We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Honourable R. Roy McMurtry. Mr. McMurtry was a true champion of access to justice for all Canadians, and of The Law Foundation of Ontario. His legacy is deeply felt at the Foundation.
As a volunteer, lawyer, judge, Attorney General of Ontario, and Chief Justice of Ontario, Mr. McMurtry was a man of many accomplishments. As Attorney General, he was responsible for the introduction and passage of more than 50 provincial statutes that improved the administration of justice in Ontario, established a bilingual court system, and launched a province-wide network of community legal clinics providing critical poverty law services. And, he was instrumental in the negotiations leading to the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Many of the key access to justice organizations the Foundation funds were established because of his initiative or support. For example, Mr. McMurtry was a driving force behind Pro Bono Ontario, Ontario Justice Education Network, the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, and other leading nonprofit justice sector organizations.
“Roy had a special way of bringing people together,” said Linda Rothstein, the Foundation’s Board Chair. “He had the remarkable instinct to identify shared purposes and the potential for collaborations, even among those who had never spoken with each other before. He nurtured ideas and kept people inspired. It is an honour for the Foundation to have been connected to him.”
In 2005, Mr. McMurtry was awarded the Foundation’s Guthrie Award to recognize his exceptional service and impact on advancing access to justice. Mr. McMurtry and his wife Mrs. Ria McMurtry, took the opportunity of the Guthrie Award reception to turn the spotlight on another good cause: taking the initiative to raise money for an endowment fund. Now named the Roy and Ria McMurtry Endowment, scholarships are awarded annually to benefit students enrolled in courses related to law who are or have been involved in the criminal justice system or are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
Through the Ontario Justice Education Network, the Foundation was pleased to support another deserving tribute to Mr. McMurtry: the McMurtry Gardens of Justice. Located in downtown Toronto, the Gardens is a unique and historical installation that honours and celebrates the Rule of Law and the Administration of Justice.
Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. McMurtry’s family, friends, and colleagues.
