N. Alan Jones JD and I were called to the bar and certified as members in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada after having completed our studies at Osgoode Hall, Toronto on March 1, 1975.  I began practicing law as a sole practitioner in Almonte on March 1, 1978 after having wrapped up my Articles at Macdonald, Affleck, Barrs. &c. in Ottawa in 1976 and having been employed briefly as a junior solicitor at Messrs. Galligan & Sheffield, Barrs. &c. in Almonte.

Jones practiced in nearby Carleton Place which like Almonte is also within the County of Lanark. Very early in my practice I lunched with Jones and Cindy Edmonds who was then a Legal Assistant to Paul D. Courtice JD (now deceased). Latterly Edmonds joined Jones as his senior Legal Assistant. Both of them are satirical. Their infectious humour requires one to remain sharp to detect the innuendo. As I once heard it jokingly said of Grant Campbell QC, and what might well be said of the two of them, “He practiced law with the contempt it deserves!” But aside from that humour, Jones and Edmonds are considered local authorities in the practice of law.  They have represented a number of distinguished business clients and together they make a formidable team but always one with whom to expect the utmost cooperation and assistance. As I also heard it said years ago by Pierre Lamoureux JD, they are “in the business of team making not team braking”.  I personally always enjoyed our transactions together. They were and are a credit to the distinction of rural legal practitioners.

Today I learned from Jones that Edmonds had fallen at home and demolished her shoulder in the process.  After having laid immobile on the floor for 1½ days (by which time Jones became anxious about her continued absence from the office) an ambulance was called and she was taken to the Almonte General Hospital before being transported to the Ottawa Civic Hospital for reconstructive surgery.

Significantly in this otherwise mournful tale both Jones and Edmonds continue to this day to practice law in Carleton Place. I reminded Jones when he called today to inform me of Edmonds’ disastrous fall that I met my predecessor Raymond A. Jamieson QC in 1976 when he was 84 years old and still practicing law.  I visited Jamieson from time to time and recall that until his death in 1996 he continued to maintain his sardonic humour (and drinking alcohol). I mention his alcohol consumption because, when I removed from Jamieson’s office at 74 Mill St to my new office at 77 Little Bridge St, I discovered secreted on the book shelves behind the huge volumes of Halsbury’s Law of England and the Revised Statutes of Ontario untold numbers of partially empty booze bottles. This also explained the equally unique storage of a hide-a-bed in the walk-in vault!

Jones has no intention of retiring from the practice of law. And he expects that Edmonds will return to the office in a couple of months. I applaud them both. Jones and I agreed that almost every lawyer with whom we both practiced law in the County of Lanark has died or become demented. As we approach that critical date of March 1, 2025 the celebrated length of Jones and Edmonds practicing law for 50 years approaches. Often Jones and I have shared the glib recommendation that “we must get together for lunch sometime soon” but of course we never have (though he, Edmonds and I have often spoken at length on the telephone as we did today).

I ceased to practice law on March 1, 2014. This of course makes me the weak link in this notable chain of detail particularly because I shall be here on Hilton Head Island until April next. In the meantime I wanted to reflect (howsoever obliquely and historically) upon Edmonds’ calamity from which I have no doubt she shall arise with her customary vigour and dedication. This is hardly the first time Edmonds has had to deal with obstruction of one sort or another.