John Cuthbertson, B.SC., B.Comm., M.B.A., LL.B. '79 

John H. Cuthbertson is by nature a modest and reserved man. Beneath this veneer, however, is a dynamic, well-respected, senior lawyer who has generously volunteered his time, energy and personal resources to make enormous contributions to his community and to the legal profession.

Mr. Cuthbertson was born in Lethbridge, Alberta. A ‘prairie boy’, he lived in Red Deer until enrolling at the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 and a Bachelor of Commerce degree with Distinction in 1975.  In 1976, he was accepted at Dalhousie and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Masters of Business Administration in International Business. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1980 and to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1983. He has been a partner in the law firm of Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP since 1987 where his areas of practice are energy law and corporate/commercial law. 

He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Alberta Law Society, the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He is the Director of the Educational Trust Fund, the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and has volunteered since 1979 as the Director, Member of Executive Committee, and Past Chair for Calgary Legal Guidance. In 2000, Mr. Cuthbertson received the Distinguished Service Award from the Law Society of Alberta and Canadian Bar Association for his outstanding contribution of time, talent and energy to his community.

Mr. Cuthbertson’s championing of causes is exemplified by his work with Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG), a poverty law organization in the city of Calgary, which services the poorest of the poor. CLG helps over 5,000 individuals a year. Since 1979, Mr. Cuthbertson has devoted hundreds of hours to CLG. As a corporate and commercial lawyer, Mr. Cuthbertson has purposefully stepped outside his area of practice in order to work as a clinical volunteer, assisting hundreds of clients with family, criminal and poverty law problems.

In 1991 he joined the CLG Board of Directors and initiated, oversaw and supported many programs promoting justice and fairness in the legal system, and in 1995 he was elected to serve as Chairperson. As Chairperson, Mr. Cuthbertson set high standards. He demanded of his fellow board members what he demanded of himself, that is, both rigour and commitment to the organization. Notwithstanding a busy practice, Mr. Cuthbertson devoted countless hours of time, energy and commitment to CLG. Despite his lack of previous experience in fundraising, he was successful in leading a campaign that attracted a broader range of support for CLG, diversifying its funding base to cover the shortfall resulting from the decrease of the Law Foundation funding. He was also able to increase the revenues of the organization to allow CLG to offer a greater range of services and to reach a larger group of needy clients. Under his leadership, CLG almost tripled its service capacity. He continues to serve as past Chair.

In addition to his work with CLG, Mr. Cuthbertson is dedicated to meeting the challenges of continuing Legal Education.  He has been a great mentor of articling students and junior lawyers.  Mr. Cuthbertson has been an instructor for the Legal Education Society of Alberta and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landman Continuing Education Program and a Director of the Educational Trust Fund of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.

John Cuthbertson has unlimited energy and enthusiasm for life. He is an avid runner, and serves as a member and is Past President of the Calgary Roadrunners Club. He is an active member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. He has been a great friend and a loyal supporter of Dalhousie Law School, assisting with and contributing to fundraising efforts of the School. Naturally, all of John Cuthbertson’s accomplishments are shared with his supportive family — wife Rhonda Wishart (LL.B. ’81) and their three girls, Zoe, Amy and Megan.

John Cuthbertson is to be applauded for his accomplishments in law and business, but more importantly he is to be honoured for the principled conduct of his life demonstrated through his honesty, integrity and his commitment to the less fortunate. The Dalhousie Law Alumni Association is proud to present John H. Cuthbertson with this year’s Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service.