Flin Flonner Davidson appointed as new Alberta chief justice

Kent Davidson has gone from the city on the rocks to the top spot in Alberta courts. The Flin Flon-born judge has been appointed as Alberta’s new Chief Justice, taking on the role late last month.

Davidson was appointed on the suggestion of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau June 23 to fill the role. Davidson’s predecessor, Mary T. Moreau, left the position to take a new role - as a justice on the Supreme Court of Canada.

“I wish the Honourable Kent H. Davidson all the best in his new role. His experience and expertise in many areas of the law will bring tremendous value to the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta,” Trudeau is quoted as saying in the announcement of Davidson’s appointment.

Davidson was born and raised in Flin Flon and headed west to Alberta in the 1970s, attending the Univ. of Alberta. Davidson graduated with a bachelor of arts with distinction in 1979, then entered law school, earning a bachelor of laws degree in 1982 and being admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1983.

Since then, Davidson has been a constant in Alberta courts, spending almost 40 years as a lawyer in various fields, including public inquiries, labour and employment law, commercial and construction litigation, criminal law, insolvency and other fields.

Davidson worked with the firm Lucas Bishop, Bowker and White until 2001, switching to work with Miller Thomson LLP as the head of their Alberta labour and employment department - he became the firm’s national chair in 2014.

In 2008, Davidson was appointed as King’s Counsel in Alberta, then was appointed to the Court of King’s Bench in 2019.

Davidson was elected twice as a city councillor in St. Albert, Alta., serving in that post from 1992-1995 and again from 1998-2001, mounting a bid as the city’s mayor in the ‘90s. He also helped incorporate the St. Albert Community Foundation and served as its president. Davidson also was active with the Canadian Bar Association and local Rotary Club chapter and has coached and volunteered in St. Albert youth sports.

In his new role, Davidson will be responsible for the leadership and administration of Alberta’s courts. Chief justices are appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s recommendation and also serve on the Canadian Judicial Council.