Canadian Lawyer

Cross EXaMinEd Alex Forrest uses both his legal and firefighting skills as a union leader. He's got their back Lawyer and firefighter Alex Forrest has been instrumental in the creation of presumptive legislation here and abroad. w hen firefighters rush into a burning building, they go in with one priority: to save lives. Facing danger in the line of duty comes with the territory. The selfless nature of these unsung heroes is what makes people like Alex Forrest — a lieutenant with the Winnipeg Fire Department — want to take on the cause for firefighters. Forrest has been fighting the legal 22 June 2013 www.CANADIAN battles for thousands of firefighters across Canada since he was called to the bar in 1996. Even before then, the 25-year veteran firefighter has been an advocate through his involvement with the United Firefighters of Winnipeg. Being a lawyer gives Forrest the ammunition to tackle the issues on behalf of his colleagues at the fire department. As both a practising lawyer and firefighter, Forrest gets to do the two things he enjoys most. "I have always enjoyed university, and law was a perfect com- L a w ye r m a g . c o m bination with firefighting," says Forrest. "One occupation is extremely physical, and law is extremely intellectual. It's a good balance for me." While he was going to law school full time at the University of Manitoba, Forrest continued to work in the fire department. He never left the service, even after he was called to the bar and started his private practice in the late 1990s. "I started getting more involved with firefighter issues, and I used my law degree to help my firefighting union career," recalls Forrest. IAN MccAUSlAND by Mari-len De guZMan

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