In the aftermath of a flood that caused several deaths and more than $1 billion in estimated damages, lawyers in Calgary are taking pro bono to a new level.
Many lawyers who work for the Calgary office of national law firms are taking time off to clear out water damaged basements, pressure wash mud off of houses and organize volunteer efforts to help the community, while occasionally stepping aside to respond to urgent emails on their BlackBerrys.
Lawyers at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP have been told that their personal lives come first, and that work can be done remotely when possible. Their office in downtown Calgary was not affected by the flood, but at least four lawyers have experienced personal property damage.
Gowlings is mourning the death of former associate Rob Nelson, who fell off his ATV while trying to protect his neighbours’ homes from the flood. The firm has since set up an online portal for staff around the world to make donations to the Calgary Red Cross Flood Relief.
“Lawyers this week aren’t worrying about their billable hours or getting back to the office,” says Laurie Livingstone, a partner at Gowlings who has volunteered to coordinate efforts to help the heavily damaged Sisika and Morley First Nations reserves. “They’re doing what they need to get done, and then are taking whatever shovels they have, driving up to the flood zone and walking in saying, ‘Where can I help?’”
At Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, lawyers are taking a similar approach. About one-fifth of its lawyers were evacuated from their homes, and most of the rest are out of their unscathed office helping them, or others in need.
“Within our Calgary office…we had lots of offers for people to go to each other’s houses to help out,” says Mary Jackson, chief officer of professional development at Blakes. “I heard a story of someone who had a flooded basement and one of our partners came over to help them with the electricity.”
The firm also held fundraisers on June 27 at its Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal offices. Proceeds from its “Round-up for Calgary” events, with raffles, Stampede-themed breakfasts and pizza lunches, went to the Red Cross.
The charity will also receive support from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. The firm, whose Calgary office has held a Stampede Eve Party for the past decade, cancelled this year’s event at the Calgary Zoo and donated the money it would have spent on it. $70,000 went to the Red Cross and $30,000 towards the rehabilitation of the zoo.
Volunteer efforts are beginning to show results as Calgarians are slowly moving back into their homes and electricity returns to the downtown core. Despite these positive signs, Alberta Premier Alison Redford says a full recovery could take up to 10 years.
Image courtesy of Cole Hofstra Photography