26 Facts About Brian Dickson

Brian Dickson wrote several very influential judgments dealing with the Charter and laid the groundwork for the approach that the courts would take to the Charter.

Brian Dickson was born to Thomas Brian Dickson and Sarah Elizabeth Gibson, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in 1916, although the family lived at that time in Wynyard.

Brian Dickson's father was a bank manager, and the family was eventually transferred to Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan.

Brian Dickson attended high school at the Central Collegiate, where two of his classmates were William Lederman and Alexander "Sandy" MacPherson.

Brian Dickson said that his interest in the law was triggered by that experience.

Brian Dickson was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity.

In 1938, Brian Dickson graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, earning the gold medal for his class.

Brian Dickson was called to the bar in 1940, but before practising law, he enlisted in the Canadian armed forces for active service.

Brian Dickson had joined the military reserve in 1939, on the outbreak of World War II.

Lieutenant Brian Dickson sailed in February 1941 for Britain with the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

Brian Dickson's abilities attracted notice and he was chosen for staff training, returning to Canada for a course in 1943, followed with a tour of duty in British Columbia as brigade major with the Royal Canadian Artillery.

In 1944, Brian Dickson volunteered to return to Europe as a captain.

Brian Dickson was posted to the 2nd Canadian Army Group, Royal Canadian Artillery, and distinguished himself in Normandy, being mentioned in dispatches.

Brian Dickson was discharged from the army in April 1945.

Years later, when he came to Ottawa, Brian Dickson renewed his ties to the military.

Brian Dickson became a successful corporate lawyer, and lectured at the Faculty of Law of the University of Manitoba for six years, until 1954.

In 1950, Brian Dickson volunteered to be head of the Manitoba Red Cross, on the suggestion of a partner who told him it would only involve a few meetings per year.

Brian Dickson took charge of the relief effort by the Red Cross, not seeing his law office for six weeks.

Brian Dickson later admitted he ran the Red Cross volunteers like an army.

Brian Dickson served as chancellor for the Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land.

In 1963, Brian Dickson was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba and in 1967 was elevated to the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

Brian Dickson was appointed a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada on March 26,1973.

Brian Dickson developed a reputation as an important authority on constitutional law, originally relating to law of Canadian federalism and later, the groundwork for the new Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Brian Dickson participated in the 1981 Patriation Reference, which considered Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's attempt to have the federal government unilaterally patriate the Constitution of Canada without the consent of the provinces.

Brian Dickson served on the Supreme Court for 17 years before retiring on June 30,1990.

In 1990, Brian Dickson was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.