William (Bill) Henry Richard Charles

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William (Bill) Henry Richard Charles, BA, LLB, LLM, LLD (Hon), QC, on April 26, 2025, in his 98th year. He was born on September 3, 1927 in Montreal, Quebec, son of the late William Arthur and Phyllis (nee Beck) Charles. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dorine (Clark); his children Susan (Craig Dix), Timothy (Andrea Lindsay), Catherine (David Pitman) and Christopher (Tanya Lorimer). He will be missed dearly by his grandchildren Michael and Lindsay Dix, James and Christopher Charles, Jessica and Sara Pitman, and Meghan and Isabelle Charles. Bill was a loving husband and father, with a great sense of humour and he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends at the cottage in Boutilier’s Point where many gatherings took place overlooking Cowlow Cove. He loved aviation, was in the Air Cadets in high school, served in Germany for the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict, made many model airplanes and obtained his license to pilot ultralight planes in the 1980’s. He enjoyed playing hockey with many of his colleagues and his two sons until he was seventy-five years young. Bill obtained a BA from Sir George Williams College (1949), an LLB from Dalhousie University (1958), an LLM from Harvard University (1960), an LLM from the University of Michigan (1970), was appointed Queens Counsel in 1983 and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) was conferred by Dalhousie University in 2001. He became a faculty member of the Dalhousie University Law School in 1960 and after various appointments became Weldon Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1979-85. He retired from full-time teaching in 1994 and was appointed Professor Emeritus upon full retirement in 1998. He was a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Victoria Law School during its inaugural year (1975-76) and at the Vrije University in Amsterdam (1998-2008). Bill was very involved in Court Reform and served as President of the NS Independent Law Reform Commission from 1990-1998. He was appointed Special Counsel in 2008 and retained that title when the Commission was de-commissioned and incorporated into the Institute for Access to Justice and Law Reform. He was also involved in several Judicial Administration projects in Ethiopia and the Caribbean. His interest in legislation covered issues from recycling and environmental clean-up (Tar Ponds) to same-sex marriage rights and his latest research into marginalized people being underserved by small claims courts. He had a life-long commitment to legal education and reform, and authored many academic publications throughout his career, as evidenced by his most recent article titled "Access to Justice in the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court 1980-2022” being included in the Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring 2024) issue of the Dalhousie Law Journal, published at the age of 96. Cremation has taken place, there will be a Celebration of Life at a future date. Messages of condolence can be sent to www.harboursidecremation.ca. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to pay tribute to Bill’s incredible legacy and long life in legal education and law reform, the family suggests donations to the Dean William H. Charles Fund at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. Donations will support a research fund, accessible to students and faculty dedicated to law reform. Link for donations: https://giving.dal.ca/williamhcharles or to a charity of your choice.

William (Bill) Henry Richard Charles

September 3, 1927 - April 26, 2025