The Public Service award is given to a graduate who has made significant contributions in the field of public administration and policy development, service in elected or appointed positions at local, provincial, national or international levels.

The Honourable Mr. Justice Joel Groves

After completing one year of University Transfer courses at Cariboo College, Justice Groves completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Laws at UBC.

Since being called to the bar, Justice Groves has contributed to the community through his involvement with a number of organizations, including the United Way and the Phoenix Centre, as well as serving as president for both the Kamloops Bar Association and the Kamloops Family Bar Association. He was the pro bono Legal Counsel for the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre for 15 years, taking an important case on its behalf through to the Court of Appeal and setting a valuable legal precedent for all Sexual Assault Centres in the province.

Justice Groves has been involved with politics and was able to add his support to projects benefiting the local area. He also frequently appeared on local cable, providing educational information on the law to the public.

Justice Groves was appointed Master of the Supreme Court of BC in 2000 and was recently appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Prior to that he was a partner with Gillespie Rekema Barnett Broadway, where he practised in the areas of family law and general litigation.

For more information, please contact The Honorable Mr. Justice Joel Groves at 604-660-2879, or by email.