Bruce has lived and practiced law in Orillia for more than forty years. “I cannot imagine a better place to raise four children”, he says. One by one, each of the four finished school, and left for distant pastures. One by one they have chosen to return to Orillia, keeping Bruce and his wife Susan in close contact with their families, including eight grandchildren.
Bruce and Susan are both from St. Thomas, another small community. He attended law school at the University of Western Ontario and came to Orillia in 1968, forming a legal partnership with “Rusty” Russell, with whom he practiced for twenty-one years. In 2000, Bruce Waite merged his law practice with central Ontario’s largest law firm, Hacker Gignac Rice. He then began a fulfilling four-year career as Chief Administrative Officer of an international corporation. This gave him new insight into the challenges faced by business on a daily basis. “In the legal profession, you don’t make a decision until you have all the facts. In business, you don’t have the luxury of time when you’re faced with a decision, because business moves too rapidly.”
Returning to private practice in 2004, Bruce is again an active member of the firm and specializes in business transactions and succession planning, commercial finance and real estate. His years in the business world continue to provide invaluable background. An active Kiwanian, past vice-chair of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation, past chair and member of the local Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, past president of the Orillia Law Society and a member of the Board of Governors of Lakehead University, he lives his commitment to volunteerism. His wife’s energy and involvement match his. Susan finds the greatest pleasure in life in helping others, through working with oncology patients, CNIB friends and the Kiwanis Music Festival, driving Meals-on-Wheels and volunteering with a host of charitable groups.
Bruce fits a myriad of recreational pursuits into his life, including early morning ‘Y’ workouts and a few minutes at the piano every day.
Credentials
- Legal Education: University of Western Ontario (LL.B. 1966)
- Admitted to Bar: 1968
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel: 1979
- Areas of Practice: Corporate/Commercial, Business & Succession Planning, Commercial Real Estate & Financing, Business Transactions
Activities
- Member, Board of Governors Lakehead University
- Founding Director Friends of the OPP Museum
- Member and Past President Orillia Kiwanis Club
- Past Vice-Chair Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation
- Former Deputy Judge Ontario Court of Justice
- Past President Orillia Law Association
- Founding Chair Orillia and Area Physicians Recruitment and Retention Committee