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Lorne Laidlaw, engaged in
the practice of law at Medicine Hat as senior partner in the firm of
Laidlaw, Blanchard, Deif & Niblock, was made a King's Counsel in 1921.
He prepared for his professional career in Manitoba, where he was
reared, having located in that province in his boyhood days. his birth
occurred in Kitchener, Ontario, February 6, 1882, his parents being
Gideon D. and Jane (Huber) Laidlaw, who were natives of Scotland and of
Ontario, respectively. They were married in Ontario and the father
engaged for some time in manufacturing at Brampton, while later he
removed to Brandon, Manitoba, where he was also identified with
manufacturing interests. He died in Toronto. His widow now resides in
Winnipeg. He was a Conservative in his political views and fraternally
was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his
wife held membership in the Presbyterian church.
Lorne Laidlaw was the
fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children and was educated
in the schools of Brandon and in the Collegiate Institute and college
there. Determining to make the practice of law his life work he became a
student in the office and under the direction of the law firm of Sifton
& Philp at Brandon and in 1908 was admitted to the bar. He began
practice in Brandon, where he remained until 1911 and then removed to
Medicine Hat, where he formed a partnership with D. G. White, a relation
that was maintained for two years. A peculiar thing about the
partnership, however, was that Mr. White never practiced law a day after
Mr. Laidlaw entered the firm. The latter came here unacquainted but
built up a large practice for the firm and following the death of Mr.
White he admitted C. S. Blanchard to a partnership, while since that
time two others have become members of the firm, which is now Laidlaw,
Blanchard, Deif & Niblock. Mr. Laidlaw is recognized as one of the
strongest representatives of the bar in this section of the province,
possessing comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence.
In 1910 Mr. Laidlaw was
married to Miss May Hall, who was born in Brandon, Manitoba, a daughter
of Robert Hall, manager of, the loan department of a trust company. Mr.
and Mrs. Laidlaw have three children: Robert and Jane, who are in
school; and Lorne Alexander. The parents are members of the Presbyterian
church and in political faith Mr. Laidlaw is a Liberal. He is a past
president of the Liberal Association and also a past president of the
Board of Trade. He belongs to the Cypress Club, of which he has been
president, and his marked ability causes him to be called to positions
of leadership in almost all of the organizations with which he is
identified. He is a farsighted, broadminded man, holding to progressive
opinions in relation to all that pertains to the public welfare, while
his position in professional circles has become a most gratifying one.
His developing powers have brought him to the front rank among the
barristers of Alberta, nor is his practice by any means confined to
Medicine Hat. It takes him into the other provinces of the Dominion and
he is regarded as one of the eminent barristers of the country. |
