Barriston LLP is proud to announce the creation of the Barriston Cockburn Community Fund, to honour our partner, John Richard (Bud) Cockburn, Q.C., who retired in 2021 after nearly 60 years of legal practice. The fund was established in 2022, and the first dividend payment was made in December 2024 to Rainbows Canada, an organization that is near and dear to John Cockburn’s heart.
“Barriston truly cares about the impact that we make on the communities in which we live and work” said Joanne McPhail, Managing Partner at Barriston Law. “Nobody takes this to heart more than Bud (John). On top of his busy legal practice, he spent his entire adult life supporting his community. We wanted to honour him in a way that truly reflected his character and commitment and we felt that a legacy community fund spoke perfectly to that.”
John Cockburn is a Paul Harris Fellow. He was presented with the Community Recognition Award from the Simcoe County Law Association in 2008, and in 2019 received the Joel Kuchar Award for Professionalism and Civility from the Ontario Bar Association. He served on the board (and is a past Chair) of the Royal Victoria Hospital for many years. Other volunteerism includes serving as a board member of the Ontario Safety League, spearheading and chairing the development of Collier Place, and co-chairing Leadership Gifts – Capital Fundraising for Hospice Simcoe. John remains an active member (and past President) of the Rotary Club of Barrie-Huronia.
The Barriston Cockburn Community Fund provides a place for the firm to make charitable donations, on top of the roughly $105,000 in community donations and not-for-profit organization sponsorships the firm makes each year. By making these donations through the fund, the firm also helps to create a larger impact through the investments on the capital of the fund’s endowment.
Barriston Law hopes to continue to grow the fund over time. If you would like to donate to the fund, please visit barriecommunityfoundation.org, click the “Donate” button and select “Barriston Cockburn Fund” from the drop-down menu.
The Barrie Community Foundation builds and manages endowment funds to support charitable activities in Barrie and area. They work closely within the community supporting local charitable organizations. They are a member of the Community Foundations of Canada and part of the Canadian movement for community vitality. Through the generosity and vision of Barrie philanthropists at every level, they are engaged in building a strong and resilient place to live, work, and thrive.
To set up a legacy donation that allows you to give back and support your community year after year, contact Sarah Ingram, Executive Director of the Barrie Community Foundation, at executivedirector@barriecommunityfoundation.org.