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Bryant Alexander Mackey
December 24th, 2023
December 24th, 2023
Bryant Alexander Mackey (February 7, 1968 - December 24, 2023)
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Bryant Mackey, accomplished lawyer, loving father, and treasured friend.
Bryant grew up in London, Ontario where he was surrounded by many friends made through competitive sports, school and academic activities. He was supported throughout his formative years and beyond by his loving parents, Paul and Nancy Mackey, and his Port Colborne family, Jennifer, Catherine, Lilian and Joe.
After graduating from high school, Bryant took a gap year and travelled through Australia and New Zealand; thus inspiring his lifelong love of travel. Returning from his gap year, Bryant studied political science and English at the University of Western Ontario, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and later completed graduate studies (in English Literature) at the University of Victoria, BC, and obtained a degree in law from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Between academic pursuits, he spent some of his favourite years living in Aix-en-Provence, France, and Rome, Italy.
Bryant went on to work for many years as legal counsel to various public institutions, including the Legal Services Branch of the Province of British Columbia, the Coroners Service, and the City of Vancouver, where he advised the Vancouver Police. Bryant appeared as counsel before all levels of Canadian courts and before various administrative tribunals, including appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. Bryant was known in legal circles for his sharp intellect, energy, humour, and his love of the law.
Bryant embraced life and work with a characteristic vibrancy, energy and enthusiasm. He was well-read, eloquent, and loved nothing better than to engage in intellectual debate, at any place, any time, on any subject. As many of his friends and family will know, Bryant suffered during his adult life with mental health and addiction issues, and although in recent years his declining health affected his ability to connect with his many friends and colleagues, his intellect, curiosity and boundless supply of engaging conversation will be missed by many.
Bryant is survived by his parents, Paul and Nancy, his children, Brendan, Kate and Justine, and many family members and friends.
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Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Bryant’s life with a heartfelt message.
Dea Lloyd
Bryant was co-chair of the Articled Student Committee when I articled for the Ministry of Justice, years ago. He was a committed mentor, a fierce advocate, and an energetic proponent of the public interest. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor, a role he took very seriously. When I reached out to him for advice at a difficult time in my life, he responded immediately and with a touching depth of caring, even though years had passed since I last worked with him. I did not learn of his passing until today. In reading the tributes, I gather that he faced significant challenges toward the end of his life. It is a reminder that any one of us can have struggles seemingly invisible to outside observers, and to hold space and heart for others, and for ourselves, too, when we struggle. I remember his email sign off used to be “keep fighting the good fight.” It’s a tragedy that Bryant is no longer among us, fighting the good fight. I will remember his energy, spirit, and compassion. My heart goes out to his friends and family. What a loss.
Deborah Odell
Marta Juzwiak
Bryant’s death is very sad news. I met and briefly knew Bryant when he was still in his 30s, and we were both working as lawyers in BC, after a mutual friend introduced us at a law firm event. He was already then a brilliant lawyer with an uncanny ability to connect with people. At the time, I was a 1.5 year call, and I was at a professional low, contemplating leaving the practice of law altogether, and thinking I might simply be unsuitable for it. I’m not sure why my woes came up the very first time we met, maybe because my wound was raw and deep and we each had a drink in hand, him out of habit, me out of need. I balked at telling him the details; true to form, he offered me his lawyer client privilege, insisted on knowing why I was despondent about my career, and promised to act in my best interests. Right away, he worked to reframe my problem and, in his words, to encourage me to “keep fighting the good fight.” As it does for any good lawyer, the “good fight” meant a fight in my client’s interests, whoever they happened to be, wherever I happened to work. As I forged ahead, I occasionally sought Bryant’s advice on my files. At first I was a defence lawyer; he helped me anyway, as best he could, even though he essentially worked for the other side, albeit in a department with zero likelihood of dealing with a file of mine. When I apologized for reaching out to him/bothering him for advice, he would reassure me that I was “always welcome with [him].” His words made all the difference during a dark lonely time and were the reason I continued my legal career. I admired how accepting he was of others, and how he never spoke ill of anyone to me. Yes, from what little I observed of his approach to his own life, he had a penchant for hedonism, and sometimes as a result, he seemed to pose a reckless danger to the equilibrium of his life, but I share with others here the opinion that it’s an absolute tragedy that this trait was his undoing. He brought a spark of joy and kindness to this world that is irreplaceable. His intellect was impressive, and he was - rightly - enthusiastic about and proud of his work. He loved his children not as an extension of himself, but as individuals, even though they were small at the time I knew him; when I asked about them, he spoke of his very young children with awe and admiration, seeing them as people in their own rights, as brilliant and as perfect as any child he could have asked for, not for how they pleased him or reflected upon him, but for how they approached the challenges of their own little preschool lives. I’m sorry his family watched him implode and lost him early, and that he will never get to be a fun grandpa. I’m sorry his friends and fellow lawyers lost him, his wit, his kindness, and his interpersonal generosity. And I’m sorry that he died in St. Paul’s hospital, undoubtedly uncomfortable, and that he suffered. I‘ve cried over your premature, uncomfortable death, Bryant. Not so long ago, I watched another smart, charming, beautiful and complicated friend die the way you did, and neither she nor you deserved such an ending, so early. May the afterlife be better to you, my friend, and more intrinsically satisfying than this life was. May we all meet again someday.
Sean Hern
Bryant's death is sad and troubling. He was an excellent lawyer and a great guy. He was so enthusiastic about the law, full of ideas and anecdotes, philosophies and gossip, and always quick to laugh. I was against him on several occasions and then hired him when he ventured out of government. We had hoped to work together for many years. It didn't work out that way, but no hard feelings. My condolences to his children and loved ones - what a loss. Rest in peace my friend.
Valerie Dixon
I worked with Bryant for far too short of a time at the City - he started just a few months after I did and we both worked out of a funny little office under the Cambie Street bridge. He was a warm, friendly and generous colleague from the get go, and I very much appreciated his willingness to collaborate and share experiences. I’m so sorry that Bryant struggled and that the end of his life was difficult and painful despite all of the love and support that surrounded him. But I am very heartened to see that the people in his life are willing to speak frankly about his challenges as well as his many strengths. We don’t do that nearly enough and as a result we often don’t do justice to the complex, difficult, wonderful, brilliant people we love and sometimes sadly lose. My deepest and most sincere condolences to Bryant’s loved ones - Bryant is so missed.
Freya Zaltz
This is very sad news. I might not be where I am today if not for Bryant. I met him as a student in a course he taught at UVic (or rather, he tried to teach but constantly distracted himself by telling stories about outrageous litigants and never got through the material on the syllabus). As chair of the Legal Services Branch articling committee, he was ridiculously enthusiastic about the idea of me working at LSB and he went above and beyond to encourage me to apply and accept the offer. He also made significant efforts to mentor me for 5 or 6 years by involving me in a wide variety of his files, explaining the legal and ethical issues in depth, and seeking my input in the drafting of his written materials. He never missed a chance to regale me with lengthy stories and lessons on the phone and in person (in the office, hallway, lobby, sidewalk). In hindsight those lessons were much more valuable than I realized at the time. The last time I saw him several years ago he seemed unwell but I didn't know the reasons why. He always seemed so exuberant in the past that I wrongly assumed he would be around forever. What a loss for his family and friends, and for the legal community.
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