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DON CRANSTON, KC
Date of Passing: Aug 06, 2024
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryDON CRANSTON, KC
Proud family man, kind, generous, and loving husband and father, champion of mental health, friend, mentor, and lawyer, Don passed away peacefully on August 6, 2024.
Don was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, where he met Nancy while they both earned their undergraduate degrees. They married upon graduation and both continued their education, Don pursuing a Law degree from the University of Manitoba.
From the early days of his career, Don developed a passion and love for the law. He took great pride in continually learning both the letter and the practice of the law, and he was steadfastly committed to contributing to the education of young lawyers. He strongly believed that legal professionals need to uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of their work and life.
Don was a long-time member of Bennett Jones' partnership, and also served on the firm’s board of directors. A pillar of both the firm and of Alberta’s legal community, Don was unwavering in his pursuit of excellence serving clients, and was highly respected for his wisdom, decency, and consummate professionalism. He appreciated getting to know lawyers and laypeople alike, and particularly enjoyed his time as a Bencher and later President of the Law Society.
Don’s dedication to community was also evident through his service to a great many boards and committees. Among his innumerable contributions, Don was a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Law Reform Institute, and chair of the Legal Education Society of Alberta board. He served on the boards of the Alberta Hospital Edmonton, the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, the University Hospital Foundation, and many others. He was especially committed to the work of CASA Mental Health, serving as a long-time board member and advocate for their work providing mental health supports for children, youth and families.
As a teenager, Don, along with parents, brother Ken, and sister Cathy, lived in Rome for 18 months while his father was seconded to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He returned to Canada with a love for all things Italian. He shared this passion with Nancy and their children through several family vacations exploring Italy, leaving us all with treasured memories. His other place of relaxation was on Lake of the Woods, where he was refreshed and re-energized by sitting and looking at the lake, reading, swimming and boating.
Although Don had a stellar legal career, he considered his children his greatest accomplishment. He was incredibly proud of Jennifer, Trevor and Blair, as well as their respective partners, Susan Agrios, Angela Seda and Alexis Coir. He felt deeply that the world is a better place because of them.
In addition to his wife and children, Don is survived by his siblings, Ken (Diane) and Cathy (John Coke).
If you wish to remember Don, although he has always loved flowers, Don would prefer that you support CASA Mental Health: casamentalhealth.org
A Service of Remembrance will be held on Thursday, August 29th at 1:30 p.m. at the Royal Glenora Club. Reception to follow.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 17, 2024, Aug 17, 2024
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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I met Don on my first day of law school in September, 1975. Not surprising as we were classed in the group "A to Gu", and our section had all classes together. As it turned out Don and I liked to workout so we would walk over to the Gym together for 20 minutes and exercise together, and walk back. We talked on the way and became friends. He was married and I was not. But I had grown up spending summers at my parent's cottage on the south shore of Falcon Lake and he had similar experiences at Barren Lake. I met his wife and his brother, who was becoming a banker. We spent 3 years in law school and then he went to Edmonton to a specialty litigation firm, not Bennet Jones but McConnell or something. I married while articling in Winnipeg and my wife and I travelled west for our honeymoon. We stayed for several days with a friend in Edmonton in 1979 and I remember Don and his wife had us over for dinner. Thereafter, I called him years later as a client of mine had a problem in Edmonton. He gave great advice. We had a chance to talk and reminisce. He told me of his cottage at Lake of the Woods. I envied him that as my wife was not cottage friendly. He was and remains my friend and is well captured by the memorial. If Grant Stapon, our classmate comes from Calgary, let him raise a glass for the class of 1978. Larry Cherrett - Posted by: Larry Cherrett (friend) on: Aug 28, 2024
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My sincere condolences to all the families and his close friends. - Posted by: Craig Taplin (Former neighbor) on: Aug 18, 2024
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Don alwas was a lawyer with Heart. That made him a great lawyer of service to a better life for others and a great friend. His positive energy will be sadly missed - Syd - Posted by: sydney scott (friend) on: Aug 18, 2024