On September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canadians learn, recognize and reflect upon the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, the trauma experienced by many, and the hope for a healthy future. The day emphasizes the ongoing need for reconciliation, and building and strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.1

1 https://www.alberta.ca/day-for-truth-and-reconciliation

Putnam Law LLP will be closed on September 30, 2024 for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We close as an act of reconciliation, acknowledging the past, the legacy of the residential school system in Canada, and its present-day impacts.

 We include the following links for information on Truth and Reconciliation.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Government of Canada - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

We would like to help Albertans be informed about the current auto insurance issue facing us. Click to view an article from the Edmonton Journal explaining fault and no fault insurance.

We also urge participation in the Alberta Government's Auto Insurance Engagement Survey. This is a new Alberta Government survey targeting auto insurance reform and some of the questions seem targeted in considering whether Albertans will be able to maintain their rights to claim against an at fault party.

If you feel it is important for Albertans to keep their right to sue for pain and suffering, completing this survey is a critical opportunity for you to voice your opinions on important aspects of our auto insurance system.

If you value your right to pursue legal action against at-fault drivers in the event of an injury, your participation in this survey can directly influence the preservation of this important right.

Please ensure you complete the survey and clearly express your support for maintaining the ability to sue at-fault drivers. The deadline to complete the survey is June 26, 2024.

 A link to access the survey is below:

Auto insurance engagement survey | Alberta.ca

Your feedback is vital and will help shape the future of auto insurance in Alberta.

Thank you for taking the time to let the Alberta Government know your views on maintaining your ability to maintain your right to claim against an at fault party in a motor vehicle accident.

Click to view additional information about the proposed auto insurance reform in Alberta.

Putnam Law is happy to sponsor local soccer. You know it’s spring when kids are on the soccer field!

Samantha Huculak speaks at Chamber Event

Managing Partner and Owner, Samantha Huculak leads a session at the Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce 2nd International Women's Event. Samantha was asked to discuss women setting themselves up for success. Thank you to the Chamber for the invitation, the other speakers, and to all attendees. It was a great evening.

Committed to making a positive impact outside of our firm, we actively support various community initiatives including charity events, children’s programs, and local programs. Through these partnerships, we aim to foster strong, vibrant communities and empower local organizations to continue their valuable work.

As a firm dedicated not only to serving our clients, but also communities at large, we were honoured to contribute to the betterment of local communities in 2023 through sponsorship or donations to organizations such as the Morinville Curling Club, the Morinville Jets Junior B Hockey Club, the Gibbons Public Library, the Morinville Community Library, the Legal Chateau Sturgeon Lodge, Town of Morinville Festival Days, Legal Fête au Village, Gibbons Pioneer Days, Bon Accord Harvest Days, and the Morinville Food Bank.

We look forward to supporting communities in 2024.

Thank you to all businesses who took part in our challenge and donated directly to the Morinville Food Bank. Special thanks to our friends at the Morinville Community Library, Atlas Premium Home Development Ltd., Pleasant Homes Ltd., the Town of Morinville, and our staff at Putnam Law for their donations at our office.

Putnam Law is proud to be a sponsor of local community events, showcasing our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve. As part of our ongoing efforts to support communities in our area, we have sponsored various events, enabling organizers to create unique and memorable experiences for the community members. These events include:

• Morinville Festival Days 2023

• Legal Fête Au Village 2023

• Bon Accord and District Ag Society Annual Harvest Days 2023

• Gibbons Pioneer Days 2023

Putnam Law is proud to support the Morinville Food Bank with a September Back to School Food Drive Challenge to other businesses. Please see details below on how your business can join the Challenge.

We were proud and happy to attend the bar admission ceremony for Gaurav Sharma, who had articled at our firm the past year. We were honored to have Justice Gordon D. Putnam preside over the ceremony. Firm owner and managing partner, Samantha C. Huclak, made the application for Gaurav to be admitted to the Law Society of Alberta. Congratulations, Gaurav!

Putnam Law LLP is proud to be a business member of the Town of Morinville and serve its residents. Supporting the Town and its activities through sponsorship has always been important to us.

We are happy to again sponsor the Town of Morinville’s Festival Days in 2023. We were impressed by this year’s media kit materials and the information provided with the sponsorship request. The materials included detailed information about the benefits received for our sponsorship dollars and the various events being held. It was an added benefit for our firm that this year we had the opportunity to meet with a representative from the Town in-person to discuss and customize the sponsorship package to meet our specific goals.

We are very pleased to have found a sponsorship package that aligns with our values and benefits the families of the Town of Morinville directly.

For an update on the insurance rate affordability issue, please see Home - FAIR Alberta (fairab.ca).

Putnam Law LLP would like to welcome our new employee, Sydney Yaremchuk, to the team. Sydney will be joining us in the role of General Assistant. Welcome Sydney!

Putnam Law proudly supports the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation. We attended their annual fundraising gala on January 28, 2022 to support fundraising for equipment that will help people from our community when they need it most.

For more information, please check out the Foundation’s website.

On January 20, 2023, Samantha Huculak, Andrew Lawson, and other staff members were proud to attend the ceremonial swearing in of Judge Gordon D. Putnam to the bench of the Provincial Court of Alberta.  It was an honor to join Judge Putnam, his colleagues, family and friends, watch as he was sworn in.

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN THE COMING YEAR

Putnam Law is a proud sponsor of the LAV III monument in Morinville which had its official opening ceremony on October 2, 2022.  Gordon Putnam, former partner in the firm and chairman of the Rotay LAV committee, spoke at the ceremony.  “I'm so proud of all the work that's gone in, but also I'm just proud that we have something where we can pay tribute to our Canadian military."

LAV III Monument, Morinville, Alberta

Putnam Law is very happy to announce that Mikle L. Carter has joined our firm. Mikle has been practicing law since 2002, working the majority of her career in the Grande Prairie region. Mikle has years of experience and expertise in the following areas of law: Agricultural & Residential Real Estate, Sub-division & Development, Wills & Estates, Commercial, and Corporate. We are excited to have Mikle working with us.

Putnam Law LLP would like to introduce our new employee, Gaurav Sharma. Gaurav joins us as a student-at-law. Welcome to the team!

Putnam Law LLP is proud to support local events and causes including: Gibbons Pioneer Days, Gibbons Annual Golf Tournament, Morinville & District Chambers of Commerce, Morinville Community Library, Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation and the Kaleo Collective. Links to websites below to find out more about these organizations and charities.

https://sturgeonhospitalfoundation.org/

https://www.morinvillelibrary.ca/

https://www.morinvillechamber.com/

https://www.gibbons.ca/

https://kaleocollective.ca/

The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) is a public legal education organization dedicated to making information about the law available in readable and understandable language for Albertans.

Through a variety of approaches (web, print, presentations, and answering questions) they help educate the public to enable them to make better decisions about many aspects of their daily lives.

The Centre is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, librarians, teachers, and web specialists. CPLEA uses a collaborative approach to develop materials and strategies for teaching people about the law.

Visit their website for information. https://www.cplea.ca/

 The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta does not represent clients or provide legal advice.