LogoutThe Hon. Judith Bell-Oyen
Most of this interview is about Judith Bell's father, Richard "Dick" Bell, an Ottawa-area lawyer and Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Carleton from 1957-1963 and 1965-1968.
This oral history interview with Madam Justice Judith Bell provides a comprehensive view of her legal career and family background. The interview begins with extensive discussion of her father Richard A. Bell’s family history in Nepean Township, Ontario, tracing the Bell family’s Irish immigration around 1820 and their establishment as farmers in the area. Bell describes the family’s economic struggles during the Depression, their religious background, and the social environment of the farming community.
Bell discusses her early legal career at the prominent Toronto firm Fraser and Beatty, where she worked in real estate law before returning to Ottawa to join her father’s firm Bell, Baker. She describes the working conditions and atmosphere at both firms, her transition between practices, and her work with municipalities on various legal matters including real estate, drainage, and subdivision work. The interview concludes with Bell reflecting on her historic appointment as the 5th woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario, expressing deep satisfaction with her judicial role and acknowledging the significance of women taking such positions in the legal profession.
This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.
References
The following are a selection of topics discussed in this oral history.
- Exchequer Court
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Supreme Court of Ontario
- Tax Review Board
- Osgoode
- County Council
- Department of Highways
- Patent and Trademark Centre
- Township Council
- Township of Nepean
- Bar Admission Course Establishment
- Building of Rideau Canal
- Fraser and Beatty partnership structure
- Irish immigration to Canada
- The Depression
- County of Carleton
- Ontario
- Ottawa
- Toronto
- Township of Nepean
- Bell, Baker
- Featherstonhaugh & Company
- Fraser & Beatty
- Herridge, Tolmie
- Osler, Hoskin
- Smart & Biggar
- City Service acquisition by B.P.
- M.N.R. v. Mr. W.
- Judge
- Bell Baker
- Ontario Superior Court
- Richard Bell
- Women Judges
- Austin Conway
- Beatrice Mary Bell
- Bill Burke-Robertson
- Bill Weekes
- Chris Stoyan
- Christine Kates
- D.O. Arnold
- Dave Thompson
- Eric Beverley
- Eric Shaver
- Gerald Parsons
- John Arnup
- John Clarke
- Judith Bell
- Mary Graham
- Paul Webber
- Richard A. Bell
- Walter Baker
- William Bell
- William Frederick Charles Bell
- William Graham Bell
- William Nicholson Bell
- Bar Admission Course
- 1820s
- 1840s
- 1910s
- 1930s
- 1960s
- 1970s
- corporate practice
- drainage matters
- Expropriation Law
- Land Registration
- Municipal Law
- Partnership Law
- Patent and Trademark Law
- Real Estate Law
- subdivision work
- title searching
Some of these references were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Archive Details
Files consist of oral history records documenting the life and career of Judith Bell Oyen, daughter of Richard A. Bell, a lawyer. This interview primarily concerns his life. Interview topics include: Bell's childhood; Osgoode Hall Law School; Bell's politics; Bell, Baker partnership; Law Society of Upper Canada; Bell-Oyen's education; Bell-Oyen, articling; Bell-Oyen, early practice; select cases, Bell; Appointment to Supreme Court of Ontario, Bell-Oyen. Interview conducted by Christine J.N. Kates. File includes nine audio cassette recordings from a series of six interviews and a transcript with index (284 p.).