John S. Fitzpatrick
John S. Fitzpatrick, Q.C. is a senior partner at BOYNECLARKE LLP. Over his 30 year legal career, John has been a committed volunteer for a myriad of community and professional organizations, who have benefited from his energy and commitment.
John graduated with a BA in Political Science from Saint Mary’s University and an LLB from Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law.
For John, Saint Mary’s University has always been close to his heart. John has served on the Board of Governors for 20 years, with eight years as Chair and Vice-Chair. John served on and chaired, a multitude of Board committees. He was a member of the Hearts and Minds Campaign Cabinet. He also chaired the 2015 Presidential Search Committee. In recognition of his commitment to students, he was awarded an honorary “Gold M” by the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association.
A tireless advocate for literacy causes, John is the past Chair and Co-Chair of several Peter Gzowski Golf Tournaments for Literacy. For ten years, John served on the Board of Directors and Executive of ABC Canada Literacy Foundation (now ABC Life Literacy) in Toronto.
For more than 20 years, John has been actively involved in politics, having served as a regional chair for Federal and Provincial leadership and election campaigns and as past president and executive member of Federal and Provincial riding associations.
In recognition of his volunteerism John has received the Canada 125 Medal, the Peter Gzowski Award, and the Canadian Bar Association Community Service Award. He is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Appointed Queens Counsel in 2008, John’s distinguished career in law has been recognized by the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association and the Schulich School of Law, as a recipient of the Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service and as an inductee into the Bertha Wilson Honor Society. Since 2012, John has been selected by his peers to be included in “Best Lawyers in Canada”.
He is currently a member of the National Board of Directors for World Wildlife Fund Canada and the Halifax International Airport Authority. He is also a member of the advisory committee for Queens Counsel Appointments.
John resides in Halifax with his wife Heather, and their three children Laura, Jennifer and Andrew. John’s father, Ed, is a proud 1953 Saint Mary’s graduate.