Steven Dribnenki is the new CBA Saskatchewan President, his term having officially begun on September 1, 2023, running through until August 31, 2023. The Saskatchewan Branch is pleased to have Steven commence his role as President and we look forward to the year ahead. For members of CBA Saskatchewan, we’re pleased to give you a brief introduction to the new President.
Brief Background
Steven currently works at City of Regina as Legal Counsel, of which he is part of the litigation team specifically handling assessment appeals, arbitrations, and other forms of complex or unique litigation.
Steven was previously Legal Counsel at the Brandt Group of Companies, representing Brandt in its dealings across Canada and United States, working on litigation, corporate law, and privacy law matters. From 2014 to 2020, he was Legal and Policy Advisor with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), a municipal organization representing cities, towns, villages, and northern communities across Saskatchewan. Prior to that, he worked with McKercher LLP. Steven received both his Bachelor of Laws (2005) and Bachelor of Arts (2006, with distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan and was called to the Saskatchewan Bar in 2008.
Steven is married to his lovely wife Carolyn, and they have two wonderful children, Emma and Jacob. Some of his hobbies include all things dad-related, including singing ABC’s and various other children’s classics. He’s also an avid guitar player and vocalist, having been in a few rock bands as a younger man.
Fun fact: one of the first things Carolyn and Steven did to prepare to move from Regina from Saskatoon in 2007 was acquire Saskatchewan Roughriders season tickets, which they have retained ever since!
Q&A with Steven:
Q: What drew you to getting involved in CBA?
A: For me, there were many people throughout my professional career who were big CBA advocates. From my time with McKercher LLP, David Thera, K.C., and Nicholas Cann, K.C. emphasized the importance of community service in general and specifically getting involved with the CBA.
When I was hired by SUMA, I was the first in-house lawyer. It was almost like being a sole practitioner, so I was in need of a community of legal professionals. That’s when I met Jayne Kreuger of the Office of the City Solicitor, City of Regina and Mr. Justice Neil Robertson, a former CBA-SK President, who both really kickstarted my deep involvement with the CBA.
In 2014, Jayne was the Chair of the CBA-SK Public Sector and Municipal Law section and encouraged me to get involved with the section, even letting me take her place at the CBA National Municipal Law Section meeting in Ottawa. I really enjoyed the experience and became section chair. Later, I was elected to the National Municipal Law Section Executive and served as national section chair. All this stemmed from Jayne’s encouragement! Before Justice Robertson was appointed, he provided me with valuable, informal mentorship in municipal law practice, and supported and encouraged me to get involved in the CBA in ever increasing roles. This was so important in developing and building confidence as a young lawyer.
All in all, what I really needed was an opportunity to connect to people and the profession, interaction with my peers and colleagues, and the CBA provided that absolutely.
Q: Do you have specific priorities for your year as President that you want to focus on?
A: During my term, I hope to focus on “Great Jobs and Good Works”, promoting the opportunities in law and highlighting the good work that lawyers in Saskatchewan do in their communities. In support of this, I will be working on these specific priorities:
Supporting Students and New Lawyers
The Saskatchewan legal profession is facing challenges like the labour shortage, hiring gap, and succession planning. These challenges pose even greater risks for firms in smaller cities and towns. I see the CBASK having an important role in connecting with students, articling students, and new lawyers, to ensure they have the mentoring and networking opportunities to encourage them to make their career in Saskatchewan.
Technology
Technology has helped CBASK and law firms overcome the challenges of the pandemic but newly emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, create both risk and opportunity. It’s important we continue the discussion on technology and how it’s used in the profession of law, opportunities it presents, and challenges it could pose.
Truth and Reconciliation
CBA-SK has an opportunity to get working on the next phase of its response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and working towards understanding the truth and building reconciliation. It’s important we focus on continuing to respond to the calls to action, identifying success stories and lifting people up who are driving this forward.
I see the CBA-SK’s role in achieving results in these areas as being based in its great interconnectivity among professionals and in bringing people together. Sections deliver great content and opportunities for members to gather, and our premier annual Mid-Winter Meeting offers education, inspiration, and networking. Both CBA National and CBA-SK also support the profession through mental health and wellbeing initiatives and help provide the crucial connections that we all need to thrive.
Q: With your Presidential term having just begun, what are you most looking forward to throughout the year?
A: I’m really looking forward to contributing to moving CBA-SK forward. I think it’s important that we don’t stop thinking about tomorrow. There’s a demographic shift happening in the Saskatchewan legal community, and these new lawyers are going to be the leaders of the future as firm partners, or in politics, health, and education, so it’s important we engage with them now.
Being President of CBA-SK allows me to get out there, encourage young lawyers, talk to people, and learn about what’s happening in our communities, while spreading messages of positivity across Saskatchewan!
Q: As a longstanding CBA volunteer, what do you think the most valuable resource offered by CBA is?
A: In short, connection! CBA offers a space for collegiality in the profession, and an opportunity for all members of the law community to be an inspiration for the future, so hopefully young people will see law as an interesting and extremely valuable and important career. By being part of the largest legal professional association in Canada, your voice has an impact and can inspire change.
Q: What would you say to other lawyers looking to get involved with CBA?
A: Do it! You’ll truly value volunteering the more you do it. The sense of giving back to the community and profession is fulfilling but it also offers a leg up in your professional career.
Find what it is you’re really interested in with the CBA and choose your own path. There are so many ways to get involved, focus on what you like, whether it's by practice area, professional development, or committee - the list goes on!
The sense of connection is so strong with CBA, and for me it certainly reinforces the importance of interaction and collegiality that we all need.
Final thoughts
As we wrapped up our discussion, Steven expressed his appreciation for outgoing Past President, Reché McKeague, K.C., who he’s known since law school, and President Jana Linner K.C., noting that having these two people to learn from as they guided the organization has been beneficial and inspiring, much like the wonderful group who continue to sit on the Board.
Steven also wanted to acknowledge and thank the CBASK staff (who make everyone on the Board all look good), Council, Section Chairs, and CBASK volunteers for their great work, and Ryan Klassen, Jennifer Pereira, K.C., and Evatt Merchant, K.C. for their support in his run for the Treasurer position.
In closing, we discussed that the Board alignment is great, but there is also space for discussion and constructive feedback, which makes the role very enjoyable, and allows all of us to build on an already very strong foundation which was laid by all those who came before.
Nicola Reynolds works p/t as the Executive Director for the CBA PEI Branch and assists CBA-SK with communications.