This week's meeting began with Michael Pierson's musical prelude, after which President Tim Heaton introduced the head table. Michael Pierson then led us in the singing of O Canada. Bruce Fenwick delivered the invocation.

 

Randy Borisenko delivered a moving eulogy to Past-President (1985) Stan Sailer.

 

Thanks go out to our front entrance volunteers Larry Martin, Eric Bennett and Bob Junker.

 

President Tim chose Auld Lang Syne, a tribute to Rotary friends gone but not forgotten, for his first sing song of 2019.

 

Stepping in for Kurt Kowalchuk who is travelling in Cambodia, Julie Visser announced the club's visitors and guests. As this was the first club meeting of the calendar year, Julie announced all club member birthdays from January 1.

 

Walter Haessel introduced returning member Bev Blair (Gallagher). It's great to have you back, Bev!

There are a number of exciting fellowship events coming up over the next few weeks.

Join the Calgary Rotaract Club for its Sunday fun day on January 20 with the Calgary Hitmen. Bring your skates and a helmet, and join a post-game family skate on the Scotiabank Saddledome's ice. Tickets are only $15, with $5 of that going to support community youth programs.

Join the Rotary Club of Calgary South in ringing in the Year of the Pig on January 25 at the Larry Kwong Memorial Chinese New Year Dinner. Pre-purchase your tickets for only $50, but do it soon. Tickets sell out quickly as seating is limited.

Enjoy an evening of comedy with two of Canada's funniest: Bruce McCulloch and Cathy Jones. On the afternoon of Saturday, January 26 we will travel to Banff by private motor coach for an evening at the Banff Centre. While you will be on your own for dinner, the ticket price includes transportation to Banff and the comedy performance at the Eric Harvie Theatre.

 

 

 

Terry McMahon introduced our speaker, Alberta Associate Chief Justice John Rooke. His presentation on Judicial Independence in Canada was a primer on the rule of law. His essential message was that the judicial branch of government exists for the benefit of its citizens, and is the primary shield protecting the constitution. Judges must be insulated from all forms of influence so that everyone is treated fairly and evenly before the law.

 

Judicial independence is achieved through the adjudicative independence of individual judges, and through the institutional independence of the judiciary. This is achieved through security of tenure and requiring judges to have administrative and financial independence. Its specific elements include apolitical appointment and compensation processes, continuing education programs, and control of court management processes, in addition to judicial accountability and conduct reviews.

 

He discussed how open judicial positions are contributing to court backlogs. For example, the lead time for a major (more than five days) criminal case is currently 52 weeks. There are currently 58 openings across Canada, with a disproportionate number of these in Alberta. As a result of these openings, courts are looking for ways to expedite cases.

 

At the conclusion of a lively question and answer session, Rick Erven thanked our speaker.