Page 45 - ACTL Journal Fall24

Gord returned to Regina, joining the Mc- Dougall Ready Wakeling Law Firm, which then had seven lawyers. The firm, now named McDougall Gauley, LLP, has grown to over a hundred, and Gord is Chairman Emeritus. Gord notes, “If I have accom- plished one thing in my life, it is that I can hold a job.”
Gord married Judy Reilly in 1969. Gord could not help but notice Judy when she beat him in their mutual bid for President of their high school class. Gord and Judy have four children. Their oldest child, Deron, practic- es in Regina with the MLT Aikins LLP Law Firm. Deron was inducted as a Fellow of the College at the San Diego Meeting in 2023.
Gord’s daughter, Holli Kuski Bassett, prac- ticed law with her father before being ap- pointed as a judge of the Court of King’s Bench in Regina in 2022. At her induction, true to his background, Gord described his daughter with the Finnish word “sisu.” The word describes someone who has dignity in the face of adversity, hardiness of spirit, resilience, grit, tenacity of purpose, deter- mination, and inner strength. But Judge Kuski Bassett demurs that the person with the most “sisu” is her dad.
Gord’s other daughter, Nancy, runs a hairdressing salon in Regina, so suc- cessful that clients must book appointments far in advance. Gord’s son, Reilly, is the General Manager of the Audi Dealership in Regina, and could be successful on family alone, since all of the Kuskis drive Audis.
Gord has eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One of Gord’s grandchildren was diagnosed with cancer when she was five. She is in remission now, but during her treatment she lost her hair. Grandpa Gord let her shave his head bald, giving his granddaughter much comfort.
Family and friends are very important to Gord. He “holds court” every Friday evening with his children, grandchildren, and friends, eating pizza and drinking wine.
Gord did not begin as a trial specialist; he had a general practice doing a variety of cases. He values that background, as it allows him to spot the many issues that come up in his present litigation practice.
The Minister of Justice designates King’s Counsel – K.C. – (until the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen’s Counsel – Q.C.) through a rigorous selec- tion process in consultation with the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Saskatchewan, and the Canadian Courts. Gord was so designat- ed in 1984, just thirteen years after he had begun practice. Certain privi- leges flow from the designation. Regina Fellow Maurice Laprairie muses that the most important attribute of being King’s Counsel is the ability to wear a silk robe, which is more comfortable than the typical wool/polyes- ter robe all other lawyers are required to wear in court. In Canada, King’s Counsel are enviously referred to as the “silkies.”
Gord has been recognized three times by Benchmark Canada as Litigator of the Year in Saskatchewan. Fellow Aaron Fox describes Gord as having the best voice in the courtroom. His great voice, combined with his hard work, intelligence, and size, makes Gord incredibly formidable.
Gord’s practice is expansive. The Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association and the Saskatchewan Lawyers’ Insurance Association have regularly re- tained Gord to defend Canadian lawyers in malpractice lawsuits.
Gord has five times appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa.
Gord is proud of his Finnish heritage. In 1988, Finland designated Gord as the Hon- orary Counsel of Finland for Saskatchewan, serving until 2007. In 1998, he was ap- pointed Knight (First Class) of the Order
of the White Rose of Finland.
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