|
Printer friendly version |
  
|
Font Sizes |
|
Davies accepts award on behalf on Mrs. Annie MacDonald Langstaff, first woman law student in the Province of Quebec
September 7, 2006 |
Mrs. Langstaff is widely recognized as having been a pioneer in obtaining the right of women to study and practice law in the Province of Quebec. In 1911, she became the first woman law student in the Province of Quebec following her admission to McGill University's faculty of law.
One of the firm founders, Samuel W. Jacobs, K.C., is also widely acknowledged as having been one of her strongest supporters. It is with his assistance and encouragement that she entered the Faculty of Law at McGill University. Sam Jacobs argued her case before both the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal and, being unsuccessful in those proceedings, then tried to have the discriminatory legislation changed.
Mrs. Langstaff worked at the firm nearly 60 years, from her first days as a stenographer with Jacobs, Couture and Fitch (which became Jacobs & Phillips, then Phillips & Vineberg and today is known as Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg) to her retirement in 1965 as an assistant to Senator Lazarus Phillips.
In the absence of any known descendants of Mrs. Langstaff, the Montreal Bar has asked the firm to accept the prize on her behalf. While the credit for Mrs. Langstaff's accomplishments is, first and foremost, hers alone, the Montreal Bar's request recognizes that Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, and mainly one of its founders, Sam Jacobs, had a significant role in assisting her in her pursuit.
Lucien Bouchard accepted the prize on behalf of the firm. The prize will be entrusted by the firm to the Dean of the Faculty of Law of McGill University for safekeeping and display to the public at the faculty.
For more information:
Nicolas Rubbo
Manager, Marketing
Montréal
Tel. 514-841-6451
nrubbo@dwpv.com
Gary Nurse
Manager, Marketing
Toronto
Tel. 416-367-6902
gnurse@dwpv.com
