George Alexander Gale, (June 24, 1906July 25, 1997) was a Chief Justice for the province of Ontario, Canada from 1967 until his 1976 retirement from that post.
Born in Quebec City, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia for his youth before settling in Toronto for his legal career.
Education and career time line 1929: Gale graduated from the University of Toronto where he received his Bachelor of Arts 1932: Formally became a lawyer following further studies at the Osgoode Hall Law School 1944: Became partner of Toronto legal firm Donald, Mason, Weir & Foulds (today known as WeirFoulds LLP) 1946: Designated King's Counsel in 1946 October 30 1946: Became a judge for the Trial Division of Ontario's High Court of Justice 1952: King's Counsel designation became Queen's Counsel upon the 1952 accession of Queen Elizabeth II 1956: Chief editor for what became known as "Holmestead & Gale", a rewriting of Ontario's court rules 1963: Became member of the Ontario Court of Appeal June 1 1964: Became Chief Justice of Ontario's High Court of Justice September 21 1967: Became Chief Justice of Ontario, the province's highest judicial position 1968: Joined executive of the Canadian Judicial Council 1969: Judicial Council of Ontario is created with Gale as its first Chairman 1976: Retired as Chief Justice of Ontario, subsequently joining the Ontario Law Reform Commission as vice-chair 1979: Joined the (Ontario) Premier's Advisory Committee on Confederation
Other roles From 1956, he also served for a long term on the Board of Governors of Wycliffe College, a Toronto theological school affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada. He was also active within that church denomination as a member and Churchwarden (1956–1960) of Toronto's St. John's York Mills parish.
Gale donated a trophy in 1973 for a competition which is today known as the Gale Cup Moot which demonstrates skills in legal argumentation using staged proceedings.
Brother in Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Alpha Phi, University of Toronto)
Honours 1969: Honorary Doctor of Laws, York UniversityYork University, list of honorary degrees 1977: Companion of the Order of Canada
References
External links Harry Palmer Gallery: George Alexander Gale Gale Cup Moot (Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP news release, CNW Group, 20 February 2006)