Persona

Schmeiser, Douglas A.

1934-2018

Douglas Schmeiser was born on May 22, 1934 in Bruno, Saskatchewan. He earned a BA (1954) and LLB (1956) from the University of Saskatchewan, and both a LLM (1958) and SJD (1963) from the University of Michigan. He was hired by the University of Saskatchewan as a special lecturer in 1956, and began teaching full-time in 1961. He was promoted to full professor in 1968. From 1964-1974, he served as director of graduate legal studies in the College of Law, and as Dean from 1974-1977. In 1995, he was named Professor Emeritus. Schmeiser is author of numerous books, including "Civil Liberties in Canada" (1964), "Cases and Comments on Criminal Law" (1st edition 1966; 5th edition 1985), "Cases on Canadian Civil Liberties" (1971), "The Native Offender and the Law" (1974), and "The Independence of Provincial Court Judges: A Public Trust" (1996). He has served as a constitutional consultant for various provincial governments, and internationally, as a consultant and advisor on law reform, constitutional and other legal matters to various governments. Among numerous other positions he has served as Director, Canadian Council for Human Rights; president of the Canadian Association of Law Teachers; and from 1982-1987 he served as chair of the Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan. His community service has included various positions with the Saskatoon United Appeal; trustee with the Saskatoon Catholic School Board; and a member of the executive for the University of Saskatchewan Retirees Association. He has been named an honourary life member of the Saskatoon United Way; honourary president of Nature Saskatchewan; and has received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal for service to the legal community; the Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Thomas More College, and in 2010 was given the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the province’s highest honour. He passed away April 28, 2018.