Ernie's Bucket List
- A lifetime of dedication helping and educating others to gain access to justice
- Canadian lawyer working in the administration of justice for over 42 years since being called to the bar in April 1976
- Write books sharing his vision of seeing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) differently
- Practice an all-inclusive approach to ADR for 33 years since Sept 1985
- Educate thousands of people from around the world
- Raise public awareness on ADR through his 5 year, award-winning CHIN ADR radio shows
- Launch an online membership with my talented Global ADR Strategies team
- Create a collaborative framework for the membership to drive new content development
- Explore the future of "All Inclusive ADR Spectrum" with this membership acting as the guide
- Launch a program to help professionals living in a pandemic
Visual Roadmap of Ernie the Attorney™
Timeline of Ernie the Attorney™
Ernest G. Tannis
aka Ernie the Attorney™
Father of two wonderful, successful adults. Grandfather of three beautiful children.
Lawyer, Solicitor, Chartered Mediator, Facilitator, Author, Educator, Public Speaker
Education
1996
Chartered Mediator
- Grandfathered by ADR Institute of Canada
1985 to 1991
Attended 100's of Conferences and Workshops on Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 1985 suspended thriving law practice as was disillusioned with adversarial legal system
- Went on a learning journey in search of dispute resolution options for people
- Mentor Gordon Henderson of Gowling Lafleur Henderson Law Firm invited Ernie to present his ADR findings in a Paper to the 1988 CCLA-County of Carleton Law Association Update Conference
- Feedback on Conference paper from colleagues around the world led to the publication of his book, “Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works!”, 1989
1976
Called to the Bar of Ontario
- Became a Barrister and Solicitor
- Judge’s advice about practicing law, “Don’t be shy, do it all!” inspired his legal career
- Articled for Brian Karam
1974
Graduated from the University of Ottawa
- Common Law Degree
- Editor for the University’s Common Law Review
1971
Graduated Carleton University
- Bachelor of Arts Degree
- Applied for Masters of Library Sciences but was denied
- Two professors suggested applying to law school to bring his humanitarianism into the law
- Taught English Literature to 10 students with disabilities through grade 9, 10, 11
- Met and befriended Rod Carpenter who lives with a severe quadriplegic disability
1967
Graduated Grade 13
- With honours
- Received prestigious Lisgar “L”
1966
Graduated Lisgar Collegiate Institute-High School
- Was on the football team throughout high school. Learned strong sense of teamwork.
1962
Graduated Lisgar Elementary School
Experience
2000 - Present
Ernest G. Tannis Professional Corporation
- Private firm operating in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Over 40 years of experience in dispute resolution
- Visit adrcentre.org for mediation services
2005-2010
ADR Show on CHIN Radio Ottawa
- Created a weekly public education program on “ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution”
- Produced 260 one-hour segments during 5 years with over 1,000 guests
- Co-hosted shows with Gary Michaels, General Manager of CHIN Radio Ottawa
- Enjoyed by listeners worldwide over the internet
2010
Published, "Is Everyone At The Table?"
- Book subtitled “18 Life Lessons in Problem Solving”
- Presents his real-life stories based on actual dispute interventions
- Demonstrates the importance of values, perseverance, trust, humour and other principles dealing with everyday disagreements and disputes
Published, "Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works!"
- The 20th Anniversary Edition of the pioneering ADR book in Canada, originally published in 1989
- Kept groundbreaking 1989 research and ideas intact
- Included a new Preface discussing ADR developments during the two decades since first published
- 2018 reformatted as a course on globaladrstrategies.com
1994
Formed First "All-Discipline" ADR Firm in Ontario
1992
Resumed Law Practice
- After a 5-year hiatus learning non-adversarial options for people to resolve disputes
- Acted as Counsel to the law firm Sadik Fogarty Max
- Explored and shared negotiation options learned during 100s of ADR conferences and workshops, etc.
Founded ADR Centre Canada Inc.
1990
Akwesasne Civil Strife (during Oka Crisis in Canada)
- Conflict Resolution Consultant while Executive Director of CICR – Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (Ottawa)
- Invited by the Akwesasne Mohawk leadership
- Guided community to establish successful mediation center for lasting peace, “Sken Nen Kowa”
1989
Published, "Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works!"
- Surprised to learn his first book was also the first book published in Canada on ADR
- Originated from his 1988 research paper to CCLA-Canadian Carleton Law Association Conference
- For practitioners and the public to understand the options available to resolve disputes through creative solutions
- Published ‘in tact’ in 2010, 20th Anniversary Edition
1988
Co-Founded CICR
- Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution
- Served as Executive Director for two years
- Co-founded the Dispute Resolution Centre of Ottawa-Carleton in 1987–this led to the creation of CICR to advance conflict resolution research and training
1985
Suspended Law Practice
- Disillusioned with the adversarial legal system and went in search of options for people
- Wrote poem “33 Step on the Stairway to Love”
1982 to 1985
Blaney Stapells McMurty Law Firm
- Associate: Practised as a Barrister in civil and criminal law.
