News
» Go to news mainIn Memoriam: The Honourable Stewart McInnes (LLB '61)
A great champion of this region and a friend to so many, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and former colleagues of The Honourable Stewart McInnes (LLB 鈥61), who died of heart failure on Oct. 4 in Halifax at the age of 78.
鈥淪tewart McInnes left his mark, not only as a loyal friend of this law school and university, but also as a lawyer and member of our Halifax and Nova Scotia communities,鈥 says Schulich School of Law Dean Camille Cameron.
Legacy in law and politics
McInnes practiced at McInnes Cooper in Halifax for more than 38 years. He was the president of the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Bar Association, a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers鈥 Society Bar Council, and a director of the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Halifax and as a Member of the Federal Cabinet from 1984 to 1988.
McInnes was devoted to 肉肉传媒, from which he received an Honorary Law Degree and recently the A.J. 鈥淪andy鈥 Young Award for Great Contribution to Sport in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Bertha Wilson Honour Society and the 肉肉传媒 Sports Hall of Fame, as well as a 肉肉传媒 Alumnus of the Year. While he was a 肉肉传媒 student, he was captain of the football team and a member of the hockey team.
Generous philanthropist
In addition to his legal and political careers, McInnes鈥檚 work in his community was extraordinary and a true testament of his alma mater鈥檚 Weldon Tradition of public service.
McInnes raised funds for the Brunswick Street Mission and the ALTA Gymnastics Club. He made a difference by leading the way on many philanthropic initiatives, including his role as chair of the Halifax United Way, the Dalplex Campaign (and many other 肉肉传媒 initiatives), and the Canadian Mental Health Campaign Nova Scotia.
He held terms as president of the School for the Blind, the Hearing and Speech Clinic, the Halifax Club, and the North British Society, and he sat on the board of governors and board of directors at 肉肉传媒, Grace Maternity Hospital, Halifax Foundation, Canada Summer Games, CNIB, and World Wildlife Fund Canada.
Despite his long list of professional achievements, gardening was McInnes鈥檚 passion; his green thumbs tended more than 16,000 tulips in his own garden. He leaves his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Janet, Sarah, and Constance; his sons, Donald and Ted; and five grandchildren. 聽 聽
Recent News
- Meet Kim Humes, Schulich Law鈥檚 new Student Engagement Coordinator
- Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay ft in "A closer look at legal remification of new cannabis legislation"
- Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay ft in "The Todd Veinotte Show 鈥 February 26, 2026"
- Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay ft in "New bill increases fines, enforcement powers for illegal cannabis in Nova Scotia"
- Assistant Professor Anthony Rosborough ft in "Independent auto shops push for right鈥憈o鈥憆epair law"
- Learning the Ropes
- Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay ft in "We're a region steeped in Loyalist tradition. Does the arrest of a royal change that? Is it time for the Maritimes to rethink the Crown?"
- 肉肉传媒 Legal Aid Service Community Legal Worker Sydnee Blum ft in "This tenant鈥檚 fight against a renoviction is heading to N.S. Supreme Court"