Cross Section North

  • August 08, 2016

The 2015-2016 section year has come to an end. It was another busy and successful year of section activity. 29 sections held over 230 meetings and events. That is an incredible amount of continuing education and professional development for Alberta lawyers. Thank you to all Section Executives for their hard work and perseverance throughout the year to bring meaningful and timely content and speakers to section meetings. For many of us, it is the CBA lunches that brought us to the CBA. They remain an integral part of the benefits provided through membership.  

The Spring Section Executive Workshop was held on May 31. We tried something new this year and it was a success! “It was a little bit rowdy” was our favourite feedback comment, by far. That was exactly what we were hoping for! The interactive hands on workshop was intended to bring section executives together as a means to encourage cross pollination of ideas between sections, begin planning topic ideas for the coming 2016-2017 year, and tackle CBA paperwork. Thank you to everyone who participated and took the time to provide feedback. We have already begun planning improvements for next year, including means by which to harness and exploit that ‘rowdy’. As always, feedback consistently included comments on the great support provided by CBA staff Heather, Melissa and Sheilagh. 

This summer marks the end of our first year as North Section Coordinators. To be honest, we weren’t really sure what we had gotten ourselves into when we started out. It has been a very rewarding year. We have been guided by a goal to continue to try to find ways to make the work of section executives easier.  The changed format for the workshop is a start as is the new Section Planning Checklist. We know that every lawyer volunteering their time on a section executive is a busy lawyer who is juggling not just the demands of being a lawyer, but trying to live a life as well. It is our goal to continue to look for ways to make your work easier. Please do not hesitate to provide us with your ideas as well. As we rest up and prepare to move into the 2016-2017 year we will continue to try to attend meetings and connect with you. Your work and contribution is valued. We want you to know that and feel it too.   

Enjoy the summer months, don’t forget to renew your CBA membership, and see you in the fall.


David Hiebert is a partner at Witten LLP in Edmonton. David is a long-time CBA member and volunteer, having served on Council, as a member of the Alberta Law Conference committee,  and as chair or co-chair of a number of different sections.

Bonnie Bokenfohr is in-house counsel and the Public Complaint Director with the Edmonton Police Commission. Bonnie has been a member of the CBA since her very first days at the bar, serving on the executive of the Privacy Section for many years.