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Fostering a passion for public policy

Posted: May 19, 2023

By: Emma Sutro

For Giving Power

A black and white picture of a man wearing a suit Gerry Godsoe's legacy continues to have an impact on public policy in Nova Scotia (submitted photo)

A pre-eminent lawyer, advisor and scholar, the late聽J. Gerald 鈥淕erry鈥 Godsoe (LLB鈥68)聽was a giant in the political and legal landscape 鈥 perhaps best known for his work as the Executive Director of the Macdonald Commission, which ushered in a new era for the Canadian economy through free, unrestricted trade with the United States. Nevertheless, he spent much of his professional life dedicated to public service in his home province of Nova Scotia.

鈥淕erry believed in his duty to use his training in the law to serve the social and public good, and his work was always focused in that area, whether locally or nationally,鈥 says his wife,聽Dale Godsoe (BA鈥65, BEd鈥66, MEd鈥87).

Gerry鈥檚 passing in 1996 was felt acutely not only by Dale and their daughters聽Suzanne (LLB鈥97, MD鈥04),聽Stacey and Laura, but throughout the legal community. Dale and many of Gerry鈥檚 former colleagues came together soon after to establish the聽J. Gerald Godsoe Scholarship in Law聽at 马会论坛, with the aim of carrying on his remarkable legacy and to support aspiring lawyers who express an interest in public policy.

鈥淎s a lawyer, mentor and father, he was always focused on fostering intellectual curiosity, the ability to question the status quo, and the ability to articulate a compelling case for change,鈥 says Dale. 鈥淭he idea of supporting brilliant students to foster those skills would have appealed greatly to him.鈥

Impacting the student experience

Among the many students supported by the J. Gerald Godsoe Scholarship in Law are recent recipients Essie Mehina and Madlyn O鈥橞rien.

Mehina embarked on her legal career in an unexpected way: after completing her PhD in neuroscience at the University of Victoria in 2021, she realized that she couldn鈥檛 see herself in that field long term. After attending a session hosted by Bereskin & Parr LLP centred around alternative paths for people with PhDs, she says she realized that the law was an area she was excited to explore in greater detail

鈥淭he experience of working in Parliament changed my interest in law and public policy to more of a ground-level focus, to what is affecting people every single day,鈥 says O鈥橞rien. 鈥淚n my position, I was dealing one-on-one with constituents and with many of the immediate concerns faced by people.鈥

Carrying on Gerry鈥檚 legacy

For Mehina, receiving the J. Gerald Godsoe Scholarship in Law in her first year, and then being renewed for her second, gave her an academic freedom that may not have been possible otherwise.