Obituary of James H. LAYCRAFT

January 5, 1924 – Veteran, AB August 5, 2015 – Calgary, AB Herb Laycraft died peacefully on August 5, 2015 at the age of 91. Herb was born in Veteran, Alberta, and grew up in High River. During High School he worked as a reporter for Charles A. Clark, publisher of the High River Times. In 1941, Herb and Harold enlisted, underage, in the Royal Canadian Artillery and trained as radar technicians. They were seconded to the Australian Imperial Forces and spent two years stationed in Australia prior to discharge in 1946. Herb attended the University of Alberta where he obtained Bachelor of Arts and Law degrees, graduating in 1951 with the George Bligh O’Connor Silver Medal in Law. He articled in Calgary to E.J. Chambers QC at the firm of Nolan Chambers Might Saucier and Jones (now Bennett Jones), and practiced exclusively in litigation. As a young barrister, Herb was lucky to appear before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Turta case, and was also in the group of prominent counsel who appeared on the last appeal to the Privy Council from Canada. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1963 at the age of 39. Through the 60’s, Herb developed a reputation as top counsel in civil and regulatory matters, and was very active in the profession, helping to rewrite the Rules of Court and serving the Law Society of Alberta as a Bencher and Chair of the Education Committee. In 1975, Herb was appointed to the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Alberta and, during his time on that court, acted as Commissioner on the Inquiry into the Activities of Royal American Shows. In 1980, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal and in 1984 wrote the majority decision in Big M Drug Mart, an important Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms decision. In 1985, Herb was appointed Chief Justice of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. During Herb’s tenure as Chief Justice, his Court instituted a number of reforms in its practice, procedures and administration, and rendered a number of noteworthy Charter decisions. Herb retired from the Court in 1991. He was the primary author of Commentaries on Judicial Conduct, published by the Canadian Judicial Council in 1991. He was a member of the Zetland Lodge, the Scottish Right, Fiat Lux and the Royal Order of Scotland. He was an Officer of the Order of Canada and received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Calgary. Despite his many professional accomplishments, Herb considered his most important accomplishments to be his marriage, his family, and his close group of friends. Herb’s leisure time centered around travel, family activities and, most importantly, caring for and enjoying his cherished cabin near Bragg Creek He is survived by Helen, his beloved wife of 67 years; daughter Anne and husband Barney Mackay; son Jim and wife Lesley; grandsons Doug Mackay and Jim Mackay and Jim’s wife Nathali; great grandchildren Leyo, Lisa, Julia and Kai. He is predeceased by his parents, George and Hattie; his twin brother Harold; brothers Ralph, Wendell and John; sisters Ruth and Beth and grandson Daniel. A Memorial Service will be held on September 9, 2015 at 5 pm at the Calgary Golf and Country Club. (No denim please) Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com.