Beverley McLachlin

Born: September 7, 1943
Place of Birth: Pincher Creek, Alberta

• Beverly McLachlin was the first woman to ever be appointed to the role of Chief Justice of Canada.

• She grew up in a ranching community and describes herself as a "farm girl".

• McLachlin received her formal post high school education at the University of Alberta.

• After qualifying for her BA and MA degrees, McLachlin went on to obtain her LLB in 1968.

• By 1971, she had been accepted to practise law in two provinces, Alberta and British Columbia.

• Over the next few years, she joined law firms in Fort St. John and Vancouver.

• In 1974 she began teaching at the University of British Columbia.

• She continued her work at UBC and later was made a full professor; a position she held until 1981.

• During these years, Beverly McLachlin authored several articles for publications dealing with law and the court system.

• She was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1981 and was made Chief Justice of that court in 1988.

• McLachlin was the first woman to ever be given this position in British Columbia.

• In 1989, Beverly McLachlin was called upon by PM Brian Mulroney to sit as a judge in the Supreme Court of Canada.

• McLachlin made decisions from a libertarian point of view.

• Based on merit, McLachlin, in the year 2000, was appointed Chief Justice of Canada by PM Jean Chretien.

• She has had to make difficult decisions on cases such as same-sex marriage and rape shield laws.

• Over the years, Beverly McLachlin has received numerous awards and honorary Doctorate degrees.

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Last Updated: February 18, 2011
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