The honourable Madam Justice Miriam Gropper.

Janet Miriam Gropper (Miriam to her family and many friends, and "Mimi" to some of her nieces and nephews, to whom she is their favourite aunt), was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on April 15, 2005. She brings with her a passion for fairness, impartiality and competence along with an incredible mind and wonderful sense of humour.

Miriam was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on April 26, 1952, the youngest of four children of Zora and the late Nathan Gropper.

Miriam graduated from Nutana Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon. That high school has now produced four of our superior court justices: the other three are Miriam's sister, Risa (Madam Justice Risa Levine of our Court of Appeal), Madam Justice Nicole Garson and Madam Justice Catherine Wedge. After graduating from high school, Miriam moved to British Columbia, where she obtained a bachelor of arts degree from UBC in 1974 and a law degree from the University of Victoria in 1979. She clerked in the B.C. Supreme Court for Mr. Justice Esson (as he then was) and Justices Munroe, Murray, Mackoff, Gould and Toy. She completed her articles at Russell & DuMoulin (now Fasken Martineau DuMoulin).

Miriam practised as an associate with John Laxton, Q.C., and David Pidgeon from March 1981 until she founded Gropper & Banister with Sandra Banister in 1984. From 1991 to March 1999, Miriam was a partner at McTaggart, Ellis & Company. In April 1999, she and Allan Black, Q.C., founded Black, Gropper & Company, where she remained until her appointment.

The law is no stranger to the Gropper family. In addition to Madam Justice Levine, Miriam's brother Mitchell is a partner at Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy. Her other sibling, Dr. Peter Gropper, avoided the pull of the law but has gained equal recognition as an orthopaedic hand surgeon.

Miriam is also surrounded by a large but close-knit family of cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles who reside across Canada and in the United States. At the centre of her world are her husband, David Whiteley, and her children, Fanny, age 19, and Sam, age 16.

During her legal career, Miriam practised mainly in the field of labour and administrative law as well as civil litigation. A deep and abiding respect and admiration for the vast array of clients whom she represented was outshone only by her clients' unreserved regard for her skills and advancement of their causes. Acting as counsel for many trade unions and individuals took her to virtually every area in the province.

Not only has Miriam evidenced her skills as a lawyer, she maintained a solid commitment to legal and social justice. She was a founding executive member of the West Coast Women's Legal Education and Action Fund 1985-1986. She was a member of the Law Society Free Trade Committee. In addition, she was a member of the Advisory Committee, Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service and Public Sector in 1992. Miriam also served as a member and vice-chair of the Motion Picture Appeal Board, the Commercial Appeals Commission and the Liquor Appeal Board.

Madam Justice Gropper served as chair of the Labour Law Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, 1996-1997. She was also a member of the board of directors of the B.C. Courthouse Library Society and a member of the Labour Code Review Committee of the Ministry of Labour 1997-1998.

One could not have asked for a more loyal, considerate, articulate and thoughtful law partner and advocate. Her quick wit and uncanny insight will prove a valuable asset on the trial bench. Her passion for fairness, her ability to deal with difficult issues, her straightforward common sense and strong intellectual integrity are assets which will obviously make her an excellent judge. Her knowledge of and respect for the law, along with her warmth and keen sense of humour, will make her a valuable new addition to the Supreme Court.

All of us wish her well in her new endeavour.