the deceased, of Vancouver, British Columbia, passed away peacefully at her home on September 24, 2025. A pioneering figure in Canadian law, Mary was celebrated for her keen legal intellect and her trailblazing achievements as a woman in the judiciary.

Born on October 16, 1931, in Vancouver, the deceased graduated from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law in 1952 and was called to the British Columbia bar in 1953. She began her legal career practising broad litigation at the Vancouver firm Shulman, Foulkes and Tupper. In 1969, she became the first woman in British Columbia to be appointed Queen’s Counsel, marking the start of numerous historic firsts. A committed legal professional and self-described “red Tory,” Mary twice ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in federal elections during the 1960s and served on the party’s executive.

Her leadership extended to the Law Society of British Columbia, where she was elected as the province’s first female bencher in 1971. In 1977, she made history again as the first woman to serve as Treasurer, effectively the head of a law society anywhere in the Commonwealth. Mary’s judicial career began with her appointment to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1985, followed by elevation to the British Columbia Court of Appeal in 1988. She served with distinction until her retirement in 2006, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.

Known for her prodigious legal knowledge, sharp opinions, and insistence on precision and decorum in court, Mary commanded respect throughout her career. She was famously exacting about proper courtroom form and professional attire, reflecting her belief in maintaining high standards. Despite her pioneering role for women in law, she preferred to be addressed as “Miss” and expressed reservations about feminist movements and certain legal reforms, including a critical stance on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Her formidable intellect and wit made her a memorable and sometimes controversial figure in Canadian legal circles.

Mary Southin’s legacy is honoured through an annual lecture series on equity and legal history jointly hosted by the University of British Columbia Allard School of Law and the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. Her contributions continue to inspire new generations of legal professionals.