Stuart O’Connor, Law’86, and Peter Johnson, Law’89 (Artsci’85), have been recognized for their efforts as co-chairs of the Queen’s Law Alberta Alumni Council, a group responsible for leading their province’s support, vision and philanthropic efforts in support of Queen’s Law. They share the 2019 J.A. Alec Corry Distinguished Alumni Award from their alma mater.

Johnson was surprised to find out he had won, and delighted to know it was a joint win.

“I like that this is a dual recognition of our teamwork and partnership,” he said. “Stuart O’Connor has a great complementary skillset and we think similarly. It is a pleasure to share the 2019 J.A. Alec Corry Distinguished Alumni Award with him.”

Collectively, the council has significantly boosted its engagement of the more than 200 Queen’s Law grads in wild rose country. In particular, the council has focused on engaging alumni across many different years and ensuring the council is representative of both seasoned professionals and those just entering the profession while focusing on fundraising for a scholarship for Alberta-based Queen’s Law students and to support the David Allgood Professorship in Business Law.

Although it is their names on this Corry Award, both Johnson and O’Connor are quick to point out the pair had great support from their fellow council members and that the Alberta Alumni Council’s achievements have been a team effort.

“It is easy to stay committed, despite the distance and other time pressures, when you’re working with great people,” Johnson said. “The committee made it easy to engage with the alumni in Calgary, and people like Paul Marcus and Barb Johnston made significant contributions. Ultimately, Dean Bill Flanagan’s work has made the story of Queen’s Law quite compelling and engaging and that is quite important to alumni.”

And in similar fashion, Johnson and O’Connor each praised Flanagan’s efforts to broaden and deepen Queen’s Law programs and introduce creative ideas to bring legal education into the digital age. 

“With Bill’s infectious enthusiasm and uniquely approachable demeanor, and an incredibly entrepreneurial mindset, he has quite literally redefined the role of what a Dean is,” said O’Connor. “His impact will be felt at Queen’s Law for years to come.”

Though he doesn’t practice law anymore, O’Connor – a serial entrepreneur and businessperson – said the strong legal education at Queen’s, coupled with his time in practice, provided him with a solid foundation that has served him well. So, when the opportunity came up to give back to the university, he felt he owed it to the community.

“It is incredibly important to stay engaged – it’s not a complicated concept,” the Calgary native says. “Queen’s was an important part of my education, in a legal sense and in an extracurricular sense as well. I wanted to experience the other side of the country, and my time in Kingston allowed me to do that.”

Johnson’s desire to support Queen’s Law stems from his positive experience as a student. After graduation, he worked in practice for several years before moving into business. In his current role, he oversees legal, corporate governance, regulatory, government relations, and real estate matters for Shaw Communications Inc.

“While I didn't plan my career this way, many great opportunities have come through Shaw and they have also provided some interesting challenges along the way,” he says. “I would stress to new graduates looking to move into business to get that few years of experience in practice first and be open to continually learning new things.”

Johnson’s continued engagement with the Alberta Alumni Council ties directly back into his family’s philosophy of paying tribute to the institutions, people, and cultures that help you along the way.

“There is a humility in any success,” he says. “Some of your success comes from you but a lot comes from outside of you. If you can then help others, through your time, your initiative, or your resources, that recognizes the outside forces that contribute to your success.”

The Alberta Alumni Council is one of two Queen’s Law provincial councils and it includes 15 members representing both the private and public sector.

The 2019 Corry Award was presented to Johnson and O’Connor during a recent alumni event in Calgary which also paid tribute to Dean Flanagan’s tenure as Dean of Queen’s Law.

About the recipients

Stuart O’Connor is currently the Chairman of Arcurve Inc., a software services company, and involved with a variety of other companies. His extensive community ties in the province range from chairing Hull Services to serving on the Board of the Calgary Stampede. 

Peter Johnson is the Executive VP and Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer for Shaw Communications Inc., where he has worked for 23 years, and has played a critical role in its senior leadership, overseeing its legal, regulatory, government relations, governance, and real estate portfolios.  

About the J.A. (Alec) Corry Distinguished Alumni Award

James Alexander Corry was Queen's 13th Principal (1961-1968) and one of Canada's most distinguished professors of politics and law. During his time as Vice-Principal of Queen’s, he played a leading role in the founding of Queen's Faculty of Law. The J.A. (Alec) Corry Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to a Queen’s alumnus or alumna to recognize success in fields outside the practice of law.

By Phil Gaudreau