Stanley Harwood McCuaig

Stanley Harwood McCuaig MC QC LLD
20th President of the Canadian Bar Association
In office 1948–1949
Preceded by	John Thomas Hackett, KC
Succeeded by	A.N. Carter, K.C., LL.D.
President of the Law Society of Alberta
In office 1952–1953
Preceded by	Laurence Yeomans Cairns, QC, LL.D.
Succeeded by	Everett James Chambers, QC
Personal details
Born	February 11, 1891 Bainsville, Ontario
Died	1986 (aged 94–95) Edmonton, Alberta
Nationality	Canadian
Spouse	Hazel Rutherford
Relations	Alexander Rutherford, former Premier of Alberta (father-in-law)
Children	Eric Alexander Duncan McCuaig, Q.C. (1920-2015) Ruth McCuaig Bate (died 1983) Helen "Honey" Rutherford McEvoy (née McCuaig) (1924-2016) Harwood Stanley McCuaig (1926-2015)
Alma mater	Queen's University
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Canadian Army
Branch/service	Royal Canadian Artillery
Years of service	1917–18
Battles/wars	World War I: Western Front

Stanley Harwood McCuaig, MC QC (February 11, 1891 – 1986), was a prominent Canadian lawyer in Edmonton, Alberta.

Early life and education

McCuaig was born at Bainsville, Ontario, the son of Duncan Donald McCuaig. He was educated at Williamstown, Ontario and then attended Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, graduating with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1913. Following graduation, he moved west to Edmonton, Alberta, where he became a law student, articled to Alexander Rutherford, the former Premier of Alberta.

Military service

On April 20, 1917, at Lethbridge, Alberta McCuaig enlisted in the Canadian Army, joining the Canadian Field Artillery (78th Depot Battery) of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. He fought on the Western Front with the Canadian Corps and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action.

Marriage and family

Hazel Rutherford, who married McCuaig in 1919.

After the war, McCuaig returned to Edmonton and resumed working with Rutherford. In 1919, McCuaig married Rutherford's daughter, Hazel Rutherford. Together, the couple had four children: two sons and two daughters.

McCuaig and his family were long-time members of First Presbyterian Church of Edmonton.

Law career

McCuaig practised with the Rutherford firm for many years, but, in 1939, he left to establish his own firm, McCuaig, Desrochers, Beckingham & McDonald, which continues today as McCuaig Desrochers LLP. In 1948, his son Eric McCuaig joined the firm. McCuaig practised law in Edmonton for almost 60 years, setting very high practice standards for himself and for the firm.

In 1949 and 1950, McCuaig was the president of the Canadian Bar Association, a voluntary professional association of lawyers across Canada. From 1952-53, he served as the President of the Law Society of Alberta, the regulatory body for lawyers in Alberta. Some twenty years later, his son Eric McCuaig was also elected President of the Law Society.

In 1949, Queen's University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The Dr. Stanley Harwood McCuaig Scholarship is awarded at Queen's Law School to students with high standing in courses in Property Law, Business Associations and Commercial Law.