Alex K. Paterson R.I.P.

Alexander Paterson
March 7, 1932 – August 6, 2025
Alexander Paterson Obituary
It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Alexander Kennedy Paterson on August 6, 2025, at the age of 93. Cherished husband for 67 years of Joan Paterson, beloved father of Robb (Heather), Tim (Lynda), Angie (Peter), Alex (Eva-Lott) and adored “Papa” to Alex (Ginger) Paterson, Jean (Dylan) Criddle, Tara (Justine) Paterson, Mimi (Chris) Byers, Robb (Michelle) Arndt, Channing Arndt, Ellie (Ryan) Olsen and Seb (Linda) Paterson and great-grandfather of 10. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Atkinson, of Vero Beach. Alex was predeceased by his wife Joany, his parents, Jean Irvine (nee Kennedy) and Hartland MacDougall Paterson, and his sister, Katherine Chafe.
Alex was born in Montreal on March 7, 1932, and spent his childhood in Westmount, where he attended elementary school at Selwyn House. His high school years were spent at Trinity College School in Port Hope. Every summer was spent at his favorite place in the world, Murray Bay, Quebec with all his Kennedy cousins and aunts and it was there that he first set eyes on the love of his life, Joany. After graduating from Bishop’s University, they married in 1955. He graduated from McGill University with his law degree in 1956 and the next 5 years were busy with the arrival of his four children and the start of his law career at Heward, Holden, Hutchison Cliff, McMaster & Meighen. Alex made partner in 1969 and continued to work at the same firm, now known as Borden Ladner Gervais, until he was almost 80. He specialized in maritime and medical law and was awarded the Medal of Honour of the Montreal Bar and given the distinction of Advocatus Emeritus by the Barreau of Quebec. Highlights of his career included being the lead negotiator on behalf of the Quebec government during the Oka Crisis, serving on the Poirier Commission to resolve labour disputes in Quebec school systems and being the Quebec counsel for Sergei Nemstanov, who defected from Russia to Canada during the Montreal Olympic Games.
Alex firmly believed in giving back to his community, and his actions and volunteer work resulted in him being awarded the Order of Canada, the Ordre national du Quebec, Order of Montreal and honorary degrees from McGill and Bishop’s Universities. He had a great wit, a memorable laugh and a wicked sense of humour, which included deliberately wearing Bishop’s University ties to McGill University functions. He gave back to his alma maters by teaching medical law at McGill and serving as chairman of the Board of Governors, and was a member of the board for ten years, and then Chancellor, of Bishop’s University.
He was an incredible fundraiser for the many charities that he supported and as one dear friend described him “you never said no to your dad when he went after money for needy causes”. Some of his more important causes included Pedal for Kids for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Mackay Centre (in particular the adaptive skiing program) and the Butters Home Foundation. As chairman of the steering committee responsible for setting up the McGill University Health Centre, he was particularly proud of the Glen. His BLG partner, John Murphy, described him as being “an impressively versatile man: he could charm nine justices of the Supreme Court one day and then read to school children the next”.
Known as the “Confederation Man”, because of his great zeal for Canadian unity, Alex was the champion of minority rights in Quebec and believed in cooperation, rather than separation, between language groups. He co-chaired the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, was the founding chairman of Alliance Quebec and fought for the ‘No’ side in the Quebec referendum, all while wearing his trademark bow ties and sometimes colourful pants
For many years, he was an active member and church warden for Saint Peter’s-on-the Rock in Cap-a-L’Aigle, St. George’s Church in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Murray Bay Protestant Church in Pointe-au-Pic and St. Paul’s Church in Knowlton.
Papa was always a source of great fun for his grandchildren, nieces and nephews: playing soccer goalie while his grandchildren attempted to score on him (unsuccessfully!), organizing fish-feeding adventures in his pond in Knowlton and croquet tournaments (with prizes), writing family plays to celebrate New Year’s Eve, reciting his poems for birthdays, delivering special performances of ‘A Farmer and a Maiden’ with Joany, and if Tony Abbott was visiting, concerts by the A&P. His grandchildren learned a few choice words from his verbal reactions when he missed a shot on the croquet court. He was also an avid golfer. At Braeside in Senneville he would excitedly pull out a thermos of “coffee on the fifth tee!” On the tennis courts, he would drive his opponents nuts with his patented cut shot. He was musically gifted, could play the piano and accordion, and loved to perform and sing on stage and in church choirs. Even when his part had no lines, he stole the show. He was a great raconteur. As many have shared since his passing “he was so much fun to be around.”
A celebration of Alex’s life will be announced at a future date. Should you wish to make a donation in his memory please consider the following: Pedal for Kids or The McKay Center

