Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2
John was Chief Executive Officer/Managing Partner at Stewart McKelvey for more than 12 years. An experienced board chair and member, community leader and a skilled and respected legal counsel, John is a leader in every sense.
With unquestioned integrity and decades of legal, business and management experience, John is known for being entrepreneurial and strategic with exceptional problem-solving, consensus building and people skills. Throughout his time as CEO, he enhanced Stewart McKelvey’s position as Atlantic Canada’s leading law firm and led the firm to year over year growth. He has a track record of successfully managing a large business and forging strong relationships with clients and colleagues who view him as strategic, trusted and innovative.
John is actively involved in his community. He is currently serving as: chair of the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Pension Plan Trustee Inc and director of Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation. John has also served as: chair and governor of Acadia University; Interim CEO of Halifax Partnership; CEO of North American Indigenous Games 2020; chair and director of IWK Health Centre; director of the Nova Scotia Health Authority; trustee of Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund; chair and director of United Way Halifax; chair and director of Halifax Chamber of Commerce; campaign co-chair of United Way Halifax; division chair Marketing and Sponsorship and director of 2011 Halifax Canada Winter Games Host Society; member of Advisory Panel to Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness on District Health Authority Consolidation; director of Junior Achievement of Canada Foundation; Halifax corporate campaign chair of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; director of Friends of the Public Gardens; member of Canadian Bar Association Entity Regulation Working Group; and director and secretary of Discovery Centre.
An avid traveler, runner, cyclist and skier, John hopes to qualify to run the Boston Marathon for a third time. He gets refreshed by canoeing the back country of Nova Scotia and some of Canada’s greatest white water rivers.
Education & Career
Education
Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD.D, January 2016
ICD-Rotman, Directors Education Program, January 2016
Dalhousie University, LLB, 1983
Queen’s University, Graduate Studies, 1979-1980
Acadia University, BA (Honours), 1979
Activities
Chief executive officer, Stewart McKelvey, 2008 – 2015
CEO, North American Indigenous Games, 2020, 2019 – 2021
Board of governors, Acadia University, 2009 – 2021; chair, 2016 – 2021; officer and secretary, 2014 – 2016
Chair, Nova Scotia Teachers’ Pension Plan Trustee Inc., 2020 – present
Board of Directors, Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation, 2021 – present
Board of directors, United Way Halifax, 2013 – 2019; chair, 2015 – 2017
Board of directors, Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2015 – 2020
Member, Minister’s Advisory Panel on District Health Authority Consolidation (NS Health and Wellness), 2014
Board of trustees, Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund, 2014 – 2019
Director, Junior Achievement of Canada Foundation, 2007 – 2017
Chair, Board of Directors, IWK Health Centre, 2009 – 2011; Vice-chair and director, 2005 – 2009
Co-chair, 2012 and 2013 campaigns, United Way of Halifax Region
Director, Halifax 2011 Canada Winter Games Host Society, 2008 – 2011
Board of directors, Halifax Chamber of Commerce, 2007 – 2010; chair, 2007 – 2008
Managing partner, Halifax, Stewart McKelvey, 2003 – 2008
Member, Stewart McKelvey partnership board, 2000 – 2015
Co-chair, Department of Justice Liaison Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, 2008 – 2009
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Institute of Corporate Directors
Accolades
King’s Counsel, 2002
Martindale-Hubbell rating: AV Preeminent® (highest peer rating)
Publications
“Cross Canada Case Law Update: A Year in Review Look At Key Decisions On Evidence, Privilege, Misrepresentation & More – Atlantic Canada”, Litigating Disability Insurance Claims Conference, November 3 – 4, 2003, Toronto, Ontario
Case Comment with J. C. K. Stobie: “Notice to Mortgagee of Expiry of a Fire Insurance Policy: Bank of Nova Scotia v. Commercial Union Assurance Company of Canada, Canadian Insurance Law Review, Vol.5, No.3, pp.299-305
June 01, 1995
The Use of Evidence in Civil Litigation: Presentation to “Developments in Evidence Law:”, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia
February 24, 1995