Doug Ferguson Lauded as Alumnus of Distinction
April 15, 2009
More than 250 guests gathered to celebrate the kick-off to Western Law's 50th anniversary year at the Western Law Alumni Dinner on April 14th at London's convention centre.
The event honoured Community Legal Services Director, Doug Ferguson LLB '81 (left), with the Alumni Award of Distinction.
Michael Ignatieff, interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, was the guest speaker at the event. In his remarks Ignatieff praised Ferguson as "someone who has taken the law down to the people, where it is needed the most."
In accepting his award Doug Ferguson said "he has the best law job in Canada."
"Every day I get to teach eager, bright young people and most of all, we have the opportunity to serve people in need," he said. "Our students help them, and in doing so become not just better lawyers, but better persons. They learn what it means to give back to the community. My goal has been to turn CLS into the best student legal clinic in Canada, and with thanks to the outstanding work of Jason Voss, Margaret Capes and Sue Latta, and our support staff, Viv and Lynn, I think we have reached our goal."
Western's President, Dr. Paul Davenport, acknowledged the role Western Law has played during its five decades.
"Western Law has evolved and matured into one of North America’s leading law schools," he noted. "It is a leader in curricular innovation, and in internationalization. It is a place where each year students come from across Canada and around the world to be taught by some of our country’s best scholars. And its graduates – many of you who are here this evening – through their professional lives make Canada a better place in which to live. All of us at Western are proud of the law school and what it has accomplished."
Western Law would like to thank Michael Lerner '72 for chairing the dinner and acknowledge Lerners LLP for their generous sponsorship of the event.
Dean Ian Holloway, Michael Lerner '72, Deborah Livingstone '75, Earl Cherniak
Janet Clark ‘77, Lorrie Por ‘90, Michelle Mannering ‘85
Jeff Elliott ‘76 John Griggs ‘72 and Ric Trafford
Doug Ferguson '81 and Michael Ignatieff, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party
Western Law students Chris Sinal, Meaghan Hourigan, Ana Garcia, Beth Church
Lawrence Gridin and Dany Horowitz
Jon Foreman ‘00, Jeremy Forrest ‘05, Jenny Hughes ‘03, Sue Noorloos ‘07,
and Sarah Graham ‘08
Peter Schwartz ‘68 and Ted Kalnins ‘04
Sue Barnes ‘77, Janet Collins ‘85 and Prof. Winnie Holland
Edward McGrath '68, Helen Rady '80, Beryl Theobald, Deborah Livingstone '75
and Grant Campbell '68
Mike Eizenga ‘89 and Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley
David MacKenzie ‘88 and Prof. Richard McLaren
Jill McCartney ‘04 and Cathy Bruni ‘91
