Joe Gordon, B.A., LL.B
Joe Gordon’s interest in becoming a lawyer began in his youth as the oldest of five rambunctious brothers. Back then, he noticed that his parents would sometimes have to consult “a lawyer” about their family life, business, and the aftermath of his siblings’ spirited activities.
While attending Okanagan College, he was the first student president and organized the first environmental student march to clean up Okanagan Lake. He also played Junior A Hockey for the Kelowna Buckaroos. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at Notre Dame University in Nelson, later receiving his law degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.
During his university days, Joe worked the summers as a sawmill labourer, a Lectra Haul truck driver, and the first tourist guide at Brenda Mines in Peachland, BC. In law school, he worked as a part-time litigation assistant.
After articling in downtown Vancouver, he was called to the BC Bar in 1978. He then jumped at an opportunity to work in Grande Prairie, AB, with some of Alberta’s best lawyers and gained invaluable courtroom experience. He was called to the Alberta Bar and practiced concurrently in both BC and Alberta for many years.
Following the practice of law in Alberta, Joe returned to the Okanagan, and associated with Salloum Doak in Kelowna and Bob Bassett in West Kelowna. He established Gordon & Company in 1993.
In addition to his work as a lawyer, Joe was a volunteer firefighter for six years and a Kelowna Minor hockey coach for many years. For the past eleven years, he has been a Designated Driver Dads volunteer on Friday and Saturday nights between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., safely driving people and their vehicles home.
Joe remains an avid hockey player. Joe and his wife of 40 years, Julie, have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. None of Joe’s brothers went to jail.