News
» Go to news mainIn Memoriam: The Honourable Stewart McInnes (LLB '61)
A great champion of this region and a friend to so many, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and former colleagues of The Honourable Stewart McInnes (LLB 鈥61), who died of heart failure on Oct. 4 in Halifax at the age of 78.
鈥淪tewart McInnes left his mark, not only as a loyal friend of this law school and university, but also as a lawyer and member of our Halifax and Nova Scotia communities,鈥 says Schulich School of Law Dean Camille Cameron.
Legacy in law and politics
McInnes practiced at McInnes Cooper in Halifax for more than 38 years. He was the president of the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Bar Association, a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers鈥 Society Bar Council, and a director of the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Halifax and as a Member of the Federal Cabinet from 1984 to 1988.
McInnes was devoted to 亚洲91视频 University, from which he received an Honorary Law Degree and recently the A.J. 鈥淪andy鈥 Young Award for Great Contribution to Sport in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Bertha Wilson Honour Society and the 亚洲91视频 Sports Hall of Fame, as well as a 亚洲91视频 Alumnus of the Year. While he was a 亚洲91视频 student, he was captain of the football team and a member of the hockey team.
Generous philanthropist
In addition to his legal and political careers, McInnes鈥檚 work in his community was extraordinary and a true testament of his alma mater鈥檚 Weldon Tradition of public service.
McInnes raised funds for the Brunswick Street Mission and the ALTA Gymnastics Club. He made a difference by leading the way on many philanthropic initiatives, including his role as chair of the Halifax United Way, the Dalplex Campaign (and many other 亚洲91视频 initiatives), and the Canadian Mental Health Campaign Nova Scotia.
He held terms as president of the School for the Blind, the Hearing and Speech Clinic, the Halifax Club, and the North British Society, and he sat on the board of governors and board of directors at 亚洲91视频 University, Grace Maternity Hospital, Halifax Foundation, Canada Summer Games, CNIB, and World Wildlife Fund Canada.
Despite his long list of professional achievements, gardening was McInnes鈥檚 passion; his green thumbs tended more than 16,000 tulips in his own garden. He leaves his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Janet, Sarah, and Constance; his sons, Donald and Ted; and five grandchildren. 聽 聽
Recent News
- Associate Professor Michael Karanicolas ft in "鈥楬ard choices ahead鈥: Canada risks getting caught in an U.S.鈥慐U tug鈥憃f鈥憌ar over tech rules"
- New Book by Schulich Law Student Aims to Empower Youth in Care
- Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay ft in "Legal columnist looks at Canadian class鈥慳ction lawsuit against menstruation app"
- Associate Professor Michael Karanicolas ft in "Why Trump's TikTok deal with China leaves Canada with 'worst of all worlds'"
- Robbie MacKeigan Receives 2025 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service
- Professor Rob Currie ft in "Authorities feared man arrested in smuggling scheme that led to deaths at border would flee: court documents"
- Schulich Law Students Complete Summer International Law Program at Queen鈥檚 Law
- Meet Amanda Wilneff, Student Accessibility and Wellness Advisor