The Hon. Donald Downie

Justice Donald Campbell Downie provides a comprehensive account of his legal career from his early years in Thunder Bay through his appointment to the provincial bench in 1985. Born in Fort William (now Thunder Bay) in 1940, Downie attended Queen’s University where he studied history and political science before entering law school. He describes the casual admission process to law school in those days, where a conversation with Dean Lederman led to immediate acceptance.

After articling with a corporate commercial firm in Toronto, Downie moved to Kitchener to practice civil litigation with Clement, Eastman, Dreger, Martin & Meunier. Under the mentorship of Jack Clement, he developed expertise in wrongful dismissal cases, becoming a recognized specialist in the field. His practice encompassed civil litigation, personal injury cases, and matrimonial matters, with occasional criminal work. A significant achievement was successfully arguing Fraser-Reid v. Droumtsekis at the Supreme Court of Canada, establishing important precedents regarding builders’ warranties.

Downie was politically active as a Conservative party supporter throughout his career, serving as president of the Waterloo Federal P.C. Association from 1976-1979. His appointment to the Provincial Court in 1985 came after applying in 1981, demonstrating the political considerations that influenced judicial appointments of that era. The interview captures the transition from advocacy to adjudication and the lifestyle changes that accompanied his elevation to the bench.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.