On Friday, Sept. 10, friends, family and colleagues gathered at the Nunavut Court of Justice to remember the late Judge Beverley Browne, who passed on March 24 this year.
The memorial was delayed to September due to COVID-19 concerns in Nunavut earlier this year.
The Nunavut law library was also dedicated to Browne, it reads in English, Inuktitut and French:
”Judge Bev Browne Memorial Library
“Nunavut’s law library is dedicated to the memory of Judge Beverley Browne, Nunavut’s first resident and Senior Judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice.”
Senator Dennis Patterson noted how ahead of her time she was in terms of pursuing a culturally sensitive justice system when Nunavut was first created.
Justice minister George Hickes said he may not have known her well, but her legacy is clear to all at the Nunavut Court of Justice.
Speaking on behalf of the Akitsirak Law School program, which Browne helped establish, legal counsel Sandra Omik spoke about how Browne encouraged her to take on law school and remembered her well.
Justice Bonnie Tulloch also noted that it was one of Browne’s passions to ensure the success of the law program’s students.
“Judge Browne’s accomplishments go on, and on and on,” she said.
Establishing Nunavut’s court system, being the organist for the Anglican Church, creating a program to assist abused spouses and helping start the thrift store are just a few among Browne’s many achievements while in Nunavut.
