About Bertha Wilson:
In 1982, Bertha Wilson became the first woman on the Supreme Court of Canada. Bertha Wilson joined the Supreme Court the year the Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into effect, and she supported a broad application of the Charter of Rights. Bertha Wilson is well known as the author of the Supreme Court decision overturning Criminal Code of Canada restrictions on abortion in 1988 and for her acceptance of the battered-wife syndrome as self-defense in R. v Lavallee, 1990.
Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada:
1982-91
Birth:
September 18, 1923 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Death:
April 28, 2007 in Ottawa, Ontario
Education:
- BA and MA in Philosophy - University of Aberdeen, Scotland
- Teaching Diploma - Training College for Teachers, Aberdeen, Scotland
- LL.B. - Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia
Profession:
Lawyer and judge
Career Highlights of Bertha Wilson:
- Bertha Wilson immigrated to Canada with her husband, the Reverend John Wilson, in 1949.
- After taking her law degree at Dalhousie University, Bertha Wilson was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1958.
- She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1959.
- In 1959, Bertha Wilson joined the corporate law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, where she practiced for 16 years, becoming a partner and the Head of Research. She was the first woman appointed a partner in a major Canadian law firm.
- Bertha Wilson became the first woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1975.
- In 1982, Bertha Wilson was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. She served on the Supreme Court until 1991.
- She was also appointed to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 1984.
- Bertha Wilson also worked with the Canadian Bar Association Task Force on Gender Equality, and was a member of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Issues.
- Bertha Wilson retired from the Supreme Court of Canada in 1991.
