Thomas Joseph Walsh (March 2, 1927 – June 30, 2016) was a Canadian lawyer, practising in

Calgary, Alberta Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Canadian Prairies, Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,30 ...

. In addition to a busy legal practice, he was very active in his community and profession, including serving a term as national president of the

Canadian Bar Association The Canadian Bar Association (CBA), or Association du barreau canadien (ABC) in Canadian French, French, represents over 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers and law students from across Canada. History The Association's first Annu ...

. His community involvement was recognised by his appointment to the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...

and to the

Alberta Order of Excellence The Alberta Order of Excellence (french: Ordre d'excellence de l'Alberta) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C. Lynch-Staunton granted royal assent to the Alberta ...

Early life and education

Walsh was born in

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

, the son of Thomas and Ann Walsh, with one sister, Martina. His father was a station agent with the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...

, which involved frequent moves for the Walsh family. Young Thomas grew up in Rosser, Sidney and

Birtle, Manitoba Birtle is an unincorporated urban community in the Prairie View Municipality within the Canadian province of Manitoba that held town status prior to 1 January 2015. It is located at the junction of Highways 83 and 42. History Originall ...

, and

Oxbow, Saskatchewan Oxbow is a List of towns in Saskatchewan, town in the southeast of the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located on the Canadian Pacific Railway and on Saskatchewan Highway 18, Provincial Highway 18. It ...

.Alberta Order of Excellence: Thomas J. Walsh CM, QC, LLD (Hon.)
/ref> In 1946, Walsh entered the

University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexander Cameron Rutherfor ...

in an accelerated pre-law

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

program. He was active on campus, joining the Delta Epsilon fraternity and meeting his future wife, Anne. The couple eventually had five children. He then earned the degree of

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

from the

Faculty of Law A faculty is a division within a university or college comprising one subject area or a group of related subject areas, possibly also delimited by level (e.g. undergraduate). In American usage such divisions are generally referred to as colleges ...

. He also served as a Flying Officer in the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

with 418 Squadron, City of Edmonton Reserve from 1950 to 1952.Walsh LLP: Thomas J. Walsh Receives The Alberta Order Of Excellence
While tempted by a career as a pilot, he chose to continue with his legal studies, graduating in 1953.

Legal career

Walsh practised his entire career in Calgary, Alberta. He enjoyed real estate law, because of the personal satisfaction it gave him to help in a “win-win transaction for everyone involved.” In 1959, he founded his own law firm, now operating as Walsh LLP. In 2014, his firm recognised Walsh's 60 years of practising law.Walsh LLP: Thomas J. Walsh QC, CM, AOE, Founder Of Walsh Llp, Marks 60 Years Serving Albertans

Leadership in the legal profession

Walsh played a leadership role in the legal profession. He participated in the governance of the legal profession as a

Bencher A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can ...

of the

Law Society of Alberta The Law Society of Alberta (LSA) is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada, established in 1907 which derives its authority from the Legal Profession Act of the Government of Alberta. Its main office is located in Calgary. As ...

. He was the president of the Calgary Bar Association. In 1970-71, he served as the president of the Alberta branch of the

, followed in 1978-79 as the national president of the CBA.

Community involvement

Throughout his career, Walsh was actively involved in his community and profession. He was a director, president or chairman of a number of community organisations, including the Downtown Calgary Rotary Club, the Calgary Family Service Bureau, the United Way, the Fort Calgary Preservation Society, the Calgary Tourist and Convention Bureau, the city’s Centennial Celebrations Committee, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Calgary Economic Development Authority and the Calgary Winter Festival. He was involved with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Walsh also served on the Senate of the University of Alberta and as a member of the Faculty of Management Advisory Council at the University of Calgary. At the personal request of then-mayor of Calgary,

Ralph Klein Ralph Philip Klein (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta from 1992 until his retirement in 20 ...

, Walsh led the establishment of the Calgary Parks Foundation. He was also a member of the original Calgary Airports Authority team, and eventually chair of the Authority. That in turn led to membership on the Canadian Airports Council and Airports Council International. He also served as a director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Death

Thomas Walsh died on June 30, 2016, at the age of 90, survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren.''Calgary Herald'': Thomas Joseph Walsh Obituary.
/ref>

Honours and awards

(1994) *

(2008) *

Queen's Counsel In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of ...

(1967) * Canada 125 Commemorative Medal (1992) *

Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'or de la Reine Elizabeth II) or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

(2002) *

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

(2012) * Doctor of Laws (Honorary), University of Alberta (1989) * Certificate of Membership of 50 Years, Law Society of Alberta (2005) * Bar of Paris, France (Honorary member) * American Bar Association (Honorary Member) * Law Society of Saskatchewan (Honorary Member) * Law Society of Manitoba (Honorary member). * Distinguished Service Award, Law Society of Alberta/Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch (1998) * City of Calgary Centennial Award of Merit * Calgary Stampede Life Member (2008) * Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary International * David Gibson Award, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

References

External links

Order of Canada Citation: Thomas Joseph Walsh, C.M., A.O.E.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Thomas J. 1927 births University of Alberta alumni Lawyers in Alberta Canadian King's Counsel Canadian Bar Association Presidents Members of the Order of Canada Members of the Alberta Order of Excellence People from Winnipeg 2016 deaths University of Alberta Faculty of Law alumni