Morris Shumiatcher
Encyclopedia
Morris Cyril "Shumy" Shumiatcher, OC
, SOM
, QC
(September 20, 1917 – September 23, 2004) was a Canadian
lawyer best known for his contribution to the field of human rights and civil liberties.
Born in Calgary
, Alberta
, a son to Luba Lubinsky and Abraham Shumiatcher (1890–1974), he received a BA
in 1940 and a LL.B
in 1941 from the University of Alberta
. He received his LL.M
in 1942 from the University of Toronto
. From 1943 to 1945, he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
as an air gunner. After the war, he received his PhD (as distinguished from the undergraduate degree J.D. or Doctor of Jurisprudence currently offered by the University of Toronto) from the University of Toronto.
In 1946, he moved to Saskatchewan
at the invitation of Tommy Douglas
to become law officer of the Attorney General. He soon became the personal assistant to Douglas. In 1948, he was appointed the youngest King's Counsel
in the Commonwealth of Nations
, in order to argue a case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
in London, UK.
He was the author of the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights
, the model for the Canadian Bill of Rights
. It was the first Bill of rights
in Canada and was one year before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
.
In 1949, he left government to practice private law and appeared in his practice many times before the Supreme Court of Canada
.
For 14 years he was an honorary consul general for Japan and dean of the consular corps for Saskatchewan.
He authored Welfare: Hidden Backlash in 1971 and Man of Law: A Model in 1979.
In 1981, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1996, he was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
.
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...
, SOM
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, 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...
(September 20, 1917 – September 23, 2004) 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...
lawyer best known for his contribution to the field of human rights and civil liberties.
Born in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, a son to Luba Lubinsky and Abraham Shumiatcher (1890–1974), he received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1940 and a LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1941 from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. He received his LL.M
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...
in 1942 from 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 1943 to 1945, he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
as an air gunner. After the war, he received his PhD (as distinguished from the undergraduate degree J.D. or Doctor of Jurisprudence currently offered by the University of Toronto) from the University of Toronto.
In 1946, he moved to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
at the invitation of Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
to become law officer of the Attorney General. He soon became the personal assistant to Douglas. In 1948, he was appointed the youngest King'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 the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, in order to argue a case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
in London, UK.
He was the author of the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights
Saskatchewan Bill of Rights
In 1947, a year before the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Saskatchewan passed into law a bill of rights which was, and continues to be, unique.-Features of the Bill:...
, the model for the Canadian Bill of Rights
Canadian Bill of Rights
The Canadian Bill of Rights is a federal statute and bill of rights enacted by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's government on August 10, 1960. It provides Canadians with certain quasi-constitutional rights in relation to other federal statutes...
. It was the first Bill of rights
Bill of rights
A bill of rights is a list of the most important rights of the citizens of a country. The purpose of these bills is to protect those rights against infringement. The term "bill of rights" originates from England, where it referred to the Bill of Rights 1689. Bills of rights may be entrenched or...
in Canada and was one year before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
.
In 1949, he left government to practice private law and appeared in his practice many times before the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
.
For 14 years he was an honorary consul general for Japan and dean of the consular corps for Saskatchewan.
He authored Welfare: Hidden Backlash in 1971 and Man of Law: A Model in 1979.
In 1981, he 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...
. In 1996, he was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
.