President's Medal

Awarded by the CBABC president, the President’s Medal recognizes one or more of the following: legal academic proficiency, outstanding works of legal scholarship, significant contribution to the profession during the President's term. It is a bronze medal on a blue ribbon, framed under glass.

Frequency

This award is discretionary and no award need be granted in any given year. No more than one award may be given in any calendar year.

Presentation

The award is presented at the Provincial Council meeting held in June.

Selection Process

The award shall be granted at the discretion of the President. The recipient, if any, will be selected by the President in their sole discretion.

Contact CBABC Awards for assistance.

Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie

2025 Recipient

Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie was appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia in 2012 and became Chief Judge in 2018. She spent two decades as Crown Counsel in the Fraser region, later becoming the second woman to become Regional Crown Counsel and oversee more than 200 Crown counsel and support staff. Over the course of her judicial career, she has led the Court’s commitment to innovation and change. By establishing the requirement to include pronouns in participant introductions, rapidly adapting the Court in the face of COVID-19 and fostering the virtual bail program and early resolution process for families, she helped advance a more responsive, accessible and inclusive Provincial Court.

Previous Recipients

2025 – barbara findlay, KC

2024 – Connor Bildfell

2023 – Louisa Winn, KC

2022 – Isabel Jackson

2021 – Richard Fyfe, QC

2020 – Derek LaCroix, QC

2019 – Wayne Robertson, CC

2018 – The Hon. Justice Thomas J. Crabtree

2017 – Tina Dion, QC

2016 – Aleem Bharmal

2015 – Bill Veenstra

2014 – R. C. (Tino) Di Bella

2013 – Eric Gottardi

2012 – David Dundee

2011 – Leonard T Doust, QC

2010 – Sharon Matthews

2009 – Judith Janzen

2008 – Arlene H Henry, QC

2007 – Arthur Close, QC

2006 – William T Clarke

2005 – Diana Dorey & Frank Kraemer

2004 – Kenneth Armstrong

2003 – Sharon Matthews

2002 – Margaret Sasges

2001 – Sandy Jakab-Hancock

2000 – Clare Barry

1999 – Dean David Cohen

1998 – Randy Walker

1997 – Penny Bain & Donald Yule

1996 – Jeff Scouten

Names, designations and honorifics are reflected as they were when the award was presented.