McGILL LAW JOURNAL
Volume 19
Montreal
1973
Number 3
George Swan Chames
1910-1973
Men cannot live together without law, and the extent of a
society’s civilization may be measured in part by the degree of
perfection attained by its legal system. Western society has, over
the centuries and through the efforts of many, developed an ad-
vanced legal system. Among those who devoted themselves to its
furtherance in Quebec must be counted George Challies.
He was a brilliant student who earned his Bachelor of Civil
Law Degree from McGill University in 1935, graduating with the
Elizabeth Torrance Gold Metal. He also earned his Master of Civil
Law Degree from this University in 1947. As a judge of the Superior
Court of the Province of Quebec (1949-1973) he was learned in the
law, but he tempered its application so as to render true justice
between the parties. As Associate Chief Justice (1963-1973) he
laboured long and hard to render more efficient the slow-moving
administration of justice. In his work as a law ref6rmer on the
Commission for the Revision of the Quebec Code of Civil Proce-
dure, he sought to reduce the technicalities and delays of the Law.
For over a quarter of a century he taught law at McGill University,
partly in the Faculty of Law and partly in the Faculty of Engineer-
ing. He was a teacher who lectured with clarity, precision and
infinite patience. Those students who had the good fortune to clerk
for him in the Court House will long remember him as a wise
counsellor and friend. He was a prolific writer on legal subjects
in both the English and French languages, at a time when too
little was being written in either language in this province. In
recognition of his services, McGill University conferred upon him
the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, in 1966.
George Challies was a simple, humble and courageous man
who devoted his life to the cause of justice.
