New Westminster

The New Westminster Bar Association (NWBA) is the oldest bar association in British Columbia, having been formed in or around 1890. It was incorporated as a society under the Society Act in 1981 with the five applicants for incorporation including two members who would later go on to receive judicial appointments to the Supreme Court: Mr. Justice Robert Crawford and the late Mr. Justice David Brine.

The constitution of the NWBA sets out a number of purposes and goals however the heart and spirit of our association can be best summed up in a single word: collegiality! In addition to our summer golf tournament and Christmas dinner\dance, we meet for 8 dinner meetings each year. These events provide a regular opportunity for
relaxed social interaction among our members over a good meal and wine, with past guest speakers having been drawn from the Bench, the Bar, various community organizations and the local political arena. Each September we have our annual Bench & Bar dinner, while our flagship event is the January Judges’ Dinner at which we welcome all new judicial appointments and elevations throughout B.C. from the preceding year.

We welcome newcomers and heartily endorse the words of the esteemed Mr. William Shakespeare: “Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends”!

For information contact Benjamin Israel at sectreasnwba@gmail.com.