They will serve the board until February 2024
Bill Hendsbee has been named the 2023–2024 president of the Law Society of Alberta effective February 23, 2023, the same date that Deanna Steblyk begins her term as the law society’s 2023–24 president-elect. Both Hendsbee and Steblyk joined the Law Society of Alberta’s board in 2018.
Bill Hendsbee is the Law Society of Alberta’s new president
Hendsbee is currently a partner at Cummings Andrews Mackay, where he has practised solely in personal injury law for close to three decades. He was admitted to both the Alberta bar and the Northwest Territories bar, before which he obtained his bachelor of arts in history with honours from the University of Western Ontario and his bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta later in 1993.
“Everyone at the bencher table is here because we care and want to make a difference – I’m looking forward to leading these efforts,” said Hendsbee. “The diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on the board will continue to help us navigate some important and challenging work over the next year, including the development of a new strategic plan, our ongoing strategic work, and [the] upcoming fall bencher election.”
Hendsbee previously served as president of the Edmonton Bar Association and of the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA) and has volunteered to chair and speak at seminars hosted by the ACTLA and Legal Education Society of Alberta. He presently serves as a board member of Spinal Cord Injury Alberta.
Hendsbee also remains involved with the local sports community, having chaired the golf tournament in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation for 10 years while serving as commissioner of the Alberta Colleges athletic conference since 2006.
Deanna Steblyk begins her term as president-elect
After a decade in the private practice as a civil litigator, Law Society of Alberta president-elect Steblyk entered the Alberta Securities Commission – first as litigation counsel, then as senior special counsel to the vice-chairs of the commission, where she now assists its adjudicators with legal research, preparation of decisions, and policy matters.
Steblyk was called to the Alberta bar in 1999 and has practised in Calgary ever since. She received her bachelor of arts in English with first class honours at the University of Calgary, and her law degree from the University of Alberta in 1998 with distinction.
“We’ve been faced with some pretty significant problems to solve recently, including the concerning results of the articling student survey, navigating the pandemic, refining our CPD program, addressing the applicable TRC calls to action, transitioning internationally trained lawyers to Alberta practice, and working toward a profession that is equitable, diverse and inclusive,” said Steblyk. “It’s clear that there is more work to do in all of these areas … but we’re making progress that I’m extremely proud of.”
Steblyk previously chaired the Legal Aid Alberta board of directors, the Calgary Humane Society board of directors, and the CBA Alberta’s civil litigation south subsection. She was also the past president of the Association of Women Lawyers and is a regular guest instructor at the University of Calgary.
