Peter Bark Bursary
The Peter Bark Professional Development Bursary was established by VALL to commemorate Peter Bark and his contribution to VALL and law librarianship. The Bursary assists VALL members in attending meetings or conferences of library associations, such as the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, or other library-related workshops or professional development.
The fund is sustained by donations from individuals, law book publishers and grants from VALL.
For more information about Peter Bark, please read his obituary, published in The Advocate, (1991) 49: 155-16. Thank you to The Advocate magazine for permission to post this article.
Guidelines for applicants
Value: The value of the Bursary is an amount to be determined by the VALL Executive. There may be more than one successful applicant per year.
Eligibility: VALL members of at least a year’s standing are eligible to apply. Members who have received the bursary previously are eligible to apply. Members of the current executive are eligible to apply. Student members are not eligible for the Peter Bark Bursary. Financial circumstances of applicant(s) will be considered. Preference will be given to applicants demonstrating financial need and those attending a professional conference for the first time, or who have conference responsibilities, or who are active in VALL or in the law library community. However, all members of a year’s standing or more are encouraged to apply.
Conditions: Recipients may be expected to attend particular sessions at the conference as VALL representatives. Recipients may report back to the VALL membership at the June or subsequent meeting with an oral report on conference activities (this condition is not mandatory) and provide a written submission for the VALL Review.
Apply by email to the current Vice President. Applications should include a brief description of the event and the reasons why you wish to attend (including conference responsibilities, if any). Attach a letter from your employer indicating extent of financial support from your firm/institution.
Please provide information on the conference or course you would like to attend, as well as associated costs, in your application. Applications will be reviewed as they come in.
2022: Not awarded
2021 Recipients
Erin Clupp, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada
2020 Recipients
Julie Wettstein, Farris LLP
Ronit Barenboim, BLG
Brenda Alm, Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation
2019 Recipients
Beth Galbraith, Clark Wilson LLP
Jen Brubacher, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
2018 Recipients
Andy Froese, Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
Stef Alexandru, Lawson Lundell LLP
2017 Recipients
Emily Nickerson, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada
Sarah Sutherland, CanLII
Evelyn Taylor, Canada Dept. of Justice
2016 Recipients
Joni Sherman, Canada Dept. of Justice
Paula Becker, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
Brenda Alm, Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation
Alexandria Everitt, Harris & Company
2015 Recipients
Jennifer Townsend, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
2014 Recipients
Sarah Sutherland, CanLII
Bronwyn Guiton, Lawson Lundell LLP
2013 Recipients
Rebecca Slaven, Courthouse Libraries BC
2012 Recipients
Sarah Munro, Singleton Urquhart LLP
Susannah Tredwell, Lawson Lundell LLP
Carolyn Petrie, Bull Housser & Tupper, LLP
2011 Recipients
Mica Donnelly, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
2010 Recipient
Agathe Holowatinc, Lawson Lundell LLP
2009 Recipient
Andy Froese, Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
2008 Recipients
Graeme Dempsey, Lawson Lundell LLP
Gabriella Barsoum, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Christina Tribe, Harper Grey LLP
2007 Recipients
Thea Schmidt, B.C. Courthouse Library Society
Kathy Barry, Farris LLP
2006: Not awarded
2005 Recipients
Debbie Benson, Clark, Wilson
Lynda Roberts, Bull, Housser & Tupper
2004 Recipient
Sarah Munro, B.C. Courthouse Library Society
2003 Recipient
Frances Wong, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
2002 Recipient
Larisa Titova, Lawson Lundell
2001 Recipient
Cynthia Bartholomew, Legal Services Society
2000: Not awarded
1999 Recipient
Gillian Crabtree, Ferguson Gifford
1998: Not awarded
1997 Recipient
Chris Taylor, B.C. Courthouse Library Society
1996 Recipient
Tracy Carmichael, B.C. Courthouse Library Society
1995 Recipient
Greg Wurzer, Sage Information Systems
1994 Recipient
Shirley Hyndman, Richards, Buell, Sutton
1993 Recipient
Bronwen Jamison, Bull, Housser & Tupper
1992 Recipient
Susan Crysler, McCarthy Tetrault
