Wood was admitted in a ceremony at the Drumheller Court House on Friday, September 24. The presiding judge was Mr. Justice A.G. Park, Supervising Justice for the Judicial District of Drumheller/Hanna.
“I became convinced that Gary has an excellent aptitude for the law. More importantly, from the way he moved through the law society exams and with the way he moved through law school, it would appear he is extremely intelligent, and not the least bit arrogant. He is an enthusiastic person,” Justice Parks commented in his remarks.
Wood, 47, has been in Drumheller for less than a year. Originally from the UK, he worked as a Crown Prosecutor for 15 years. Although he was actively practising law in the UK, he needed to have his law degree accredited in Canada before he could practise. This include articling. Typically, it takes 12 months. He was able to apply to the Law Society of Alberta for abridgement of articles, and in June, with four weeks notice, he was able to take the Alberta Bar Reinstatement Exam, in fact a series of six exams, and he passed.
In Drumheller, Harry Gough QC was Wood’s Principal, and local members of the bar, as well as members of Wood’s family, and friends were at the ceremony.
Woods is now able to practise law in Alberta and Canada.