May 29, 2018
Class of 2018: Law grad's dreams take flight
As a kid, Greg Whiteside dreamed of becoming a pilot, not a lawyer. He didn鈥檛 know much about lawyers, only enough to know that his family didn鈥檛 have good experiences with them.
Now he is one, and he鈥檚 determined to make a difference.
He鈥檚 the 2018 winner of the 草莓污视频导航 law school鈥檚 Dean Michael Wylie Social Responsibility Award, an award given to a graduating student who has made a significant contribution to social or human rights issues while in school.
Whiteside, 31, graduates this spring with a law degree from the 草莓污视频导航. He鈥檒l then work at a firm in Calgary, focusing on environmental and regulatory law.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing, the variety of work. You could be focusing on the cost of cutting down your neighbour鈥檚 tree, and the next day, you鈥檙e dealing with a pipeline, or defending or prosecuting someone under criminal regulatory charges,鈥 Whiteside says. 鈥淓very day is different. It鈥檚 something I鈥檒l be learning for the rest of my life.鈥
Whiteside is certainly familiar with learning and helping others, part of the reason for his award. During his time at 草莓污视频导航, he helped launch the Health-Justice Partnership between Student Legal Assistance and the Calgary Urban Project Society. The first of its kind in Western Canada, the program aids people in overcoming poverty鈥檚 challenges by providing legal advice for medical, housing and family programming. It鈥檚 now part of the Student Legal Assistance鈥檚 clinical coursework.
鈥淚 wanted to help people overcome obstacles and challenges, really help people who needed the help,鈥 Whiteside says.
That desire is something he鈥檚 had since he was a child. Born in the Eastern Townships, Que., Whiteside lived in Whitehorse, Yukon, and then Barrie, Ont., where he graduated from high school.
It wasn鈥檛 the easiest time. His dad died when Whiteside was 18, and his mom when Whiteside was 22.
Some would let grief pull them down, but Whiteside simply credits his parents for his success in life. 鈥淚 was always inspired by what my mom did and how much she cared,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd my love for the environment and the outdoors comes from my dad.鈥
After their deaths, Whiteside 鈥 who speaks four languages 鈥 completed a history degree at Queen鈥檚 University in Kingston, Ont., studying in Spain and Germany as part of the program.
He then moved back to Whitehorse, where he worked as a guide for seven years. Dogsledding, canoeing, rafting, rock climbing 鈥 he did a little of everything.
鈥淏ut developing relationships is tough because you鈥檙e gone most of the year,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 knew I wanted a different lifestyle.鈥
He looked around for a university that offered programs he was interested in, but would allow him to be outdoors as much as possible. 鈥淭he 草莓污视频导航 was the only real option,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t allowed me to get out to the mountains easily, plus it had the kind of law I was interested in.鈥
From the get-go, Whiteside stood out. 鈥淕reg was an enthusiastic student. I could always count on him to ask mature and practical questions that generated lots of discussion,鈥 says Rudiger Tscherning, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law. 鈥淗e is a natural at generating conversations and bringing people together.鈥
Martin Olszynski, also an assistant professor in the law faculty, has similar praise. 鈥淗e was genuine, kind and eager to learn and share his knowledge,鈥 Olszynski says. 鈥淚 very much look forward to watching his career develop in the coming years.鈥
Whiteside鈥檚 dreams are taking flight 鈥 literally. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing my pilot鈥檚 licence now, too,鈥 Whiteside says with a laugh. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my homage to my younger self.鈥