, in 1991 he received a Certificate of Management of Lifelong Education from Harvard University, and in 1996 he received an Honorary Doctorate from St. Stephen’s College for service to his community. In 2005, he received the Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Profession from the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch. In 2009, he received an Alumni Honour Award from the University of Alberta.
Hugh Robertson’s contributions to continuing legal education raised professional standards provincially, nationally and internationally. He was among the most respected executives of continuing legal education in North America, and under his guidance LESA became regarded as one of the best continuing legal education service providers on the continent. He is a past president of both the Canadian and International Associations for Continuing Legal Education.
Provincially, Hugh was a representative to the Branch Council of the CBA and to the Benchers of the Law Society for over 20 years, serving on countless committees of those organizations. He played a major role in the initiative that harmonized the Bar Admission programs of Western Canada, which led to the creation of CPLED.
Internationally, Hugh was actively involved with educational initiatives in Africa, China, Vietnam and most recently, as a consultant for the United Nations in Laos. He served as national Chair of the International Development Committee of the Canadian Bar Association. He also served as a member of the Governing Council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Hugh was highly respected in the Alberta legal community and in the international legal education community. He will be greatly missed.
Note: The Edmonton reception to celebrate Hugh’s life will be held at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club on November 22 at 2 p.m.
For more information, see http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/edmontonjournal/obituary.aspx?n=hugh-alexander-robertson&pid=167813300#sthash.TY0dRuvm.dpuf
