Prince Edward Island Crown Attorney, David O’Brien, QC, was recently honoured with a national humanitarian award at a meeting of the Heads of Prosecutions in Whitehorse. Mr. O’Brien, who is the Senior Crown Attorney in the Summerside Office, is well known throughout Prince Edward Island for both his professional and community work.
The Humanitarian Award is presented annually to a Canadian prosecutor who has demonstrated outstanding involvement and dedication to addressing community issues and improving or enriching the lives of others.
“There are over 3,000 prosecutors throughout Canada,” said Cyndria L. Wedge, Director of PEI’s Crown Attorneys’ Office. “So, it is a great honour to be chosen to receive this award. David has contributed so much during his almost thirty years as a Crown Attorney, and he richly deserves this recognition from his peers.”
Throughout his career, Mr. O’Brien has demonstrated a passionate commitment to giving voice to those most vulnerable – namely children and all victims and potential victims of violence within our families and communities. He has participated on the Premier’s Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention, the Provincial Child Sexual Abuse Committee, the East Prince Committee on Family Violence, and the National Youth Criminal Justice Committee. He is also past President of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, former director of the Community Legal Information Association, and is a dedicated volunteer for the Scouts, the Knights of Columbus, and coaching various hockey and baseball teams.
The Humanitarian Award is one of three awards given annually by the Federal Provincial and Territorial Heads of Prosecutions Committee. The other two awards recognize “Commitment to Justice” and “Courage and Perseverance.”