David Gerald Newman, (born August 18, 1944) is a

lawyer A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters. The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...

and former politician in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

. Since December 1999, after service in public office, he returned to private practice at the law firm Pitblado LLP. Newman serves as an advocate, negotiator and dispute resolver. Newman serves as a facilitator of restorative justice processes and as an educator and servant leader in the field of peace, conflict resolution and human rights.

Early life and education

The son of Walter C. Newman and Jean MacHray, he was born in

, Manitoba and educated at the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...

and

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus ...

, receiving an LL.B. from the latter institution in 1968. He joined the law firm of ''Newman, MacLean'' in 1968, and became a partner in 1973. He was called to the Manitoba bar in 1969. Newman founded the firm of ''Newman & Company'' in 1978, and was a senior partner in ''Pitblado and Hoskin'' (now Pitblado LLP) from 1985 to 1995, serving as its Managing Partner 1987-88 and Chairman after 1989-95. He also served as Chair of the Manitoba

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...

in 1989-90, and President of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg 1994-95 and co-founder and vice-chair 2003 and co-chair since 2009 of Rotary International District 5550 World Peace Partners. In 1970, Newman married Barbara Sherwood.

Career

Newman served as a member of the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba () is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at List of Manitoba genera ...

for Riel Constituency as a Progressive Conservative from 1995 to 1999, and was a

cabinet minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ' prime minister', ' p ...

from 1997 to 1999. In 1996, as legislative assistant to the Minister of Justice, Newman chaired a task force looking into the restructuring of Manitoba's civil justice system. The Manitoba Civil Justice Review Task Force Report September 1996 resulted. He entered cabinet on January 6, 1997, serving as Manitoba Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister of Northern Affairs, with responsibility for Native Affairs, the Communities Economic Development Fund Act and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Newman returned to his legal practice in 1999 after his service as an elected official, with Pitblado LLP. He was named

Queen's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

in 1999.

Awards

Newman has been honoured for his work as a servant leader through some of the following awards: * Canada 125 Commemorative Medal (1992) for volunteer service to compatriots, community and Canada * Harry Mardon Award for outstanding service by a director to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (2007) * 2008 Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service from the Dalhousie Law Alumni Association * Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newman, David 1944 births Schulich School of Law alumni Living people Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba Politicians from Winnipeg Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Canadian King's Counsel 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba