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RIP Stephen Harfield

Tracy C Brown

Executive
view Arbitrator profile
Brown Law Group
Edmonton, Alberta

I was so shocked and saddened to receive the most unexpected news on Sunday that our Edmonton/Sherwood Park colleague Stephen Harfield had passed away on Sept. 29th. We were just talking and emailing about a file and some CBA committee work -- how could this be?! He was only 41.

Ken mentioned that Stephen was the most prolific poster on Family Counsel and so many of us have benefited almost daily from his impressive intellect and generosity in sharing his knowledge of even the most obscure legislative and legal detail!

Working on a crazy file with him this last year, and our 4 hours of quality time together on the drive to Jasper for the Family Law Refresher, I came to really appreciate his quirky deadpan humor and always reasonable and pragmatic approach to lawyering - even on those difficult files. He was always collaborative and always exemplary in his civility.

My most sincere condolences to those who were his close friends. But even for those of us who were just colleagues of Stephen it's such a tremendous loss.

Stephen’s obituary is here. https://www.echovita.com/ca/obituaries/ab/edmonton/stephen-harfield-17021116

19 6 months ago

Alex Kubish

Queck & Associates
Sherwood Park, Alberta

It was a shocking and very difficult day at Queck & Associates when we heard the news last week. Stephen was a mentor to me as a junior lawyer, and we chatted often at the office about his varied interests (legal and otherwise). He will be greatly missed.

9 6 months ago - edited 6 months ago

Darren Cahoon

Hamilton Cahoon
Medicine Hat, Alberta

So shocking and untimely. I first met Stephen when he practiced in Medicine Hat and have kept in touch with him on and off since. He was always so knowledgeable and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with colleagues and friends in the legal profession. My heartfelt condolences go out to those affected by this loss.

6 6 months ago

Ken Proudman

Executive
view Arbitrator profile
BARR LLP
Edmonton, Alberta

Well said Tracy. I'm still processing this, it's so unexpected and sad, he was so young. Tracy is correct, Stephen was the most frequent commenter on this website, by quite a bit. He helped hundreds of lawyers through his willingness to share his wealth of knowledge. I'm sure that we'll continue to benefit from his comments on old threads. He was also on the CBA's Legislation & Law Reform Committee and AFLA's Practice & Precedents Committee. The family law community has suffered an enormous loss, I've lost a friend, and I can't imagine how his wife and family must be feeling. RIP Stephen.

10 6 months ago - edited 6 months ago

Mimi Simon
Ozerna Family Law
Edmonton, Alberta

I am really very shocked. I may not have agreed with everything he said, but he said it well and he was very reasoned and generous with his willingness to answer. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. RIP Stephen

5 6 months ago

	Imran Bhutta In House Counsel Sylvan Lake, Alberta Hard to believe this. RIP Stephen. Hard to believe this. RIP Stephen. Edit Reset 3 6 months ago

	Clive David Clidel Law Office Edmonton , Alberta Sadden by the news. Worked with him on a file. Beautiful soul. Sadden by the news. Worked with him on a file. Beautiful soul. Edit Reset 3 6 months ago

Sierra Yanush

view Arbitrator profile
Bell and Stock LLP
Calgary, Alberta

I'm shedding tears in my office reading this. Stephen and I took the AFMS Mediation Training together online. It was so great to get input from a practitioner in a different city with a different way of doing things. He talked me into buying an insanely large tome on mediation, and then I found out after he hadn't actually read it, but it was in his "to read" pile. We finally got to meet in person at the LESA Refresher, and I really enjoyed our lunch and other interactions. This is so so incredibly sad.

3 6 months ago

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