John James Lyon Hunter, retired justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and former president of the Law Society of British Columbia, died on May 5, 2025, at age 76. John is survived by his wife, Rebecca (née Winesanker); his children, Claire Hunter, Gillian Hunter-Gibbs (Blair) and Rob Hunter (Katie); six grandchildren; and his sister, Hannah.
Born in Toronto in 1949, John attended high school at the University of Toronto Schools, earned a BA from Yale University in 1971 and an MSc from the London School of Economics in 1972. He was a member of the class of 1975 at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1977. He joined the firm then called Davis & Company as an associate, later becoming a partner with that firm, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994. In 2002, together with his law partner, Peter Voith, John formed a small litigation boutique, Hunter Voith, later merging with another firm to establish Hunter Litigation Chambers, where he practiced until his appointment to the BC Court of Appeal in 2017.
John enjoyed a diverse and successful career as counsel before the BC Courts and Supreme Court of Canada. After completing his term as president of the Law Society of BC, he served as representative to and later president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. In 2014, he received the Law Society Award honouring the lifetime contribution of exceptional individuals to the legal profession.
John was a man of many interests and passions, extending to the world of fine wine, the latest tech gadgets, travel, classical music and art collection. A sports enthusiast, he particularly enjoyed fishing and boating, playing various sports and cheering on the Seattle Seahawks. Above all, John was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, prioritizing family time even in the midst of a busy professional life.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in John's memory to the University of Toronto Schools, the Vancouver Recital Society or the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
