Saskatchewan Judicial Appointments Announced

OTTAWA, June 7, 2013 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Peter A. Whitmore, a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal, to replace Mr. Justice Robert G. Richards, who was appointed Chief Justice of Saskatchewan effective June 30, 2013.

Mr. Justice Whitmore earned a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in 1971, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1974, and a Doctorate of Canon Law from the University of Emmanuel College, Saskatoon, in 2004.

Prior to his appointment to the Court of Queen’s Bench, Mr. Justice Whitmore had been a partner with McKercher McKercher & Whitmore LLP since 1989. He practised with G.H.M. Armstrong and Associates from 1975 to 1976, with Wilson Drummond & Whitmore from 1976 to 1977, with Lane & Whitmore from 1977 to 1985, and with Whitmore Company from 1985 to 1989. His main areas of practice were corporate law, commercial law, financing law, tort liability, dispute resolution and real estate law.

The Honourable Richard W. Elson is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, to replace Mr. Justice Peter A. Whitmore, who was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan. 

Mr. Justice Elson received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1976 and Bachelor of Laws in 1980, both from the University of Manitoba. He was called to the Bar of Manitoba in 1981 and the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1982.

Mr. Justice Elson was an associate with McKercher LLP in Saskatoon from 1982 to 1989 and has been a partner since 1989. His main areas of practice were medical and tort liability, employment law, commercial litigation, administrative law and Aboriginal law. 

Mr. Justice Elson has appeared before all the courts in Saskatchewan, as well as various administrative tribunals, including the Discipline Committees of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Chiropractors Association of Saskatchewan. He was a faculty member of the Trial Advocacy Workshop, sponsored by the Continuing Legal Education Society and Law Society of Saskatchewan. He has also been involved with numerous charitable organizations.

These appointments are effective June 30, 2013.

-30-

Ref.: