25 May 2018 – “I am proud of my Filipino heritage,” Madame Justice L. Bernette Ho declared in her remarks after taking her oath as the first Philippine-born and newest judge in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary.

 

Justice Ho took her oath of office and allegiance to H.M. The Queen in a swearing-in ceremony held Friday afternoon at the Ceremonial Court Room at the Calgary Courts Center before Associate Chief Justice John D. Rooke and the other justices.   Justice Rooke, in his introduction, praised Justice Ho as a valuable and welcome member of the bench who will share her extensive legal experience in Alberta’s judicial system.

 

Born in the Philippines, Bernette Ho was only seven months when her Filipino parents and four siblings migrated to straight to Calgary, Canada in 1971.  She is of Chinese descent and when her family arrived in Calgary, her father and mother opened the first Chinese restaurant in what is today the China town in the center of the city.

 

She completed all of her early education in Cochrane, Alberta. Justice Ho initially wanted to be journalist so she completed her B.A. (Honours) in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary (1992).  Her undergraduate theses on the sub judice rule in relation to the work of journalists encouraged her to complete an LL.B from the University of Alberta (1995). She was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1996. She articled and continued on as an associate and then partner at the firm Macleod Dixon LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP), working on a wide variety of litigation and regulatory matters before acting primarily for provincially regulated employers in relation to employment, human rights, privacy and disability matters. She also acted for energy companies in a wide variety of litigation and regulatory matters, particularly in relation to the electricity industry. While at the firm, she was actively involved in management, including serving on the firm's Articling Committee and Promotions Committee and acting as the Practice Group Leader for the Calgary Employment and Labour group. She appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, as well as various regulatory tribunals.

  

Justice Ho has long believed in the value of community service, as demonstrated by her volunteer efforts with such organizations as the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank, the Salvation Army, and Theatre Calgary, where she was a member of the Board of Directors. Professionally, Justice Ho has been a volunteer with the Alberta Bar Admission Course and with the Law Society of Alberta, where she served on the Professional Responsibility Committee and the Conduct Committee. At the time of her appointment, she was a member of the Board of Directors for the Legal Education Society of Alberta.

 

Consul General Gilberto Asuque attended the swearing-in ceremony and conveyed the congratulations of the Philippines and the Filipinos especially in Calgary on her assumption of judicial duties.   Consul General Asuque (photo right) expressed the great honor and pride of the Filipinos in Canada for having Justice Ho as the first Philippine-born Canadian to hold a high judicial position.

 

Justice Ho, her mother Angeline (who has 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren), eldest brother Michael, and three sisters (she is  the youngest) welcomed guests, fellow justices, Filipino friends, and members of bar in Alberta at a reception at the Calgary Petroleum Club