Allan Leal
Encyclopedia
Herbert Allan Borden Leal, OC
, QC
(1917 – October 12, 1999) was a Canadian
civil servant and academic. He was Deputy Attorney General of Ontario
, Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School
, and Chancellor of McMaster University
.
Born in Beloeil, Quebec
, Leal received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940 from McMaster University. A Rhodes Scholar from Ontario in 1940, he never took up the appointment due to the war. He served with the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II
in Canada, England, and the United States. He was discharged with the rank of Captain. After the war, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School
from 1945 to 1948. He received a Master of Laws
degree from Harvard Law School
in 1957. He was called to the Bar of Ontario 1948 and was created a Queen's Counsel
in 1959.
Leal practiced law from 1948 to 1950. In 1950, he became a lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. In 1956, he became Vice-Dean and a full Professor of Law. From 1958 to 1966, he was Dean of the Law School. He was Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, when it was engaged in a major debate about the future of legal education in Ontario - and in particular, how much influence the legal profession should have on legal education. He was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Law Reform Commission which was the first statutory law reform body in the British Commonwealth. Upon the appointment of the Honourable James C. McRuer to head the Royal Commission on Civil Rights, Leal became Chairman of the Ontario Law Reform Commission. He headed the Canadian delegation to the Hague Conference on Private International Law and chaired the drafting committee that piloted the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. He was also a Special Lecturer in Property Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto
from 1972 to 1977. From 1977 to 1981, he was the Deputy Attorney General of Ontario, the head civil servant in the department which is similar to a Deputy Minister
, during the negotiation of the Trudeau era constitutional reforms which led to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He contributed to Roy McMurtry's reputation as a law reformer and was intimately involved in the province's family law reforms. On stepping down from the Ministry in 1981, he served as special adviser to Premier William G. Davis on Constitutional Matters. From 1977 to 1986, he was Chancellor of McMaster University, where he had been a star of the University football team.
From 1975 to 1976, Leal was President of the Empire Club of Canada
. From 1991 to 1994, he was Reeve
of the Municipality of Village of Tweed
.
In 1983, Leal was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. He received honorary degrees from McMaster University (1963), York University
(1978), University of Western Ontario
(1982) and Dalhousie University
(1983).
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1917 – October 12, 1999) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
civil servant and academic. He was Deputy Attorney General of Ontario
Attorney General of Ontario
The Attorney General of Ontario is a senior member of the Executive Council of Ontario and governs the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario - the department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province. The Attorney General is an elected Member of Provincial...
, Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
, and Chancellor of McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
.
Born in Beloeil, Quebec
Beloeil, Quebec
Belœil is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Richelieu River, east of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 18,927. It is part of the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu, within the Administrative Region of Montérégie. It occupies the west shore...
, Leal received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940 from McMaster University. A Rhodes Scholar from Ontario in 1940, he never took up the appointment due to the war. He served with the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Canada, England, and the United States. He was discharged with the rank of Captain. After the war, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
from 1945 to 1948. He received a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1957. He was called to the Bar of Ontario 1948 and was created a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1959.
Leal practiced law from 1948 to 1950. In 1950, he became a lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. In 1956, he became Vice-Dean and a full Professor of Law. From 1958 to 1966, he was Dean of the Law School. He was Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, when it was engaged in a major debate about the future of legal education in Ontario - and in particular, how much influence the legal profession should have on legal education. He was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Law Reform Commission which was the first statutory law reform body in the British Commonwealth. Upon the appointment of the Honourable James C. McRuer to head the Royal Commission on Civil Rights, Leal became Chairman of the Ontario Law Reform Commission. He headed the Canadian delegation to the Hague Conference on Private International Law and chaired the drafting committee that piloted the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. He was also a Special Lecturer in Property Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1972 to 1977. From 1977 to 1981, he was the Deputy Attorney General of Ontario, the head civil servant in the department which is similar to a Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
, during the negotiation of the Trudeau era constitutional reforms which led to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He contributed to Roy McMurtry's reputation as a law reformer and was intimately involved in the province's family law reforms. On stepping down from the Ministry in 1981, he served as special adviser to Premier William G. Davis on Constitutional Matters. From 1977 to 1986, he was Chancellor of McMaster University, where he had been a star of the University football team.
From 1975 to 1976, Leal was President of the Empire Club of Canada
Empire Club of Canada
The Empire Club of Canada is a Canadian speakers' forum. Established in 1903, the Empire Club has provided a forum for over 3,500 speakers.Through a variety of presentation formats, the Empire Club invites local, national and international leaders and other change-agents to address the topical...
. From 1991 to 1994, he was Reeve
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Municipality of Village of Tweed
Tweed, Ontario
Tweed is a municipality and a village located in central-eastern Ontario, Canada, in Hastings County.The Municipality of Tweed is an amalgamated municipality comprising the former Village of Tweed and the former Townships of Hungerford and Elzevir & Grimsthorpe...
.
In 1983, Leal was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He received honorary degrees from McMaster University (1963), York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
(1978), University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
(1982) and Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
(1983).