Lawyer led war on death penalty

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This article was published 31/12/2010 (5417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harry Walsh is a modest man.

So on the day Walsh was officially named in the Governor-General’s New Year’s list for the Order of Canada, he gave his own hard work to end the death penalty in Canada just a passing mention.

“My many hours of working for the abolition of hanging in Canada has not gone without recognition,” Walsh, 97, said Thursday from his law office in downtown Winnipeg.

Walsh is one of 12 dignitaries and professionals who were named officers of the Order of Canada, the second-highest rank of one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.

Walsh is being recognized for “his dedication to criminal law in Canada for more than 70 years and for his advocacy against capital punishment,” the Office of the Governor General said in its announcement.

Walsh said the recognition extends to everyone, including the lawyers who backed his call to end hanging.

Walsh congratulated David Johnston, on his appointment as Governor General this fall. Finally, he recognized Ottawa for acknowledging the importance of advancing the cause of justice through this honour now.

It was back in 1975 that Walsh led the fight to abolish the death penalty. That year, he succeeded in having a resolution for abolition passed by the Canadian Bar Association. In 1976, Parliament abolished capital punishment.

Another 42 Canadians were named Members, the next highest rank of the Order in the list released Thursday.

The 54 will be called to the Governor General’s official residence, Rideau Hall, later in the New Year, to accept their insignia at a formal ceremony.

Among the other officers are Montreal writer Nicole Brossard, Quebec jurist René Dussault and Vancouver-based broadcaster Shelagh Rogers.

Walsh is the only Manitoban to be appointed on the latest list for Canada’s highest civilian honour.

At 97, Walsh puts in a full day of work every week, seeing clients at his law practice with his son, Paul Walsh.

“He’s pumped. The office is pumped. We’re all very happy,” his son said.

Winnipeg criminal lawyer Greg Brodsky said Walsh was his mentor, and this honour follows on a doctorate a decade ago and honours within the legal profession before that.

Brodsky said Walsh loves dry humour and one-liners to make you think.

“I was his junior for five years on this murder case and that murder case,” Brodsky said. “A little anecdote: I’d say to him, ‘The case against this fellow is very convincing. He’s in a lot of trouble.’

“And he’d say to me, ‘I guess that’s why he needs a lawyer. . .’ I was his student and I still am,” Brodsky said.

Journalist and commentator Val Werier called Walsh one of the best criminal lawyers in Canada.

“He certainly is worthy of the Order of Canada,” Werier said Thursday, adding, “he defended the principle that a person was innocent until proven guilty. He was a great courtroom lawyer. And fearless in questioning authority.”

Among the members to be named Thursday to the Order are Toronto children’s publisher Patricia Aldana, Toronto human rights advocate Paul Copeland and New Brunswick Acadian standard-bearer Mac Chouinard.

More than 5,000 Canadians have been named to the honour since it was established in 1967.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca