Joe Arvay, Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia, Queen’s Counsel, died of a heart attack suddenly on the weekend, age 71.
As this article in the Tyee indicates, if you’re a Canadian, your society has been touched by court decisions won by Joe Arvay:
- sexual orientation as a protected ground;
- rights of the disabled;
- right for medically aided death;
- free speech challenges to pornography restrictions;
- equality challenge to exclusion of gay friendly books from school libraries;
- challenges to solitary confinement;
- challenges to civil forfeiture laws;
- treating drug addictions as health issues, not criminal issues.
And he did it all from his wheelchair, being rendered paraplegic age 21 in a serious car crash.
Rest in peace, learned friend.