I sat down with Patricia Warsaba, K.C. of McKercher LLP to discuss receiving the 2023 Canadian Bar Association Saskatchewan Branch Community Service Award. The award recognizes outstanding dedication, service, and commitment to Saskatchewan communities. Here is what Patricia had to say about her community involvement:
What drove you to spend your time volunteering?
I grew up in a very small town in Manitoba called Ninga, with a population of about 80 people. In small towns community is prioritized. Volunteering and community involvement were demonstrated to me by my parents, who were involved in the local church and rink. Upon moving to Regina after graduation from University of Manitoba law school, volunteering was a way to meet people in a new city, especially through the Kin Clubs. The organizations that supported our family after the birth of our daughter with cerebral palsy made the importance of volunteering clear and personal. We volunteered for Telemiracle for many years and still marvel year after year to see how generous the people of Saskatchewan continue to be.
How has volunteering benefitted you professionally?
Volunteering puts you on the other side of the interactions lawyers usually have. It allows you to receive and act on advice you would normally give. You see advice move all the way to execution, which we don’t always see in practice. As a result, your advice improves. Your skills are also developed when you hold positions on boards and use those skills in a new capacity. Each board has its unique characteristics and is a new learning opportunity.
Why is it important for legal professionals to volunteer in their communities?
Lawyers have many privileges. We can use that privilege in positive ways. We think differently than other people and bring a different perspective to organizations. That brings value to volunteer positions.
Are there some volunteer roles that particularly benefitted from your legal training or were of particular significance to you?
Serving on the Regina Airport Authority Board stands out as it was the first board I served on that was not focused on fundraising. I was the youngest person on the board and Anne Phillips and I were the only women on the board. Our board oversaw the building of the new terminal. The importance of the airport to Regina’s economy can not be overstated.
I have also been the Chair of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. It gave me a firsthand look Saskatchewan’s economy is built on SMEs and how important a strong economy is for the benefit of all who need support of some kind in the province.
Being on the board of Creative Saskatchewan was also interesting. Our creative industries are important to our economy and culture. They help make Saskatchewan an interesting and desirable place to live.
I am presently on the board of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, currently going through a major plant renewal that will serve the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw for many years. I am also on the board of the RCMP Heritage Centre as we continue to move towards national status.
I know you served as a Trustee of the National Film Board of Canada and on the board of the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association. Could you speak to how you got involved in that area and your experience in it?
I always loved movies. There was almost no film industry in Saskatchewan when I started, and I was able to watch it grow throughout my career. That involvement grew into me being one of the only lawyers in the province who practices significantly in film law.
What advice do you have for lawyers wanting to become more effectively involved in their communities?
Just do it. There are many agencies and boards to choose from. And always be all in when you volunteer. You have the ability to make an impact and nothing is better than that.
Patricia Warsaba, K.C., is an experienced commercial and corporate lawyer and is the lead for McKercher LLP’s corporate department. She has a broad range of experience in every aspect of buying, selling, financing and operating businesses in a wide variety of industries, but with particular emphasis in agricultural industries, energy development, and entertainment.
Sydney Sulymka (she/her), is a Summer Student at McKercher LLP and a JD Candidate 2025 at Queen’s University Faculty of Law.