Fred Jordan passed away on September 8, 2018, at the age of 82 years.
He was born to the late Winnifred and Cecil Jordan on January 11, 1936, in Nakusp, B.C. Fred grew up in the small town of Edgewood, B.C. He attended school in Nakusp and graduated high school in Kamloops, B.C.
Fred obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1963. He pursued and received his Master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1964. In 1969, Fred was called to the bar by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Fred Jordan was an unsung hero of the constitutional patriation process in Canada and was one of the federal government's most senior and longest-serving legal experts. Colleagues in the Department of Justice referred to Fred as a workhorse in describing the time, sacrifices and contributions he made to the Canadian constitutional development and the struggles for Canadian unity in a career that spanned several decades. During the constitution patriation period in 1981, Fred acted at one point as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Law, and the constitutional advisor to the Prime Minister. Fred played a key role in the development of the Meech Lake Accord, and he provided advice on many other important constitutional files during his time in the Department of Justice.
His legacy continued after his retirement in 1996 through the mentorship of many colleagues still in government. His professional life was devoted to Canada's constitutional development and unity, and he left an indelible mark on the country. Fred was a constant and caring member of his extended family: his sister Dorothy Wegner and the late Elizabeth (Betty) Klein, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Fred will be missed by all those who were fortunate to have known him.
