Justice Picard and Professor Emeritus Ron Hopp, Q.C. at the Edmonton Bar Association's Annual Judges' Dinner in October 2016.
Congratulations to the Honourable Madam Justice Ellen Picard (LLB '67, LLM '80) who has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her contributions as a legal scholar. Justice Picard was instrumental in establishing the field of health law in Canada.
Justice Picard, a member of the Alberta Court of Appeal before her retirement in February 2016, has an accomplished history. In addition to establishing the Health Law Institute (HLI), the first research institute in Canada in the field of health law, she was the first female full-time member of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, where she served as Associate Dean on two separate occasions (1974-75, 1980-81). She was also the first female faculty member to be appointed a judge. In October 2016, Justice Picard's many accomplishments were recognized at the Edmonton Bar Association's Annual Judges' Dinner.
Professor Timothy Caulfield said the recognition is very well deserved.
"Justice Picard has had a remarkable impact on scholarship, health policy and, of course, the law. She helped to create the discipline of health law and had the foresight to see it as a dynamic, interdisciplinary field with relevance to all Canadians. She has also been a tremendous mentor to the entire health law community. Without Justice Ellen Picard, I don't know what I'd be doing right now," he said.
2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Order of Canada, which is considered one of Canada's highest civilian honours. Approximately 7,000 people have been invested into the Order by the governor general, who receives recommendations from the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. Justice Picard was one of 100 new appointments announced December 30, 2016, which included three companions, 22 officers, and 75 members.