Barbro E. Stalbecker-Pountney, B.A.,
LL.B., LL.M.
Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public
Member of the Ontario Bar since 1975
I take pride in both my Swedish and Canadian heritage. I was born in Sweden, came to Toronto as a youngster and grew up in Toronto, graduating from Earl Haig Secondary School in Willowdale. After attending the University of Western Ontario I obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees. I joined an established law firm in Hanover, Ontario after my admission to practice law in Ontario in 1975.
During my years of practice in Bruce and Grey counties, I developed a commitment to the style of general law practice carried on in smaller communities, where lawyers spent time with their clients, listening to their needs and providing the customized services required.
When I returned to Toronto in 1978, I carried on a part-time law practice, while employed with a major legal publisher. The position of managing editor of the Canadian Encyclopedic Digest, a multi-volume legal encyclopedia, a primary research tool for lawyers in Ontario, which I held for a decade, enhanced my general legal knowledge and provided me with the opportunity of becoming acquainted with specialist lawyers throughout the province, contacts which have proved to be valuable resources in my current practice.
Since I returned to full-time law practice in the mid 1990s, I continue to be committed to general practice as a specialty in itself. As a general practitioner I provide day-to-day legal advice in the areas where most people have need of a lawyer – wills, estates, contracts, family matters, real estate. Where it becomes apparent that expert counsel should be brought in, I refer clients to a specialist while ensuring that the transfer proceeds smoothly and all parties are kept fully informed.
From time to time, I participate in workshops and seminars to provide information in the areas of my law practice, including Wills, Powers of Attorney, Estates, Charitable & Planned Giving through bequests, as well as legal aspects of small business and agreements. If you would like to attend such a workshop, or would like to have me as a speaker, please contact me.
I am committed to life learning and continuing legal education and am currently pursuing a l masters degree in law ( LL.M. ) at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University on a part-time basis. While pursuing a general masters degree in law, the focus of my courses are health law and human rights.
Active in the community
A considerable amount of my time is devoted to community action as a volunteer to a number of charitable and not for profit boards, including the Older Women’s Network (Ontario) Inc,. the Provincial Council of Women of Ontario, Soroptimist International Toronto, and Alternare Canada. I am a participant in Woman for Woman International and have previously been a board member of Mental Health Program Services of Metropolitan Toronto ("Habitat Services”), the Children’s Aid Society of Grey County, have been a volunteer with the Toronto Distress Centre, and executive member of the Canadian Bar Association General Practice Conference, and the Ontario Bar Associations, General Practice Section, Canadian Bar Association Ontario. I am currently a member of the executive of the Charities and Not for Profit Section of the Ontario Bar Association.
I am a member of a number of other organizations, including the Swedish Women's Education Association; Toronto Board of Trade; Swedish Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Equal Voice; Elder Connection.
For more information about above organizations and my involvement, see COMMUNITY.