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The New Brunswick Chapter of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association was very active in 2006-2007 and the Executive is happy to report that our membership increased over this period. As of May 2007, our membership included 99 regular members and 180 associate members, an increase from the previous year wherein 91 regular members and 172 associate members were registered. During this period, our Chapter’s operating documents were drafted. This included the Chapter’s by-laws which were presented to the membership for comment at the Annual Meeting in June 2007. We also spent considerable time and effort in the planning and organizing of a number of legal education events scheduled for 2007.
In January 2007, we worked with the Moncton Area Lawyers Association to offer a session presented by the New Brunswick Securities Commission. Our then President, Manon Losier, was one of the presenters to the over 20 participants from the Moncton Area Lawyers Association and our CCCA Chapter. The Securities Commission addressed how the Securities Act impacts legal counsel’s clients.
February 2007 proved to be a busy month. The Executive Committee organized two sessions scheduled as part of the New Brunswick CBA Mid-Winter meeting. This was our first participation as a Chapter in the organization of the Mid-Winter meeting and the experience was very positive. The first session focused on “Lessons Learned From e-Discoveries Gone Right”. The speakers, both subject experts, were Oleh Hrycko and Chuck Rothman from H&A Forensics in Toronto. These individuals are well known to the CCCA national organization and we were pleased to have them as guest presenters.
The second session addressed risks, governance considerations and liability for directors and officers. The presenters, Cheryl Hodder, Partner with McInnes Cooper in Halifax, and Robert Patzelt, General Counsel with Scotia Investments Ltd. from Halifax, discussed the risks for directors and officers in both the profit and not for profit sectors. Participants enjoyed the presentation offered by these two entertaining and knowledgeable individuals.
February 2007 was also the month in which the Executive Committee held a strategic planning session. It was agreed that the recruitment of new members should remain within our strategic priorities. The strategic plan for 2007-08 was developed and subsequently discussed at the Annual Meeting. The Executive also had discussions with representatives from the CBA regarding cooperation between the CCCA NB and the CBA. The CCCA NB Executive Committee continues to work with the CBA to foster a cooperative and effective relationship which will benefit all CCCA NB and CBA members.
During the winter of 2007, the Executive Committee worked on updating our profile on both the CBA and CCCA national web sites. The Committee also reviewed its nomination process with a view to setting the criteria for the composition of the Executive Committee.
In June 2007, the Annual Meeting of the Chapter was held in Saint John. The meeting included presentations by the Chapter President, the Past President and the Secretary Treasurer. The proposed Chapter by-laws, business plan and budget were all presented to the membership and our new Executive was elected. Comments were also received from the Past President of the NB Branch of the CBA and representatives of the Securities Commission gave their presentation on the impact of the Securities Act on businesses.
Also in June 2007, the Executive Committee assisted with the organization of a session with the Moncton Area Lawyers Association entitled “Contracts as a Maximizing Risk Management Tool”. The presenters at this session were Charles Gervais, Senior Counsel, Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company, Gilles Leblanc, President, Assurance Goguen Champlain Insurance Inc., and Kathryn Stratton, Associate, McInnes Cooper.
For the remainder of 2007-08, the Executive Committee continues to plan for a number of upcoming events. A series of networking receptions will be held in central locations for members and potential members who by virtue of their work may have an interest in the work of the CCCA. The first reception is to be held in November 2007 in Fredericton with further receptions to be held in Saint John and Moncton in future months. In addition, the CCCA is happy to be involved once again in the organization of two sessions at the CBA Mid Winter meetings to be held in February 2008 in Saint John, NB. We are very thankful for all the CBA-NB support received for these events.
In closing, the Executive continues to examine ways to improve our service to the membership. This includes the provision of enhanced networking opportunities as well as information and legal education programs of benefit to our membership. It also remains a priority to show to the larger legal community the benefits of joining the CCCA as a regular or associate member.
I invite all CCCA-NB members and potential new members to be part of the exciting developments ahead!
Deborah Smith
Chapter President, CCCA
Moncton, NB
November 2007
Legal Counsel
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Legal Services
Department of Justice
smithdx@inspection.gc.ca
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