THUNDER BAY - A former judge and law advocate for Northwestern Ontario has passed away.
Stanley Kurisko began his law career in 1954 after being called to the Bar of Ontario and he would serve the legal profession for the next 65 years.
In 1979, Kurisko was appointed as a judge of the District Court of the Judicial District of Thunder Bay, now known as the Superior Court of Ontario. Kurisko retired as a justice in 2003.
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Kurisko attended Sault Collegiate, as well as Victoria College, University of Toronto, and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Kurisko began his law practice in Sault Ste. Marie and also served the people of Blind River and Elliott Lake.
As a judge, Kurisko handed down hundreds of decisions and he advocated on behalf of Northwestern Ontario, helping to institute civil and pre-trial systems to the region, eliminating a backlog of cases at the time.
During his time in Thunder Bay, Kurisko served as a member of the board of directors with Magnus Theatre and has been named an honourary lifetime board member.
After retirement, Kurisko and his wife moved to Guelph to be near family.
Kurisko died on Oct. 10, 2019 in Guelph. He was 91-years-old.
