I have been bestowed with the pleasure of introducing Steven (Steve) N. Mandziuk, QC, the new President of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch. I struggled as I began to write this column because there was so much I wanted to tell you about Steve. I really did not know where to start. I decided that if I summarized Steve in a few words it would be a good starting point. There were four words that immediately came to mind, “Learn”, “Try”, “Stay” and “Care”. In my mind, these four words epitomize Steve.
“Learn”. Steve is scary smart. It may be because he is an avid reader, but I very much doubt that is the only factor. I remember one evening having dinner and talking about the upcoming 5 day Banff Refresher (as it then was) on Estate Law (my sole area of practice). I was very proud to tell Steve that I was asked to be a presenter at the conference. Steve of course took a keen interest in my topic. But, after telling Steve what my paper was about, I got really scared about having agreed to be a presenter. Steve, who has never practiced in the area of Wills and Estate, amazed me because he knew so many relevant cases and legal principles. I went home and panicked. After ruling out asking Steve to write my paper for me, I was able to put the fear to work, and, I have never told Steve this, but I credit him with how much better my first writing and presenting experience turned out. That night I learned how fear can be a motivating force. Thank you Steve.
“Try”. I have known Steve since 1996 (this is not a typo – we were only 15 years old at that time). Over the 18 years I have watched Steve take on very big projects and very small tasks. From coaching kids soccer to holding down his current position as General Counsel of Finning Canada, Steve approaches everything he takes on with the same passion, dedication, determination, and incredible energy. Steve has been a member of the Branch since 1991. And, true to his character, he has devoted so much time and effort to the Branch over the past 18 years. The Alberta branch of the CBA, and our members have reaped the benefit of his tireless efforts. There are simply too many contributions to the Branch to mention, but some of the more notable and recent ones are that he was one of the cofounders of the Pension & Employee Benefits section, and chaired it from 2004 to 2010. Steve was a section coordinator (North), and on both the national and provincial CBA Council, and most recently, he was one of the members on the organizing committee of the 100 year Anniversary of the Court of Appeal. Thank you for trying so hard for all of our members. Your success has not gone unnoticed.
“Stay”. Although Steve has accomplished so much, he has stayed strong and true to his first passion, his family. Steve is married to Josie, who is, in her own right, an accomplished academic. Josie has degrees in music and education and is currently working on her Masters. She is well known as an educator, choir conductor, a clinician, a music adjudicator, and has an amazing singing voice. Josie is the Artistic Director of a premier children’s choir called Edmonton Young Voices. In her spare time she has managed to become a certified yoga instructor. Oh, and is a gourmet cook too. Steve has two children, Maddi who is 13 and Nicholas who is 11. Maddi is an “A” student, plays the violin, loves horseback riding and sings in Edmonton Young Voices. Nicholas is also an outstanding student, is involved in soccer and hockey and plays classical guitar, solo and as a member of a guitar orchestra. I always say, water flows downstream. Whatever is at the top will eventually flow down. This is one talented family, and it’s no wonder with Steve and Josie at the top. Thank you for being an example.
“Care”. Steve cares about every person in his personal and professional life. His long term friends, who he holds Oilers season tickets with, since, as Steve put it, “we all got our first real jobs”, will attest to how much Steve cares about cultivating friendships and camaraderie. When I asked Steve what he likes to do as hobbies, his first response was that he likes to enjoy Edmonton’s river valley. This may appear to be a simple pleasure, but it is a profound representation of the caring Steve has towards our community.
These are just some of the upstanding characteristics I have had the pleasure of experiencing during my friendship with Steve. I am proud to call him a good friend, but I am even prouder to introduce him to all of our members as our next President. Welcome to your new position, and thank you for caring enough to take on this enormous task for the benefit of all of the members in Alberta.
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Dragana Sanchez-Glowicki is a long-time CBA Alberta member and volunteer, currently sitting on the Editorial (Law Matters) Committee.