Brian Dickson
A Supreme Court justice whose rulings on Charter rights fundamentally shaped modern Canadian law, emphasizing dignity and equality.
1916–1998 (age 82)·Chief Justice of Canada from 1984 to 1990·Birthday: May 25·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Brian Dickson arrived at the Supreme Court of Canada with a unique perspective forged in the prairie dust of Saskatchewan and the mud of Normandy. A decorated veteran who lost a leg in World War II, he practiced corporate law before being appointed to the bench. When he joined the Supreme Court in 1973, Canada was on the cusp of a constitutional revolution. As Chief Justice from 1984 to 1990, he became the principal architect of the court's early interpretation of the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His judgments were not mere legal technicalities; they were deeply humanistic, often focusing on the protection of society's vulnerable. In landmark decisions on issues like extradition, search and seizure, and equality, Dickson consistently emphasized context, fairness, and the underlying values of a free and democratic society, leaving a legacy that continues to define Canadian jurisprudence.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Brian was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Died at 82
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
Key Achievements
- Authored the landmark Supreme Court decision in R. v. Oakes, which established the foundational test for justifying limits on Charter rights.
- Served as the 15th Chief Justice of Canada from 1984 to 1990.
- Wrote the influential decision in R. v. Big M Drug Mart, which struck down the Lord's Day Act as a violation of freedom of religion.
- Played a key role in shaping the Supreme Court's early and expansive interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Did You Know?
He lost his right leg below the knee after being wounded by a German shell in Normandy in 1944.
Before his judicial career, he was a successful corporate lawyer in Winnipeg.
He was the first Chief Justice of Canada to be born in the 20th century.
He was appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Canada from the Manitoba Court of Appeal, without having served on a provincial supreme court.
“A constitution is a living tree, capable of growth and expansion within its natural limits.”
