Rainy River District officially received its own Crown attorney Tuesday with the swearing in of Robert “Buster” Young at the Fort Frances Courthouse by Mr. Justice John deP. Wright.
The ceremony was presided over by Justice Wright, along with Judge Gary Kunnas and Justice of the Peace Pat Clysdale-Cornell.
It was attended by some of Young’s friends and colleagues, members of the bar, a colour guard from the Royal Canadian Legion Br. #29, a colour party from the OPP, as well as members of the public.
“This swearing in is less for me and more for the community in which I serve,” Young said. “It is a matter of being placed back on the map in the administration of justice.”
While Young was appointed Crown attorney for Rainy River District in 2000 by Order-in-Council, he was never officially sworn in.
Young attributed this delay to “the paucity of judicial services” in the area, and said he would work to ensure the district was not forgotten by the judicial system.
“I will continue to try to see that this district is not sold short of the judicial services that it needs and deserves,” he stressed in his speech to the court.
Young was appointed acting Crown attorney for the district in 1994-5, but returned to Thunder Bay as acting Crown attorney when the position in the district was downgraded to assistant.
“I truly enjoyed the time I had spent here in this district from ’94-’95,” he said, adding he was pleased to return in 2000.
“I am of the view that as a Crown attorney’s position, this job is the gem of the Ontario Crown attorney system,” he enthused.
Young, who also is a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Judge Advocate General (JAG), was congratulated by various speakers, including Fort Frances OPP S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis and Sheila McMahon of the local United Native Friendship Centre.
McMahon thanked Young for his efforts in establishing a youth justice program in Fort Frances for first-time, non-violent young offenders.
“It is an alternative to bringing young people to the court process,” agreed Brian Angus of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. “Mr. Young was a key organizer.”
“I find Mr. Young to be very passionate about providing services to the youth in our communities,” McMahon added.
The UNFC presented Young with a painting in recognition of his efforts.
“In a district like this, where we are often overlooked in terms of programs, youth justice was one I thought we should seize upon,” Young replied.
“It is now one of the finest youth justice programs in the province,” he added. “We’re off to a very good start.”
Angus noted Young also was instrumental in developing a victims’ services program in the area, and has been working to provide services for domestic violence offenders.
Also present at the ceremony was Crown attorney Richard Cummine, a colleague and longtime friend of Young.
“He has made outstanding contributions to his community, and continues to do so, not only professionally, but privately,” Cummine said.
Young is on the board of directors of both the Victorian Order of Nurses and St. John’s Ambulance.
“I believe ‘Buster’ to be very even-handed. He has worked hard to ensure the office is respected,” said Wesley Derksen, federal prosecutor and counsel for the Minister of Justice.
“The administration of justice is in good hands in this district,” said local lawyer Lawrence Eustace, president of the District of Rainy River Law Library Association, who organized the event.
There are only 53 Crown attorneys in Ontario, representing each of the counties and districts across the province.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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