Joe Wilder

Joe Wilder was the founding partner of Wilder Wilder and Langtry in 1967 and with his brother Samuel carried on the firm until it merged with PKF Lawyers in January 2, 2020.

Joe graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor Arts Degree and subsequently in 1960 a Bachelor of Laws Degree. He took honors in each year of law school and was a prize winner in each of the last two years. He was awarded a Law Society prize for high standing in his fourth year.

At the same time Joe was immersed in extra circular activities at the University having served as President of both Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and B’Nai B’Rith Hillel Foundation and the Vice President of University of Manitoba Students Union. He was also the Debating Chairman of the U of M Student Union and became National Debating Chairman (NFCUS) for all participating Universities in 1959.

He won the Outstanding Student Union Graduate award (tied) 1960 in his graduating year.

Joe commenced his practice as a litigator and within short order fought cases at every level of the court system in Manitoba.

For the last 25 years, he has confined his practice mainly to business, corporate and commercial work as well as real estate, estates, wills and powers of attorney. In his professional capacity he has counselled many hundreds of clients and continues to be an important resource that his clients lean on.

At the same time Joe has also been a pillar of the community and has given of himself unstintingly both locally and nationally. Joe was an elected School Trustee of the Winnipeg School Board and was Finance Chairman of the Winnipeg School Division No. 1 in 1969. He was at one time a radio editorialist for CBC Radio and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

For 25 years Joe was either an executive member or a member of the board of directors of the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council and served as its Vice President (1975 – 1979). He also served as the Vice President of the Liberal Party of Manitoba 1975 – 1979. He is perhaps best known in Winnipeg as a former President of the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Football Club (1981 – 1983) and member of its governing body for close to 25 years. In that capacity he was also a Governor of the Canadian Football League 1980 – 1981. Joe went on to become President of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1988. The Winnipeg Football Club inducted Joe into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Commissioner for Football accorded him the Commissioner’s Award Gold Ring in the same year.

In 1983, he was recognized for exceptional merit in his profession and his contributions to the community when he was awarded the title of Queen’s Counsel.

Joe has held many senior positions nationally in which he has demonstrated his values of giving back to the community and making a difference. He has been a member of the national executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress and served as its Vice-President from 1986 – 1989. He also chaired its important Community Relations Committee 1986 – 1989.

Joe served as National Chairman of the Canada Israel Committee from 1989 – 2004, the national spokes organization for the Jewish community of Canda and as a member of the Advisory Board of the CIJA (Canadian Counsel for Israel and Jewish Advocacy).

Joe next lent his efforts toward bringing the Pan American Games back to Winnipeg and served first as honorary legal counsel to the 1999 Pan American Games Bid Committee and subsequently as an executive officer (sec.) of the Pan American Games Committee 1999.

For his efforts in the sports community, Joe was recognized and inducted into the Rady Jewish Community Centre Sports Wall of Fame as a Builder in 2010.

The Jewish community of Winnipeg honored him with its highest honor, the Saul Kanee Distinguished Community Services Medal in 2008 and the National Jewish community honored him as the 2014 Jewish National Fund Negev Gala Honoree. He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Joe served as Chairman of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (2015 and 2016).

He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Foundation of Canada and a member of the advisory board of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. He is also a lifetime member of the Winnipeg Football Club.

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