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News

Emeritus Professor Blaine Baker (1952-2018)

Blaine Baker (2006)
Image by Claudio Calligaris.
Blaine Baker (circa early 90s)
Blaine Baker, circa 1980s
Published: 17 July 2018

The Faculty of Law has learned with deep sadness of the passing of Professor EmeritusG. Blaine Baker.

Professor Baker taught legal history, administrative law, and contract law at ۲ݮƵ University’s Faculty of Law for more than twenty-eight years. Prior to joining ۲ݮƵ in 1981, he studied law at the University of Western Ontario (LLB’78) and Columbia University (LLM’80), and he was a Bigelow Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. During his time at ۲ݮƵ, he served as associate dean (academic) from 1999 to 2001 and associate dean (graduate studies) from 1997 to 1999. He was named professor emeritus on his retirement in 2009.

A beloved teacher, Professor Baker received the John W. Durnford Teaching Excellence Award three times. His scholarship garnered him awards from the Canadian Law and Society Association, the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, the American Society for Legal History, and the Canadian Historical Association. He was a director or editorial board member of the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation, the Canadian Law and Society Association, Histoire sociale/Social History, the James ۲ݮƵ Society, the ۲ݮƵ Law Journal, the Montreal Bar, and the Wellington (Guelph) Law Association.

Over the course of his career, Professor Baker was scholar-in-residence at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and he acted per diem for the Attorney General of Ontario as a Superior Court Mandatory Mediator and as a License Appeal Tribunal member and adjudicator. He continued to co-teach courses at ۲ݮƵ many years after his retirement.

“Blaine Baker made extraordinary contributions to Canadian legal history and he was an outstanding, unforgettable teacher who cared deeply about his students,” said Dean Robert Leckey. “On behalf of the Faculty of Law, I extend my sympathies to his many friends, former colleagues and students.”

We invite you to share your thoughts and memories of Professor G. Blaine Baker in our Guest Book.

Commemoration ceremony

  • Friday, 7 September 2018, at 14:00
    Birks Heritage Chapel
    ۲ݮƵ University
    3520 University Street
    Montreal, Quebec

The Blaine Baker Entrance Scholarship

The Blaine Baker Entrance Scholarship was established in the Faculty of Law in 2013 by former students, friends, family, and colleagues of Blaine’s in recognition of his 30 years of service. It is awarded to one or more outstanding students entering the BCL/LLB program on the basis of high academic standing, with a preference for students having pursued prior graduate studies.

To discuss other types of donations in Prof. Baker's honour,please contact:

  • Heather Powers
    Director of Development
    Chancellor Day Hall, room 27
    3644 Peel Street
    Montreal, Quebec
    Canada H3A 1W9

    Tel.: 514-398-5054
    heather.powers [at] mcgill.ca (Email)

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