(far right) Alex Pringle, Q.C. receiving Alumni Honour Award2013 Alumni Honour Award presented to long-serving and distinguished sessional lecturer, Alex Pringle. Q.C.
The Faculty notes with great pride and pleasure the conferral of the 2013 Alumni Honour Award to Alexander D. Pringle, Q.C., ('68 B.A.), in recognition of the significant contributions made by him over a number of years in his local communities and beyond.
"Alex Pringle is one of our most accomplished and distinguished teachers," says John Law, Vice Dean, Faculty of Law. "For over 30 years through his teaching and support of the faculty and its students he has demonstrated the public service commitment of the lawyer as a member of a learned profession."
This is a very special occasion for the Faculty of Law as the award recognizes the contributions of one of its longest serving and most distinguished sessional lecturers, Alex Pringle, Q.C. He has served the law school and its students as a sessional lecturer for more than 25 years. His decades of dedication to teaching the fundamentals of criminal law and imparting an understanding of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms alone, more than qualified him for the Alumni Honour Award. Alex is a role model and mentor for generations of law students, legal practitioners and members of the public. He has demonstrated by his high ethical standards that he is committed to "uplifting the whole people" and has been a powerful role model for both law students and legal practitioners.
"I learned of Alex Pringle's reputation as a supremely gifted criminal defence counsel when I was in my 2nd year of law school at the University of Alberta and was thrilled when I was able to register for his Advocacy class the following year," says Dino Bottos, DePoe and Bottos Criminal Lawyers. "Alex was not only extremely knowledgeable in the law and the art of advocacy, he was a careful teacher who stood as a role model for all of us that wanted to become barristers. I remember most fondly a teacher who inspired his students to give their greatest effort, and from that time forward I just knew I had to try criminal law."
Alex grew up in Edmonton attending McKernan Junior High School, Strathcona High School and the University of Alberta where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1968. He then attended the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto graduating with his LL.B. in 1971 and returned to Edmonton to article with the law firm of McCuaig Desrochers. He remained with the firm following his call to the Bar and then soon after began working as a prosecutor for the Attorney General of Alberta. He then was engaged in a number of firms specializing in criminal defence work from 1974 to 1988. From 1988 to 1989, he was a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law. Since 1989, Alex has been the senior partner at Pringle & Associates, a firm that specializes in criminal defence work.
"Alex impressed me then and continues to impress me to this day as a man of integrity, honesty and one possessed with considerable forensic skill both at the trial and perhaps even more-so at the appellate level," says Peter Royal, Q.C. , Royal Teskey Barristers. "He taught me early on the importance of the work that criminal defence lawyers do and it is fair to say that he and Robbie Davidson, a former partner of Alex's in the firm of Davidson & Pringle from 1976 to 1978, created the first "serious" criminal defence office in this City. Criminal defence work was the only work that was done; there was no other work that was taken on."
"After I graduated law school Alex made room for me in his firm when I came calling, and for the next 19 years I had the honour of practising with him," says Dino Bottos, DePoe and Bottos Criminal Lawyers. "Over those years he taught me, and many like me, not only the professional qualities that foster success and respect as a professional, but those traits that we value in every person: a high ethical standard, integrity, honesty, empathy, humility, and a desire to do one's absolute best. I have always based my ethical compass on him, asking myself many times, what he would do in facing a particularly difficult situation."
In addition to his busy law practice, Alex has been a sessional lecturer at the Faculty of Law since 1982. He has taught courses in Introductory Criminal Law, Criminal Trial Procedure, Evidence, Advocacy and Advanced Criminal Law. Since 1989 he has taught the full year Introductory Criminal Law course two or three times a week, early in the morning before he began his daily legal practice. Through the course he has demonstrated an incredible commitment to his students; acting as a mentor and sharing his love of the law.
"Alex Pringle was an amazing instructor for first year crim law, as he managed to be interesting enough to make me look forward to 8am classes!," says Athyna Slack (3L). "He taught us all so much about the law, sprinkling in anecdotes from his career, as well as showing us the integrity and honesty that a true legal professional should have. All the best to Professor Pringle, your class is one of the highlights of my legal education."
As a measure of student respect for his commitment as a teacher; he was twice selected as the recipient of the Faculty of Law Sessional Teaching Excellence Award, in 2006 and 2011.
"I had Alex Pringle for Criminal Law in first year and my biggest comment about him is the manner in which he presents the law whether in a classroom, Court room or even the Supreme Court-- dignified, classy and quiet confidence in his argument," says Catherine Christensen (3L). My respect for the Criminal Defence Bar and the law they practice was vastly increased because of Alex Pringle. He gave us the best advice that I have ever received in law school-- never go into Court without enough money in your pocket to get yourself out for a charge of contempt of Court and, if that doesn't work, call him to come and get you out!"
