Over the course of six decades, lawyer Marvin R. V. Storrow, C.M., O.B.C., raised the standard of his profession at every level of the provincial and federal court systems, including the Supreme Court of Canada. For the First Nations of British Columbia, his home province, Storrow has changed the course of human rights advocacy, leading groundbreaking cases on land titles and constitutional rights.
Storrow and wife Colette have a long-standing commitment to helping Canadians in need through philanthropy and voluntarism. That includes support for First Nations communities—the Storrows provide educational endowments for Indigenous students at several postsecondary institutions. Colette Storrow, meanwhile, has volunteered with the Education Committee and as a gallery guide at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology for more than two decades, and her husband is known among his peers to do consistent pro bono work without fuss or fanfare.
Here, Marvin Storrow shares how he became interested in human rights activism, the support he received from his mother, and why advocating for First Nations constitutional rights was a “courageous and collective” necessity for Canada.
How did your journey towards law begin?
After high school, I worked as a technician in the neurological clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital [in Vancouver]. I thought my future would be in medicine. I studied pre-med courses at university for three years. At this point I changed direction and thought a law degree would be a better fit for me and would lead me into a more interesting career. It was the right choice. I was fortunate to enjoy practising law as a barrister for almost 60 years.
Who was your greatest support as you made your way?
I would say my mother was my greatest mentor. She supported me through my studies and throughout my career. She was widowed at 37 and had three young children to raise. A good education was a priority for all of us, and she encouraged us to be independent.
As a lawyer, your responsibility is to see that individuals’ rights are well represented. First Nations have not had this experience.
Marvin Storrow
She allowed us to make our own choices and always stood by us. She was a generous and active person who was involved in her church and volunteered in the community. Through her example, we learned the importance of giving in whatever way we could and to be aware of the needs of others.
What have been the proudest moments in your legal career?
I had practised law a number of years before becoming involved in the legal challenges of First Nations. I had a lot to learn, but it captured my interest more than any other area of the law. As a lawyer, your responsibility is to see that individuals’ rights are well represented. First Nations have not had this experience.
When and how did you become interested in championing First Nations land titles and constitutional rights?
I had many interesting and challenging cases in my career. Some cases are not significant to others, but there is always satisfaction that an individual you have represented knows they have been heard. There is a lot of teamwork involved in preparing a good argument to present in a court of law. The higher the court, the more scholarship and research required. I have been very fortunate to have worked with exceptional lawyers on the landmark cases I have been involved with.
What have been the initiatives most dear to your heart?
A client named Delbert Guerin came to see me on a personal matter. As we chatted, the conversation changed direction. Delbert was a member of the Musqueam community in Vancouver, and he began talking about land claims and the difficulty for First Nations to have access to information. This meeting was the catalyst for the work that would follow. After many years and the courageous and collective effort of Musqueam and the legal team, the Guerin case [a landmark decision that established the Canadian government’s fiduciary duty to First Nations] was decided in the Supreme Court in 1984. The Sparrow decision [which set out criteria to determine whether governmental infringement on First Nations rights was justifiable] would follow in 1990.
How have you shared the idea of philanthropy with the younger generations in your family?
[We have taught them about] providing legal aid, helping to create opportunities for education, helping to create opportunities for sport, and for the environment.
Finally, for young people starting out in their legal careers, could you offer any advice on taking risks and standing up for human rights?
Make a contribution in whatever way you can. Money, expertise, volunteering. It isn’t always easy to take a stand, but [young lawyers] are in a privileged position in that they can affect the law for the better.
Please visit here to see information about our standards of journalistic excellence.