FROM THE BENCH
PROFILE OF JUDGE MICHELLE MARQUETTE The Judges of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan come from diverse backgrounds. Several of the Judges will offer their profile over the next several issues of BarNotes which will demonstrate the diversity of the Court. The second article is submitted by Judge Michelle Marquette of the Provincial Court in Wynyard. Rural Saskatchewan has been home to Michelle Marquette for most of her life. Michelle was born and raised in the Meadowbank district near Kelvington, Saskatchewan. Her parents, Garnet and Agnes met at a country dance in the early 1950’s. She was the local schoolteacher and he was one of many bachelor farmers in the area. They married in 1955 and established a home on the family farm that was originally owned by Garnet’s parents. Her mother transitioned from teaching to a full-time job being a mother and homemaker. Her parents operated a successful mixed farming operation in the Meadowbank district. When Michelle was growing up, it was a robust farming community with family farms situated every few miles and her parents were active members of their community. Her parents worked hard on their farm facing a myriad of obstacles like most farmers but always found time to visit their neighbors and pitch in at community events. Michelle attended primary and secondary schools in nearby Kelvington, and her parents encouraged her and her two older sisters to participate in school and extracurricular activities as well as
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the expectation that they would assist with the farm chores and hold down summer jobs. Upon graduation, their parents expected each of their children to attend post-secondary education. From a young age, each of their girls learned that “education, not a diamond is a girl’s best friend” and each pursued post secondary education. Michelle attended one year at the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan and then transferred to the SIAST- Kelsey Institute to attend the diploma nursing program. Upon completing the diploma nursing program and obtaining her registered nurse designation, she ventured to northern Saskatchewan taking a job as a general duty nurse at the St. Joseph’s hospital in Ile a la Crosse. The job provided endless opportunities and experiences for a young nurse. Following her employment in Ile a la
Crosse, she had brief employment at a nursing home in Porcupine Plain and then began working as a community health nurse for the Government of Canada - Medical Services Branch. Michelle obtained a certificate in community health nursing through the Government of Canada Training Institute in Cornwall, Ontario and worked as a community health nurse on the Yellow Quill First Nation and the Kinistin First Nation. Although nursing was a rewarding career, Michelle made the decision to return to University and pursue a law degree. She attended the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan and convocated with distinction in 1993. During law school, her first child was born, and time management became a priority. She was involved with the Law Student’s Association, Legal Follies, Women and the Law and was on the Law Review board.