In March 2013, the Faculty of Law recognized the accomplishments of two of its longest serving and most distinguished sessional lecturers, Alex Pringle, Q.C. and Peter Royal, Q.C., by naming the Sessional Teaching Excellence Award in their honour, The Pringle Royal Award.
"I had Professor Pringle for first year criminal law in 2011-2012, and he offered practical advice to us: think critically and don't simply accept what the courts have said, refer to the statute and know the elements that the Crown must prove -- amongst other things," says Heidi Besuijen (3L). "In addition to teaching our class the basics of criminal law, he was a role model of professionalism. Professor Pringle is obviously one of the preeminent practitioners in his field -- a fact gleaned from other sources -- he was always modest, humble and unassuming. One can only imagine the hard work and dedication he has applied in his career!"
In addition to teaching at the Law Faculty, Alex has lectured at the Bar Admission Course, at numerous seminars for members of the legal profession, the Bench, law enforcement personnel and the public in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. He has also been a visiting professor at the Faculty of Law in Nigata, Japan.
"Professor Pringle was kind and had genuine concern for those in the class. I remember that before the reading week he urged that the students in the class take some personal time to prepare for the hard weeks ahead," says Heidi Besuijen (3L). "Later in the year he hosted the class at his residence and was eager to speak to all of the students and demonstrated real interest with each of them. In short, I greatly admire Professor Pringle and I will always think back to his class with fondness."
Alex Pringle is a member of the Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories bars and has practiced in all these jurisdictions. He has appeared in all levels of Court in Canada, as well as at Commissions of Inquiry.
"I met Alex Pringle in 1980 when I arrived in this City," says Brian A. Beresh, Q.C., Beresh Cunningham Aloneissi O'Neill Hurley Barristers. "He was then one of the leaders in the Criminal Bar. He continued over the years that followed to be a true inspiration to young 'aspiring' criminal defence lawyers. His contribution has been remarkable."
Alex Pringle's contributions to the legal profession and the community were recognized by his peers with his appointment as a Queen's Counsel by the Province of Alberta in 1992. He was also appointed by the Province of Alberta as its representative at the Uniform Law Conferences from 1986-1998, serving as the Chairperson of the Criminal Law Section in 1998. In addition Alex was appointed as an advisor for the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute from 2008 until the present. He was selected to be a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1993 in Washington, DC, an honour open to only a few who have achieved the highest level of practice. He has also been named by the National Post as one of Canada's top criminal defence lawyers.
"A number of significant Supreme Court of Canada decisions resulted from the work that Alex undertook and he is considered a lawyer of national scope, in terms of his reputation, from British Columbia to and including Newfoundland," says Peter Royal, Q.C., Royal Teskey Barristers. "I know that he is held in the highest regard by both Bar, that includes both Crown and Defence, and the various levels of Court in this province and indeed in the Supreme Court of Canada. This honour is well-deserved and I congratulate him on this happy occasion."
In terms of volunteer leadership, Alex Pringle was a founding member of the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association of Alberta and its President from 1986 to 1987. He was also a founding member of the Environmental Law Centre of Edmonton and its President from 1985 to 1987. He has also been a director of the following groups: International Commission of Jurists, Edmonton John Howard Association, Edmonton Regional Legal Aid Committee, McMann Youth Homes, the Good Shepherd Hockey and Athletic Club and the Knights of Columbus Hockey Association.
"Alex and Sheila are close family friends. After my wife, Gloria, died in 2001, Alex and Sheila took my daughter, Grace, and me in," says Timothy Christian Q.C., Professor Emeritus, U of A Faculty of Law. "We became a sort of extended family and spent a lot of time together. I feel very close to the Pringle children, just as Grace feels very close to Alex and Sheila. It is this familial relationship which colours my view of Alex. We all admire him as a talented and ethical lawyer and value his great contribution to the law school through excellent teaching. However, I also know him and admire him as a loving and dedicated father. When I think of Alex I do not see him as just a great lawyer but as a great Dad."
Alex Pringle has also authored several articles for professional seminars and several entries in the New Canadian Encyclopedia.
The Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch recognized Pringle with their Distinguished Service to the Profession Award in February 2013. Only one lawyer in Alberta is selected for this prestigious honour annually. This award and the recognition by his peers, serves to acknowledge his dedication and remarkable service to the legal profession in Alberta and throughout Canada.
"The influence of a mentor on a junior colleague cannot always be satisfactorily gauged," says Dino Bottos, DePoe and Bottos Criminal Lawyers. "I won't say that I owe it all to Alex, but I owe him more than any professional that I have ever had the honour of knowing. He gave me opportunity, mentorship, guidance and a better appreciation of what it is to be a professional, a teacher, and a gentleman. Thank you Alex."