Iris Barry Yake Robe Bank Update
Calgary lawyers can now access and drop-off donations of freshly dry-cleaned gowns and waistcoats at the Iris Barry Yake Robe Bank in the Calgary Courthouse at the Law Library. More information can be found on the Law Library website here. If you have questions or want to make a donation of robes or provide financial support, please contact Katrina Edgerton-McGhan at katrina.edgerton-mcghan@dlapiper.com or Sarah Lulman at SLulman@blg.com.
In Edmonton, the Iris Barry Yake Robe Bank is still set up to receive donations at the Edmonton Courthouse. Please reach out to Moira Váně via LinkedIn or Twitter if you have any questions.
About the Robe Bank
The Robe Bank is named in honour of Iris Barry Yake whose robes were the first robes donated to the Robe Bank. In April 1977, she passed her bar exam with a few months of articling behind her. She obtained robes in anticipation of her bar admission ceremony, however, she was too ill to attend. On January 12, 1978, at the age of 49, Ms. Barry Yake died of cancer. Though she never got to wear her robes in court, her legacy and her robes continue to appear in Alberta court rooms 40 years after her passing.