In memory of Alexander K. Paterson
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Alexander Kennedy Paterson on August 6, 2025. Alex began his law career in 1957 at the firm of Heward, Holden, Hutchison Cliff, McMaster & Meighen and was made partner in 1969. He retired from the same firm known as BLG in 2008, although continued to return to the office until a few years ago.
There were many facets to AKP’s life. He would often talk about his family, his dear wife and cheerleader extraordinaire Joany as well as their children (Robb, Tim, Angie, and Alex), only to be followed in subsequent years by many grandchildren.
Alex was a talented and accomplished barrister who pleaded before all courts of Québec, the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions, parliamentary commissions, and administrative tribunals. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers Association, awarded the Medal of Honour of the Montréal Bar and was bestowed the distinction of Advocatus Emeritus (2010) by the Barreau du Québec. Most notably, he was the lead negotiator on behalf of the Québec government during the Oka Crisis and was retained as the Québec government’s special inquirer in relation to labour disputes in Québec school systems (1976). He also acted as Québec counsel for Sergei Nemstanov, who defected from Russia to Canada at the Montréal Olympic Games.
Alex made an extraordinary commitment within the community, for which he was appropriately recognized when he was awarded the Order of Canada (1982), Ordre national du Québec (1993), Order of Montréal (1998), and several honorary degrees.
In the education field, he was a member of the board (1995-2005) and chancellor of Bishop’s University, chairman of the Board of Governors of McGill University (1990-1995), and chair of the Advisory Council of the Québec English School Board Association.
In the health sector, he participated in the development of health legislation in Québec for 30 years, taught medical law at McGill (1973-1979), was the chairman of the Steering Committee responsible for setting up the MUHC, at one point interim chair of the board of the MUHC (1994-1995), as well as president of the Mackay Centre and its foundation, the Butters Home Foundation, and the Adaptive Sports Foundation.
More generally in the community, he was chair of the Foundation of Greater Montréal, co-chair of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, founding chairman of Alliance Québec (1982), vice-president of the Québec / Canada Pre-Referendum Executive Committee for the No. The citation at the time of the awarding of his Order of Canada reads: “In the past ten years he has come strongly to the fore as champion of the English-speaking minority of Québec, and of cooperation — rather than separation between language groups. So great was his zeal for Canadian unity that he has been nicknamed the “Confederation Man.”
In the business community, he was a director of several companies over the years, including APV-Hall Crepaco, Laurentian Bank of Canada, Laurentian Trust of Canada, and the Fondation de l’Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec.
He was also a raconteur extraordinaire. The essence of the man and his love for storytelling can be read in his autobiography published in 2005, entitled My Life at the Bar and Beyond.
Alex built an ironclad reputation rooted in four guiding principles: supporting his fellow partners, delivering outstanding client service, nurturing professional excellence, and giving back to the community. In living out these principles daily, Alex was an impressively versatile man: he could charm nine justices of the Supreme Court one day and then read to school children the next; he could draft a legal opinion for high-profile clients one day and then lead fundraising efforts for the Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation the next. No matter what he was doing, Alex led by example and introduced a wonderful character, Chaim, to our mail room to provide him with real-life experience. Alex had a caring and personable leadership.
“It is often said that you won’t remember what someone said, but how they made you feel. Alex greeted everyone with a smile, made them feel at ease, and treated them with respect. Alex was a role model to countless lawyers and members of the Firm, including myself. His generosity for helping others knew no bounds. His principles laid the foundation for generations of BLG lawyers to come and constitute core values of the Firm’s culture today,” concludes close friend and BLG Partner John G. Murphy.

