#167

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Gordon Maynard, a recently retired immigration lawyer, to reflect on his remarkable 35-year career. Gordon shares how he sustained a long and fulfilling practice through the camaraderie and support of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), mentorship from peers, and the value of in-person connections. He discusses the critical role of the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in providing equitable discretion for permanent residents facing removal, critiques the erosion of human interaction in modern immigration processes due to centralization and AI, and highlights how physical activities like biking up Seymour Mountain every week helped maintain mental resilience. Gordon also offers wisdom for young lawyers, including urging them to diversify their practice across corporate and enforcement work, stay connected through the CBA, and embrace the human side of immigration law.