We are pleased to announce Gordon D. Hebb, KC, as the recipient of the Society’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award (DSA).
Established in 1999, the DSA is presented to a member of the Nova Scotia legal profession who has made significant contributions to their community, the legal profession, and the Society.
The DSA Committee reviews nominations based on nominees’ commitment to integrity, professional achievement, service to the profession, and commitment to reform.
Across a career spanning over five decades of service, Mr. Hebb has played a central role in shaping, modernizing, and maintaining the statutory law of Nova Scotia. Through his long tenure as Chief Legislative Counsel, he has led major law reform and statute revision initiatives, established modern legislative drafting practices, and expanded public access to legislation. His work has provided sustained legal leadership and institutional expertise to the Legislature, the legal profession, and the public service across successive governments.
Congratulations, Gordon.
About Gordon D. Hebb, KC
Gordon D. Hebb, KC, was the senior lawyer for the day-to-day work on the Revised Statutes of 1989. He has also been responsible for the as-yet-unproclaimed Revised Statutes of 2023.
On becoming in charge of the Office of the Legislative Counsel in 1994, Hebb modernized the Office’s legislative drafting style. With the arrival of the Internet, he took coursework in HTML and put Nova Scotia’s bills and statutes on the Legislature’s website: making Nova Scotia one of the first jurisdiction in Canada to do so.
“Working for the House of Assembly has been a fascinating job for the last 50 years, particularly since taking charge of the office—getting to know the politicians and seeing a side of the making of laws that the public doesn’t get to see,” says Hebb. “It has been educational and interesting getting to know my counterparts at the other legislatures and governments across the country.”
Professional Membership
- Practising Member of Nova Scotia Barristers Society (since 1972).
- Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (member of Council 1988 – 1991)
- Canadian Bar Association (former member of Nova Scotia Branch Council)
- Association of Legislative Counsel in Canada (Secretary 2006; President 2007)
- Association of Parliamentary Counsel in Canada
- Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel