Re: No early retirement for lawyer, Lawyer’s tree-mendous work recalled (Gazette, July 3)
Thanks so much to Charla Huber for her report and G.E. Mortimer for his ‘Think about it’ opinion column, both of which extolled the infectious energy and public spirit of Ron MacIsaac, ‘the longest practising lawyer in B.C.’
On top of his many accomplishments mentioned in these articles, in the late 80’s, Mr. MacIsaac was also a founding member of the Greater Victoria Concerned Citizens’ Association, which was one of two broadly based groups that brought legal action to stop inappropriate privatization of St. Anne’s Academy, a national historic site in Victoria.
Ron has been doing pro-bono work for decades, including his efforts in the early 90’s for many of the Clayoquot arrestees. He co-wrote Clayoquot Mass Trials with Anne Champagne and they had the good sense to design that book with many headshots of the arrestees. Those photos by Andy Sinats put human faces on the arrestees, helping people realize that we are your neighbours, and not ‘enemies of B.C.’ as former Premier Glen Clark called us.
An avid reader, over the years Ron MacIsaac has also written many mini-reviews of books he has found interesting, and his community access TV show on Shaw cable has introduced many other public-spirited and talented people to a wider audience.
I don’t think Ron will ever retire, frankly.
Gregory Hartnell
Victoria