The Honourable Wally Oppal, K.C.*

Wally Oppal is presently involved as a mediator and arbitrator, particularly in commercial disputes involving business, Government and First Nations. Also, Wally is an adjudicator and commissioner in disciplinary matters under the Police Act of British Columbia.

In 2017, the Government of British Columbia awarded Wally with the Order of British Columbia which is awarded to persons who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the service of the Province. In 2018, the Government of Canada appointed Wally as panelist to resolve disputes on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (now United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement).

After graduation from the University of British Columbia Law School, Wally went into private practice for a number of years. During this time he was appointed as a Special Prosecutor on many high profile criminal and commercial cases. He served as a judge in the County Court of British Columbia from 1981 to 1985, and in the B.C. Supreme Court from 1985 to 2003, when he was appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal. While he sat on the Supreme Court bench he was appointed to conduct a commission of inquiry into policing in British Columbia. The inquiry was called after a number of police shootings of civilians.

In 2005, he was appointed as Attorney General of British Columbia and served as Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism until 2009. Wally was involved in many significant reforms of the justice system, including the establishment of Canada’s first community court to deal with chronic offenders, developing new Rules of Court in order to promote quicker resolution of disputes and developing new initiatives in dealing with violence against women.

A lifetime resident of British Columbia, Wally has dedicated his entire working life to the pursuit of social justice and community safety. His landmark report on policing in British Columbia led to many policing reforms after its publication in 1994. Wally’s service to the public of this province, most recently as Commissioner of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, is of special significance.

Professional Activities

• Board Member, The Law Courts Inn
• Member, Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics Advisory Board  (UBC Sauder School of Business)
• President, Law Courts Education Society of British Columbia
• Board Member, CKNW Orphans Fund
• Board Member, College of Veterinarians of BC
• Former Director, B.C. Coalition for Safer Communities
• Former Director, Family Services of Greater Vancouver
• Chancellor, Thompson Rivers University
• Chairman, Simon Fraser University India Advisory Council
• Board of Directors, Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
• Commissioner, Missing Women Commission of Inquiry
• Member, Golden Key International Honour Society
• Georges A. Goyer, QC, Distinguished Service Award (2000)
• Anthony P. Pantages, QC, Medal for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Public Safety (2005)
• Lawyer Helping Lawyer Award, Lawyers Assistance Program of B.C. (2007)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, RBC Mehfil Magazine (2010)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of the Fraser Valley (2010)
• Member, Vancouver Bar Association
• Honorary Fellows, Douglas College (2015)
• Awarded The Order of BC (2017)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, Simon Fraser University (2021)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, Thompson Rivers University (2022)