The Gold A Standard: Calling and Community

For Gordon Meurin, KC, ‘67 LLB the journey to a distinguished 50-year career in litigation law began with a sense of adventure and a willingness to pivot. When he arrived at the University of Alberta in 1960 as an 18-year-old freshman, he was ready to make his mark, though his path was far from linear.

Meurin initially enrolled in the engineering program. While he describes himself with characteristic modesty as "an okay student" and "not an exceptional scholar," his impact on campus life was undeniable.

In 1964, driven by a long-held wish of his father’s, Meurin made the transition from engineering to law.

"My dad had always expressed that he wanted to be a lawyer," Meurin recalls.

Meurin was a powerhouse of extracurricular engagement, serving on the Engineering Student Society, the Law Student Society, the University Student Council, and his fraternity. This dedication to the university community did not go unnoticed; before he graduated, he was honoured with a Gold A ring for outstanding extracurricular student activities.

While he initially aimed to be a corporate lawyer, and practiced in that field for two years, he realized he didn’t care for it and pivoted again to find his true professional calling in litigation.

“If you plan on being a success, you have to do something you enjoy doing,” he says.

Reflecting on those formative years, Meurin is quick to point out that the value of his education went beyond textbooks and lectures.

"The best part of university was the friends I made," he says.

Among those friends was James Alexander Bryce Burgess or “Sandy” as he was known to his friends and classmates. Since he was a quadriplegic, his classmates created a schedule to ensure he was taken to and from his classes each day. It embodied the sense of community and collegiality that the Faculty of Law at the U of A is known for.

“I lived far from campus and couldn’t be a part of that service, so I took notes for him,” Meurin says.

“He had a marvelous new invention at the time, an electric typewriter, and he would type on it with a stick in his mouth and then he would give me the typed version of my notes the next day.”

Burgess passed away shortly after his class graduated. His loss deeply affected his classmates, but rather than letting his memory fade, they chose to transform their grief into a lasting tribute. In 1971, classmates, teachers, and friends established the James Alexander Bryce (“Sandy”) Burgess Memorial Award.

By endowing this award, Meurin and his classmates have ensured that future generations of law students will be supported not just for their grades, but for their character and resilience.

To carry forward this enduring legacy of giving back to support the next generation of lawyers and changemakers, Meurin and his wife Linda have recently established the Gordon Meurin, KC Endowment in Law. The fund is designated to provide support for faculty, staff, students, research, programs and other priority initiatives to advance excellence in the Faculty of Law — a flexible fund dedicated to addressing the Faculty’s most urgent needs while empowering future students to reach their full potential, just as Meurin himself did.

Meurin has also committed to growing the fund through a future gift in his will, ensuring its impact continues to expand over time. This remarkable seven-figure commitment will create meaningful learning opportunities and shape lives for generations to come.

“I was able to make a good living at law and if I can help someone else make a start, that’s just fine with me,” says Meurin.

“It’s just a matter of giving back. If you have been successful, you give back to what contributed to you becoming a success.”

As both a student and a lawyer, Meurin’s journey has been defined by service and a deep commitment to building community. Through the Gordon Meurin, KC Endowment in Law, these values will continue to shape the future - opening doors, strengthening the pursuit of justice, and extending opportunity well beyond the walls of the law school for many years to come.

If you would like to make a gift to the Faculty of Law, please contact Assistant Dean, Development, Raishel Madsen, at raishel@ualberta.ca or 780-719-7941.