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The Law Society Medal is a prestigious annual award given to a lawyer who demonstrates a significant contribution to the law by the Law Society of Ontario.
This year, South Dundas lawyer Eldon Horner is one of the seven recipients of the award, chosen from approximately 55,000 lawyers in Ontario.
“I chose to practise law for many reasons, which include academic interest in the law and the likelihood that I could benefit people facing difficult challenges,” said Horner.
Horner was born in Dundas County and went to Seaway District High School before attending Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., and being accepted into University of Toronto’s law school. After graduating in 1993, Horner began practising in the areas of real estate, wills and estates, municipal law, and corporate law. Like most residents of the region, Horner also gained experience in agricultural matters.
“I was born and have lived in a rural community most of my life,” said Horner.
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What kept him here was the community.
“I’ve always been a big believer that volunteers of all types make a community a better place to live. If everyone chips in a little, the benefits are exponential,” said Horner.
Since returning to Dundas, Horner has proven his belief in that idea, and has volunteered as a coach in organized sports, has been a founding partner of his law firm, and found the time to lead local organizations.
“I was on the board of the Winchester hospital at the time of redevelopment and I’m proud to have helped with that. Right now, I’m on the board of the Dundas Manor long-term care home,” said Horner.
However, his main contributions have been within the law, notably promoting the role of solicitors, particularly real-estate lawyers.
“My primary contribution was as a regional director and eventually chair of the Federation of Ontario Law Associations,” said Horner, explaining this is why he believed he was nominated. “I was the president of the local bar association and I’ve been to all levels of court up to the Court of Appeal.”
