M.E. (LIBBY) BURNHAM, BA, LL.B. '63, QC, D.C.L.

M.E. (Libby) Burnham is a senior, well-respected and nationally renowned legal, business and political advisor with an outstanding track record for advocacy and community service. Libby Burnham has made contributions to politics, education and the health arena throughout her career. She grew up in Florenceville, New Brunswick and graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1963, one of only two women in her graduating class. For Libby Burnham setting precedents did not merely begin at graduation. At Law School she was the first woman President of the Sodales, a debating society which had previously been for men only.

Libby Burnham’s attachment to her home province runs deep and strong. After graduation, she was called to the New Brunswick Bar in 1963 and became one of three women practicing law and the only female barrister. She was instrumental in bringing the women’s robing room to the Saint John Court House. Her feminism has always had practical underpinnings. From 1967 – 1971, Libby Burnham worked as legal counsel for T. Eaton and Company Ltd., in Toronto becoming, at that time, one of only three women at the management level. In October, 1978 she was also called to the Ontario Bar.

Libby Burnham has worked tirelessly as an advocate for the advancement of women in professional and public life for nearly four decades, seeking to increase their numbers and to enhance their role in public life. In order to promote the recognition of women and to champion issues of importance to them, she became active in the Progressive Conservative Party. Her involvement dates back to 1959, when she was first elected as a delegate to a National Meeting. She has served as a high level advisor to Premiers and Prime Ministers, and played a key role in the leadership campaigns of Richard Hatfield, Flora MacDonald and Joe Clark. She was also the senior advisor in the leadership campaign that resulted in the selection of Canada’s first woman Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon.  Kim Campbell, in 1993.

In 1972, Libby Burnham wrote a policy paper for the PC Party, Women in Canadian Society, which served as the cornerstone for the Party’s policy on women in the general election that year. Also in 1972, she returned to New Brunswick to become senior advisor to Premier Richard Hatfield. Under her portfolio New Brunswick employment equity legislation was strengthened, the first family property statute became law, and an Advisory Council on the Status of Women was established.

Libby Burnham’s interest in women has never been limited by partisan politics. She was a member of the Committee for 1994, a non-partisan group of women dedicated to political equity for women and to encouraging women to seek public office. As part of the committee for 1994, Libby Burnham organized the Women in Politics Conference where a co-organizer presented her with a business card she still proudly displays, which reads: Libby Burnham – Organizer Extraordinaire! Her diplomatic, non-threatening approach has been effective in persuading all levels of government to make improvements in divorce law, abortion law and employment equity legislation.

Libby Burnham served as Canada’s representative at the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Women in Public Life in 1991. She has served as a member of the Board for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Life Network and was President of the Canadian Club of Toronto. Libby Burnham has been Trustee of the Genesis Foundation, a medical research foundation dedicated to women’s health, and served on the Board of the Wellesley Central Hospital in 1990, serving as its Chair from 1997 – 1999. Presently she sits on the Board of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Foundation, Stornoway Productions Ltd. and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre. In May 1996, her contribution to the advancement of women in public life was recognized when she was awarded the Women of Distinction, Public Affairs Award by the Metro Toronto YWCA.

From 1991 to 2000, Libby Burnham returned to the full time practice of law joining the firm of Borden & Elliot, now part of the national firm Borden Ladner and Gervais LLP. Libby Burnham was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and received her honourary doctors of civil laws from Acadia University in 2000. Of course, all of Libby Burnham’s accomplishments are shared with her supportive family, husband Justice Gordon Sedgwick and her children John, Anne, and Jamie. 

As one looks back on Libby Burnham’s career it is evident that she truly understands the necessary link between public policy and private responsibility, using her talent and drive to ensure real and positive change on behalf of those in our larger community,. Libby Burnham has always given freely of herself to help others and to work towards the betterment of society. As a model of the Weldon tradition and in recognition of Libby Burnham’s tireless years of service to the public, we are honoured to present her with the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service for the year 2001.