Ron Skolrood (BA '83)
2016 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Recognized for his integrity and impassioned approach to law, the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald A. Skolrood (BA '83) has made significant contributions to his profession, earning a position on the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2013 after a 25-year career practising law. Skolrood spent the entirety of his practising life at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver, B.C., and is known as a contemplative and thoughtful lawyer, concerned with principle and the way in which his work might promote the values of justice and fairness. These qualities are reflected in his judgements and he is well-respected by peers and colleagues from across the country.
Over the years, Skolrood has put an emphasis on giving back to his community. He has shared his time generously through countless volunteer hours serving professional and community organizations alike. He has spent many years mentoring students and junior associates, and as a board member and Chair of organizations including the British Columbia Law Institute, Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of British Columbia’s Special Compensation Fund Committee and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association among others. His dedication to serving and advancing the legal profession has been recognized with numerous awards including Mentor of the Year, the Lexpert Zenith Gold Award for pro bono contributions in Civil Liberties, and Best Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver, and he was appointed to the Queen’s Counsel in 2012.
His generous volunteerism has been spread equally as far-reaching in his community. He is an avid supporter of his children’s sports teams, coaching, managing or sitting on the executives, often taking on several roles at a time. Outside of the sports community, he has committed more than a decade to the Ryerson United Church’s council where he sat in a variety of positions. Academically, he has been a guest lecturer teaching courses at the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University Law School and served as a course group leader at the University of British Columbia.
Although Skolrood built his career in British Columbia, he has deep roots that tie him to his home town of Lethbridge. After graduating from the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in 1979, he attended the University of Lethbridge where his father, Dr. Harold Skolrood, was a founding member of the Faculty of Education. While Skolrood worked toward his BA in English, he was involved in many extracurricular activities on campus. He played on the Pronghorns men’s volleyball team and was named the top scholastic athlete for one season, sat on the Students’ Union Executive Council as Vice President (Internal) and was a founding member of a university-based summer theatre group. He was a very active member of the U of L community and continued to be highly engaged in the communities in which he lived and worked long after he graduated.
Because of his distinguished professional achievements and dedication to his family and community, Skolrood is a shining example of how one person can make a significant contribution to a community and on a larger scale, to society by being generous with their time and talents.