barrie chivers, q.c.
Barrie was admitted to the Bar of the Province of Alberta in 1970, to the Law Society of the Northwest Territories in 1975 and to the Law Society of Nunavut in 2000. He was a founding partner of the law firm Wright, Chivers & Co. where he practiced for 14 years, primarily in criminal and labour law. In 1987, he established with Sheila Greckol the firm of Chivers-Greckol practicing exclusively in labour, employment and human rights law.
A former president of the Trade Union Lawyers’ Association and a former provincial vice president of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers, Barrie has been actively involved in the development of labour law in the province of Alberta over the past two decades. Barrie represents a broad cross section of trade unions in the public and private sectors. His clients include numerous labour organizations representing firefighters, teachers and educators, municipal workers, food and service workers and maintenance workers. He serves as Parliamentarian and Constitutional and legislative advisor to the United Nurses of Alberta. He represents clients in Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in grievance arbitration proceedings, in interest arbitration proceedings, in Labour Relations Board Proceedings and in Judicial Review proceedings. He represents both institutional and individual clients in disciplinary proceedings. Barrie also represents his clients as their nominee on grievance arbitration and interest arbitration Boards. He has appeared as counsel at all levels of the Courts in Alberta, in the Northwest Territories, in the Federal Court and in the Supreme Court of Canada.
He has been a contributor/panelist at numerous forums, seminars and conferences. He served three years as a sessional lecturer in poverty law at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law. Between December 1990 and June 1993, Barrie served as a member of the provincial legislature for Edmonton Strathcona and as Official Opposition critic for the Attorney General, Solicitor General, Consumer & Corporate Affairs and Native Affairs portfolios.
Barrie is father to three children. He has a wide range of recreational interests including hockey, swimming, nordic & alpine skiing, camping, back country trail riding (horse back), chess, reading, and music.