The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50820
and energies . . . is on housing — fast, cheap, healthy, energy-efficient homes which can go up quickly." Twinn also said Craig Kinsman from the Canadian Bar Association had been very supportive and was spearheading an effort by the CBA to help. They had their first conference call on May 24. Twinn planned to meet with the other lawyers in the town and for the local lawyers and the CBA to help marshal human resources into a shared circle to work together. It is estimated it will take two to three years to rebuild the town of almost 8,000, located 250 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. "The effects of the fire will be a long, drawn-out, painful process," says Maunder. — DIANE L.M. COOK dianecook@shaw.ca Practice Management Much of the town was destroyed by a raging forest fire in May. every time I open a file, I can smell the smoke from the fire." Maunder says fellow lawyer Philip Lokken also lost his house but not his business; Allan McMillan lost his business but not his house; and Larry Schimpf was the luckiest of the lawyers who live and practise in town because both his house and business were saved. Maunder says once the residents are allowed back, the lawyers will do what they can to help the town rebuild. "I know that the members of the Slave Lake bar will rise to the challenge and each will find their own way of giving back because that is what you do." Catherine Twinn, a lawyer and mem- ber of the nearby Sawridge First Nation and a Sawridge trustee, says she and three of her four children left Slave Lake the night of the fire. Twinn's home and office on the Sawridge Indian Reserve did not burn down. However, her prac- tice, including Alberta Justice mediations in Slave Lake, was affected by the fire. Twinn offered to share space with any other local lawyers in need and she and her children are safe at a family-owned residence in Edmonton. Twinn said, "There are many poor people in the town who lost it all; no insurance and no support systems in place. Sawridge came out lucky. The Sawridge Trusts and companies initially put up 155 evacuees and the emergency crews have taken over the Slave Lake Sawridge Hotel. As one of the fortunate and privileged, Sawridge has a duty to help others less fortunate. My thoughts ntitled-3 1 PCLaw® LexisNexis® PCLaw® Accounting software that SPEAKS LEGALESE. billing and accounting software combines what you need to track your time and money all in one system — from time and billing to trust accounting, cheque writing, financial statements, client identification and verification, automatic backup, offline file management, advanced reporting tools and more. Best of all, it's easy to use and ready to go to work instantly. Download and Try PCLaw for FREE* For more information, call 1-800-328-2898 or visit www.lexisnexis.ca/pclaw. * Download PCLaw free for 30 days. Certain conditions apply. LexisNexis and the Knowledge Burst logo are registered trademarks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used under licence. PCLaw is a registered trademark of LexisNexis Practice Management Systems Inc. © 2011 LexisNexis Canada Inc. All rights reserved. www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JULY 2011 11 12/9/10 4:12:40 PM