1981
Co-Founded Reach Canada
- Originally “REACH” with Rod Carpenter and Lawrence Greenspon as co-founders
- Established as a Canadian non-profit organisation to provide lawyer referral services and educational awareness seminars to people with disabilities
- Reach Canada’s motto is: Equality and Justice for People with Disabilities
- Ongoing involvement as Honourary Officer
1976 to 1981
Karam Tannis Greenspon Law Firm
- Practiced as a Barrister and Solicitor in civil and criminal law
- Was instrumental in the national precedent setting case on disability rights, regarding arranging a bank account, executable by thumbprint, for Rod Carpenter living with a severe quadriplegic disability
Recognition
2015
Order of Ottawa
- Received this prestigious civic award from Mayor Jim Watson
- Awarded in recognition of his exceptional citizen contributions to city life
30-Year Celebration
- Commemorated his 30-year ADR Journey in celebration at City Hall with over 300 fellow travellers, family and friends
- Attended by Mayor Jim Watson who signed the Conflict Resolution Day Proclamation
2013
OAFM Making a Difference Award
2012
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
2011
United Way Community Builder Award
2005-2010
Reach Canada Awards
2007
Universal Peace Federation-International Leadership Conference
- Acknowledged for his vision and leadership in a time of global conflict
- Conference in Seoul, Korea
2005-2010
Two CEMA-Canadian Ethnic Media Awards
- For the CHIN ADR Radio shows
1994
County of Carleton Law Association Gordon Henderson Community Service Award
1988
Conflict Resolution Day Proclamation Ottawa-Carleton
- Proclamation “Justice Is… Just Us”
- Convened Mayors in 11 municipalities of Ottawa-Carleton and Chairman of Regional Government who signed the declaration
1967
Received the Lisgar "L" Upon Graduating Grade 13 with Honours
CONTACT
Readers Digest of Some of the Accomplishments of Ernie the Attorney™
- Created his first online ADR course based on his book "ADR That Works!" and including special guest interviews
- 40 years of problem-solving experience with interventions inside and outside of the courtroom, many deep-rooted and high conflict cases
- Ontario lawyer living in Ottawa, Canada
- A member of the Law Society of Ontario (previously Upper Canada) since 1976
- Barrister, Solicitor, Mediator, Facilitator, Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada, and Accredited Family Mediator with OAFM (Ontario Association for Family Mediation)
- Over 30 years of experience with Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Local, national and international public speaker
- Wrote the first book published in Canada on ADR in 1989: "Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works!"; published the 20th Anniversary Edition in 2010
- Wrote and published his second book: "Is Everyone at the Table? 18 Life Lessons in Problem Solving" in 2010
- Created and co-hosted the weekly ADR Show on CHIN Radio Ottawa for five years, heard world wide. Garnered 2 CEMA Awards
- Created the first mediation program for schools in Canada over 30 years ago
Ernie's Books
"Alternative Dispute Resolution That Works!" 20th Anniversary Edition published in 2010 incorporates the first book published in Canada on ADR in 1989. Jack Miller, a lawyer involved in a lengthy litigation case in the 1980s, submitted Ernie’s manuscript with the Quebec Court to take judicial notice of Alternative Dispute Resolution to mediate the case and it was accepted by the court
"Is Everyone at the Table? 18 Life Lessons in Problem Solving" published in 2010 has 18 chapters of real-life stories of ADR at work in everyday negotiations and dealings. This book has been used by Ernie and other practitioners and educators as a teaching guide to help others understand and apply ADR principles and practices to prevent and solve problems.
Awards and Recognition
Play Video
In 2015 Ernie celebrated his 30-year journey with over 300 attendees at Ottawa City Hall. Hear what Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa, had to say about Ernie's contributions in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Play Video
Watch Ernie, alongside fellow recipients, proudly receiving the Order of Ottawa in 2015 from Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa. He is honoured to have received this award in recognition of his accomplishments helping others in the community solve problems.
CHIN Radio Ottawa - ADR Talk Show
Ernie produced this unique, one-hour weekly Alternative Dispute Resolution Radio Talk Show as a public service from 2005 to 2010 on CJLL CHIN Radio at Ottawa 97.9. They were broadcast worldwide over the internet on www.chinradio.com.
He contacted and invited over 1,500 guests who graciously shared their professional insights and personal wisdom with listeners on topics of local, national and international interest.
The program received Canadian Ethnic Media Awards for two shows.
Ernie and his super-star co-host, Gary Michaels, received accolades from people around the world who found the animated discussions not only interesting but informative too.
The original plan to produce 12 ADR shows turned into an amazing 5-year adventure with two CEMA awards.
Shows are republished on Soundcloud and available to encourage public education and awareness of ADR. Go to: GlobalADRstartegies.com