Jeff Howe
Jeff Howe, Barrister & Solicitor
Jeff was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia where he grew up playing sports. He graduated (With Distinction) in 1999 from University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts from the Faculty of Humanities, majoring in History. His third year at UVic was spent on international exchange at the College of Liberal Arts at University of Southern Mississippi where he studied in depth, among other topics, the colonization of the American west and the civil rights movement. In the spring of 1999, he attended a 5 week total immersion program at Universite Sainte Anne, Church Point, Nova Scotia, and obtained a French “Intermediate A” level certificate.
From 1999 to 2002, he taught English to children, youth and adults for over two years outside of Taipei, Taiwan. He attended the College of Intensive Chinese Language Studies, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing for three months where he obtained a Mandarin “A level course” certificate, May – July, 2002.
In 2003, Jeff moved to Saskatoon to attend University of Saskatchewan, College of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 2006. After first year law school, he focused on legal research and writing, Aboriginal law, constitutional law and civil litigation. Prior to third year, he worked full time as a summer research assistant assisting assigned professors with legal research and writing and, Professor Paul Chartrand with organization of a legal conference and accompanying paper published by the Saskatchewan Law Review (2005), both titled: “Aboriginal People & the Criminal Justice System in Saskatchewan: What Next?” During his third year of law school, he served as president of the Law Students’ Association.
In June 2007, Jeff completed his articles with Woloshyn & Company Barristers and Solicitors in Saskatoon and was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar. He practiced over five years at Woloshyn & Company, mainly in the areas of civil litigation and Aboriginal law. From 2005 to 2011, he was a Volunteer Student then Volunteer Lawyer at Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City, Inc. (C.L.A.S.S.I.C).
In 2012, he established Howe Legal Professional Corporation in Saskatchewan, before moving to southeastern Saskatchewan to become general counsel to White Bear First Nations and to the White Bear group of companies, Treaty 2 Territory. There he formed the White Bear First Nations Legal Department and acted as general counsel until (July) 2023. In 2012, he co-founded (with chief and council) the White Bear Legal Clinic, a monthly pro bono civil and criminal legal clinic for low income members which he operated until (July) 2023. From 2014 to 2016, he served as councilor on the Wawota town council and as deputy mayor, and as president of the Wawota Recreation Board.
From 2012 – 2017, Jeff was active in the Canadian Bar Association’s national Aboriginal Law Section, and remains a member-at-large of the Section’s executive. In 2012, he worked on the Aboriginal Law Section’s organizing committee which brought the Section’s annual legal conference to Saskatchewan for its first time, and he was the conference co-chair. In 2014, he worked on the Section’s organizing committee which brought the Section’s annual conference to Iqaluit, Nunavut for its first time. From 2016 -2018, he served on the national executive of the CBAs national Military Law Section as treasurer and then vice chair. From September, 2017 to August, 2019, he served on the Canadian Bar Association national board of directors.
He was a Presenter, Law Society of Saskatchewan professional development seminar “Doing Business with First Nations”, May 25 (Saskatoon) and May 26 (Regina), 2016. He has been a guest lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Law, Advanced Aboriginal Law Seminar on the topic of the Crown’s duty to consult and duty to accommodate in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014 – 2022.
In (March) 2023, he established Howe Legal (ON) Professional Corporation in Ontario.
Jeff has appeared before the National Energy Board, a Coroner’s Inquest for Saskatchewan, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations’ Executive Council and Indian Government Commission, the Thunderchild First Nation Appeal Tribunal, a Saulteaux First Nation Arbitrator, the Pelican Lake First Nation Appeal Board, the Nekaneet First Nation Appeal Body, the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, the Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.
He has been a member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan since 2006 and a member of the Law Society of Ontario since (January) 2023. He has been a member of the Canadian Bar Association since 2003.
Jeff lives on the Stó:lō Nation’s traditional territory in his hometown in the Fraser Valley with his wife and three kids, and travels often to Saskatchewan, his second home.
