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REGIONAL WRAP-UP sLeD DOgs' Deaths mOVe animaL Law fORwaRD are often wrongfully labelled and there is no need to destroy such animals. "We need to look at what they are doing in Alberta, Calgary especially," she says, where progressive animal treatment and bylaws have reduced the destruction of dangerous animals by 50 per cent. Greater concern for the environment has also raised social consciousness of how animals of all kinds fit into the picture. "There is hardly a day when I don't open the paper and there is an issue that deals with animals of some kind," be it a municipality dealing with a growing Canada goose problem, wild rabbits, or "so-called nui- sance animals" such as raccoons and coyotes. The reality is, says Breder, that humans are Goodmans lawyer wins WHL ref's trophy of Vancouver it has become a calling to perfection. He is the recipient of the 2011 Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy in recognition of the Western Hockey League's top on-ice official for his work as a referee. The trophy is awarded on votes cast by each of the WHL's league team's coaches and general managers. "I like the competition, not only for the high level of hockey but with your- self as you are trying to be perfect on a nightly basis," says Kirk, as games are recorded and afterwards, the calls made by referees are analyzed by supervising officials to see how they might be improved or if anything was missed. "Every game is a new challenge and really demanding physical- ly with the skating, getting into the position, being able to see a play happen and to read it and then make a split-second deci- sion that is fair and make a call based on that which will appeal to both sides," he says. E But good officiat- ing goes a long way — just like law — in achieving balance between opposing sides. "It helps the game progress as Matthew Kirk officiating at the Memorial Cup in Mississauga, Ont., in May. veryone knows a lawyer has to think fast on his feet but for Goodmans LLP's Matthew Kirk encroaching on animals' habits but have not learned to live in harmony or adapt. The courts are starting to change that with animal laws. "What we need to do as a society is to try to find a balance between the interest of animals and the interest of humans." — JEAN SORENSEN jean_sorensen@telus.net much as possible," he says, as it promotes good sports- manship on the ice and reduces conflict. Kirk, ern Canada and is a feeder league for the National Hockey League. Kirk, who was in Mississauga, Ont., 30, who has worked for Goodmans for four years, has had a few years to hone his art. "I started referee- ing kids' games when I was about 13. It was a little more lucrative than a paper route," says Kirk, a former Brandon, Man., resident. He up the different in high school, work- ing weekends, and by the time he was in his first year of law school was referee- ing in the WHL, which is made up of the top junior teams in West- laddered levels in late May refereeing again at this year's Memorial Cup, has travelled extensively throughout Western Canada officiating but also last year was in the rink at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. Most of the time, he's able to balance a five-day workweek doing com- mercial and security work at Goodmans with games on weekends. However, he's taken a three-month leave of absence to referee some of the higher-level games and also travel Europe with his wife for a month. "She wants to see something else besides a hockey rink." While it's still law that pays the bills, Kirk says he would like to pursue the chance to referee more at the international level whether it's juniors' or men's teams. But he's also got his eye on a higher prize. "Someday maybe the Olympics." — JS www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JULY 2011 15 C ontinued fr om pa g e 13 aaROn beLL