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

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.

Following convocation, Michelle began her articles clerking at the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench with Mr. Justice David Wright as her principal. Invaluable experience was obtained through her articles and she has fond memories of her work with various members of the Court during that time. In August of 1994 shortly before the birth of her second child, Michelle was called to the bar with the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Armed with a law degree and two small children, Michelle returned to her roots. She and her husband relocated from the city to Michelle’s family farm. The young couple began to establish their own cattle and hay operation and Michelle began her career with the Zawislak Law office in Wadena, Saskatchewan and they welcomed two more children – twins to their family.

Contrary to many people’s perceptions, a rural law practice provided an opportunity to practice in a variety of areas of the law – criminal defence, family, corporate/ commercial, real estate and wills & estates. The practice was busy and demanding. In 2006, Michelle opened her own practice, the Marquette Law Office in Wadena with a satellite office in Kelvington and continued to operate as a sole practitioner until her appointment to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in December of 2014. Her law practice provided her with an opportunity to assist many people (many of whom she had known her entire life) and long-time clients became friends. She developed many strong working relationships with the local bar which included other rural sole practitioners.

However, when the call came with respect to a judicial appointment, Michelle was ready to accept a new challenge. The appointment still allowed her to continue to live on her family farm and remain connected to her local communities albeit in a different capacity.

The Provincial Court in Wynyard includes three circuit court points; Punnichy, Wadena and Rose Valley as well as the Wynyard court house. There are regular weekly court sittings in each location as well as special court sittings each month. The work is demanding but very rewarding. In addition to her regular court work, Michelle is the Past President of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court Judges’ Association, a member of the Provincial Court Indigenous committee and the Saskatchewan representative for the Canadian Provincial Court Judges’ Association - Judicial Ethics committee.

In her judicial capacity, Michelle endeavours to provide compassion, empathy and respect to the people who appear in front of her. She seeks to educate people as to the role of the court and is actively engaged with local community stakeholders to understand the roles others play within the court system. Her keen interest in the resources available to people in the community is aligned with her view of the important role of restorative justice in the justice system.

Along with her busy judicial career, she and her husband continue to live and work on the family farm.