In tribute to Alex K. Paterson, who brought both joy and wisdom to Bishop’s University
By Janyne Hodder Special to the Montreal Gazette
I met Alex K. Paterson in 1995 when I was a candidate for the position of principal and vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University at an early breakfast at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. It wasn’t quite a job interview, as there was a formal process underway of which this wasn’t a part, but nor was it not a job interview. Alex was about to become chancellor and if I were appointed we’d be working closely together. As you might imagine, I was nervous about meeting this eminent man whom I knew through the media as a highly respected figure in the fields of law, community service, political engagement, university and hospital governance. My impressions from this first meeting have stayed with me through the years: Alex’s warmth, his effervescence, and his genuine interest in others. Well before the eggs arrived, he’d put me at ease, asking questions about my then role as assistant deputy minister responsible for services to schools of the English-speaking community across the province, inquiring about mutual acquaintances, and explaining his deep affection for Bishop’s where he discovered himself by his graduation in the early 1950s. I left breakfast thinking if I got the job, I would love working with Alex.
A few months later, we began a nine-year partnership to build on the Bishop’s reputation as a champion of a “sound and liberal education.” With his flair for the theatrical and his quick and kind wit, Alex added joy to every occasion. His mastery of pomp made convocation the highlight of each academic year. At a special convocation in 1998, Alex and Bishop Desmond Tutu danced down the aisle together to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In as the crowd swayed to the music. No one wore more purple or cheered louder than Alex and his generous wife Joany at Gaiter games. Years as a lawyer and as a mediator, notably during the 1990 Oka Crisis, taught Alex to take time to listen to all parties, to weigh evidence and arguments, and to suspend judgement until a path to progress could be found. This wisdom was a source of strength for the university, not only in creating a healthy campus life but also when facing difficult decisions with government. Alex made people — regardless of their age or vocation — feel welcome, gave them the benefit of the doubt and carried no grudges. He saw the failures of others, but did not dwell on these and certainly did not expose them. He remembered people’s names, paid attention to their stories and accorded everyone value.
Alex K. Paterson was a good man, of a breed rarer than it should be.

Joan Linzee Paterson
June 24, 1933 – February 14, 2023
Joan was born on Long Island, New York on June 24, 1933 and spent her childhood in Westmount, Quebec after her family emigrated to Canada in 1943. Her education in Quebec included Westmount High School and Compton Ladies College. Every summer was spent at her parents’ home in Cap-a-L’Aigle on the lower St. Lawrence River and it was there that she first set eyes on her childhood sweetheart Alex in Murray Bay. They were married in Cap-a-L’Aigle in 1955 at St. Peter’s on the Rock Church, a place that held a special spot in her heart. She was an incredible wife and support to Alex. Prior to the arrival of their four children, Joany trained and worked as a nurse at the Montreal General Hospital, following in the footsteps of her famous grandmother, Isabel Hampton Robb, “the ‘Florence Nightingale of American Nursing”.
Joany’s passions included creating spectacular gardens, playing competitive tennis, progressive nutrition, designing and creating warm homes and loving her family. Her egg salad sandwiches and Christmas cranberry breads were legend. She played tennis and badminton well into her eighties. Joany loved to garden and her artistic eye created a colourful vista that was enjoyed by all who visited their home in Knowlton. Her early attempts at getting her children to eat brewer’s yeast in orange juice were less successful! Everyone she met at the Place Kensington in the last few years made a point of telling her children how wonderful she made them feel.

My Life at the Bar and Beyond
By Alex K. Paterson
(McGill-Queen’s University Press) Alex Paterson grew up in Montreal during the Duplessis era and watched the Quiet Revolution transform Quebec from a deeply religious and almost agrarian society into a modern and secular state. From the 1980 referendum to the Oka crisis, he played a critical role in the defining events of Quebec’s recent history. My Life at the Bar and Beyond offers a candid look at his remarkable life and career.
A litigation lawyer for fifty years, Paterson describes some of his earlier cases, including those involving alleged brainwashing experiments at the Allan Memorial Institute funded by the CIA. He offers behind-the-scenes views of the fight against Bill 101, campaigning for the No Committee in the 1980 Quebec referendum, and the stand-off at Oka between Mohawks and the provincial police. Paterson also charts his involvement in establishing the McGill University Health Centre and the plans for a new major teaching hospital as well as directing the development and expansion of Bishop’s University during his time as president and chancellor.
Paterson is a polished raconteur and his revealing memoir includes tantalizing anecdotes.