Master Stewart McBride

This oral history interview captures the career of Master Stewart McBride, spanning from 1957 to 1996 in Ontario’s legal system. McBride began as counsel with the Official Guardian’s office after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School as a matriculant in 1948 and serving as a tank regiment lieutenant in World War II. His early career included a stint in the insurance business before returning to legal practice.

McBride’s most significant contribution came during his tenure as a Master from 1970 to 1996. He pioneered family law specialization within the Masters’ office, becoming the first Master to focus exclusively on family law matters including interim custody, support, and access decisions. His work in this area was groundbreaking, as he conducted viva voce hearings by agreement of counsel, effectively functioning in a quasi-judicial capacity that was rarely appealed.

The interview provides valuable insights into the evolution of the Masters’ office, including the formation of the Masters’ Association to address communication and salary issues with senior administration. McBride witnessed significant changes in court structure, including the controversial proposal to abolish the Masters’ office under Attorney General Ian Scott’s court reforms. He strongly defended the Masters’ system as essential to court efficiency, arguing that judges were reluctant to handle the detailed procedural and accounting work that Masters routinely performed. His perspective offers important historical context on the administrative and judicial functions of Masters in Ontario’s superior courts.

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