Catherine Fraser

Catherine Anne Fraser KC (born August 4, 1947) is a Canadian lawyer and judge who was the chief justice of Alberta from 1992 until July 30, 2022. As chief justice of Alberta, Fraser was also chief justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories (since 1992) and the Nunavut Court of Appeal (since its creation in 1999).[1]

For those of a similar name, see Katherine Fraser.
Catherine Fraser
KC
Fraser in May 2015
Chief Justice of Alberta
In office
March 12, 1992 – July 30, 2022
Preceded byJames Herbert Laycraft
Succeeded byFrans Slater (Acting)
Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories
In office
March 12, 1992 – July 30, 2022
Succeeded byFrans Slater (Acting)
Chief Justice of the Nunavut Court of Appeal
In office
1999 – July 30, 2022
Preceded byJames Herbert Laycraft
Succeeded byFrans Slater (Acting)
Administrator of Alberta
In office
January 6, 2005 – January 20, 2005
Preceded byLois Hole
Succeeded byNorman Kwong
Personal details
Born (1947-08-04) August 4, 1947
Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
London School of Economics
Occupationlawyer/judge

Early years

Fraser was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick and moved to Edmonton in 1958. Her mother worked as a teacher and her grandparents were immigrants from Lebanon and Ukraine.[2] One of her first jobs was working in the women's section of a department store; she was paid $35 a week, five dollars less than her male colleague who worked in the men's section. Fraser stated in a 2014 interview with the Edmonton Journal that "it brought home to [her] the differences in how men and women were being treated during that era in our society."[2] She also stated that she chose the law as a profession because she saw it as a "vehicle for change" and because she was "concerned about inequality in society."[2]

A graduate of the University of Alberta, she received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees in 1969 and 1970 respectively. She received the George Bligh O'Connor Silver Medal in Law, awarded to the law student graduating with the second highest GPA over the three-year program. She also has a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics.

Career

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Fraser practised law with the firm of Lucas, Bishop and Fraser, and became Queen's Counsel in 1983. She taught women and the law courses at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law.

First appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in 1989 and subsequently to the Court of Appeal of Alberta in 1991, she became the first woman appointed Chief Justice of Alberta on March 12, 1992. At age 44, she was also the youngest person appointed Chief Justice of Alberta.[2]

Fraser was also on the Canadian Institute on the Administration of Justice, chair of the Education Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council and a member of the council's Special Committee on Equality in the Courts.[3]

Due to Canadian mandatory retirement for justices at age 75, Chief Justice Fraser's term would have ended on August 4, 2022. However, Chief Justice Fraser retired effective July 30, 2022. No replacement has been announced.

Awards

She was recognized with a YWCA Tribute to Women Award. In 1996 she received the University of Alberta Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award. On May 10, 2007, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary.[4]

References
  1. "Judicial appointments to the Court of Appeal of Nunavut announced". Department of Justice Newsroom. Government of Canada. 24 March 1999. Archived from the original on 16 November 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. Ellwand, Otiena. "Court of Appeal series: An interview with Chief Justice Catherine Fraser". Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  3. "University of Alberta website". Archived from the original on 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  4. University of Calgary website Archived July 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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