Chief justice pays tribute to retiring Martin, reflects on top court’s relocation

OTTAWA — Chief Justice Richard Wagner paid tribute to a departing judge Friday and bid a temporary farewell to the Supreme Court’s stately home.

Wagner praised the contributions of retiring Justice Sheilah Martin before the top court considered a criminal matter — the final case Martin will hear and the last one to come before the court in its current building for several years.

Martin is slated to step down May 30, the day before her 70th birthday. However, she will continue to work on cases in which she took part.

Martin was born and raised in Montreal and trained in both civil and common law before moving to Alberta.

She served on the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary until June 2016, when she was appointed as a judge of the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. She was named to the Supreme Court in 2017.

Wagner recalled that at Martin’s welcome ceremony, he spoke of her wealth of experience as an educator, lawyer and judge, as well as her commitment to equal justice for all Canadians.

“Nearly nine years later, those qualities have defined your work on this court,” Wagner said.

Martin brought careful attention to individual rights and a strong sense of responsibility to the law through her work, particularly in criminal law and on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he added.

“On a more personal note, your engagement in our deliberations and your contagious enthusiasm have enriched both the work and the life of the court,” Wagner said.

Martin thanked all who have worked alongside her at the top court, saying it has been the highlight of her professional life.

She said she enjoys good health, and that while deciding to leave the court before the mandatory retirement age of 75 was not an easy one, “it’s the right decision for me at this time.”

“I’ve been enriched by my experience, one that’s been equal parts challenging and rewarding.”

At one point, Martin teared up and blamed allergy season, prompting laughter in the courtroom.

Recently named members of an independent advisory board will review applications received through the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs to identify candidates for the vacancy created by Martin’s retirement. They will then submit a shortlist of candidates to Prime Minister Mark Carney for consideration.

The Supreme Court building is about to undergo major renovations, the first extensive update since its completion more than 80 years ago.

The court’s judges and staff will soon move across the street to the West Memorial Building — expected to be their workspace for the next decade.

“Within these walls, arguments were made, decisions followed, and with each case, our shared commitment to justice, democracy and the rule of law was reaffirmed,” Wagner said Friday.

That enduring role is inseparable from the building itself — a remarkable expression of Art Deco brought to life by architect Ernest Cormier, the chief justice said.

“Authority expressed with restraint, order grounded in reason and a conviction that justice, like architecture, must be both sound and fitting,” he said. “The result is a space both functional and profoundly symbolic.”

Wagner said in French that it was difficult to not be in awe of the grandeur of the building.

“The columns, the light through the stained glass windows — all this creates an atmosphere of respect and reflection,” he said.

“For many among us — justices and staff members — this moment marks a final passage. It’s not just a goodbye, it also reminds us that for a while we have been the guardians of this place,” Wagner added.

“Others have been before us. Others will be after us. That is how the institution will continue throughout time.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2026.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press