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DEL ELGERSMA, B.A., J.D.

Del Elgersma is a founding partner of Beacon Law Centre, practicing in the areas of business law, estate planning and trusts, and real estate. Del has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs get started in business. Successful business owners and their advisors turn to Del to help implement corporate reorganizations for tax or succession planning purposes, which may involve an “estate freeze” transaction, a holding company and a discretionary family trust. As one of the first lawyers in BC to write wills in plain language, Del’s clients benefit from estate plans that are free of legalese. Del finds particular satisfaction in helping clients who are “stuck” to identify their options and create an estate plan tailored to their needs. Del is a frequent speaker on estate planning topics and has developed and taught courses on incapacity planning and will and estate planning for the Peninsula Elder College. Starting his legal career in Vancouver with one of the leading real estate conveyancing law firms in Canada, Del has helped thousands of clients with their residential purchase, sale and mortgage transactions, and also has extensive experience with complex and creative commercial deals and developments.

Del grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and moved to Vancouver to attend law school at UBC. After articling with a large Vancouver law firm, Del was called to the bar in 1992, becoming the youngest lawyer in British Columbia. After practising law for four years in Vancouver, Del and his wife chose the quality of life available on Vancouver Island and moved to the Saanich Peninsula in 1996. They have lived in North Saanich for over 25 years. Del’s wife Karen is the owner of Karen Elgersma Media and Edible Vancouver Island magazine after 18 years as a TV reporter on Shaw TV. They have two children. Del’s passions outside of work are spending time with his family and competitive swimming.  He also loves to travel and keeps a journal of his travels at www.travelling.lawyer.

Resume of Del Elgersma

Called to the Bar, 1992, British Columbia

Education:

Professional Activities:

    • Member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
    • Member of the Victoria Wills & Trusts Section of the CBA, BC Branch (Chair, 1997-1999)
    • Member of the Vancouver Island Commercial & Real Estate Section of the CBA, BC Branch (Chair, 2019 – 2022)
    • Member of Provincial Council of the CBA, BC Branch (2019 – 2020, and 1997-1999)
    • Member of the CBA National Real Property Section Executive Committee (2019 – 2022)
    • Author of a quarterly legal newsletter used by law firms throughout British Columbia (1999 – 2000)
    • Lecturer for various community organizations on wills and estates, starting a business, and real estate law

Community Involvement:

    • Director, Saanich Peninsula Memorial Park Society (2022 – present)
    • Director, Saanich Marine Rescue Society (2019 – present, President 2019 – 2022)
    • Member, Central Saanich Police Board (2011 – 2017)
    • Director, Victoria Christian Education Society (Pacific Christian School) (2012 – 2015)
    • Director, Pacific Christian School Foundation (2008 – 2015)
    • Director, Chemainus Theatre Foundation (2009 – 2012)
    • Official Agent for the Honourable Gary Lunn, Member of Parliament, for the 2008 Federal Election
    • Director and Corporate Secretary, Habitat for Humanity Victoria (2005 – 2007)
    • President, Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (2000 – 2002, Director from 1996 – 2002)
    • Director and President, First Pacific Theatre Society, a professional theatre company in Vancouver (1993 – 1995)
    • Attend Coastline Church

Testimonials

Del,
I am writing to tell you how much Michael and I have appreciated you. Through this whole gyrating adventure of great excitement and crushing disappointments you have been rock solid.

Every financial institution broke their promise and let us down one after the other. It was a roller coaster ride. But in the end we knew we could rely upon your steady support and continuous availability. In your absence Lianne filled in very well

May we commend each and everyone of your staff for their courtesy and accommodation.

What a pleasure.

R.C. and M.C.PS We look forward to your being our corporate lawyer and to an ongoing relationship

Dealing with Beacon Law is a pleasant experience. Del is approachable, professional, friendly and knowledgeable – in short, the ­best­ lawyer we have ever dealt with.

B.R. & J.R.

Dear Lianne, I recently had an occasion to refer a client to your firm. Her business was in the process of the dissolution of a long-standing partnership. Although she has been in business for a long time, and runs a very smart operation, she is also a very trusting individual. I was concerned that her partner was taking advantage of her and strongly recommended that she get independent legal advice.

Because you were heading out of town, she met with your partner, Del Elgersma. My client was very impressed with Del’s thoroughness, caring, business knowledge and overall handling of the situation. At one point, the agreement was in danger of collapsing, and it was Del’s calm yet thorough response that brought things to a satisfactory close.

Suffice to say that my client was effusive in her compliments to Del and your firm, impressed with your professionalism, and definitely a beneficiary of your “Trusted Advice and Outstanding Service”!

J.G.

Hi Del:

I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for doing my in-laws’ end of life planning some years ago….. My husband and I had been after them for many years and they wouldn’t talk about it or deal with it, but then they went to one of your seminars and they were finally convinced to get it done, and very wisely, completed all the paperwork and planning with you. Up until today, they had forgotten they had done the paperwork and finally dug around and there it was! They were very pleased to show it all to me and it opened the gates to a long and practical discussion between us.

I am hugely relieved because I know from handling my own parents’ affairs, that this is an extremely important step to allow for peace of mind on all sides.

Once again, thank you so much.

M.B.

I am writing you to commend you on the terrific legal services that your firm provides, particularly as it relates to Wills and Estates as that is the area in which I have personally dealt with you, as have many of my family members.

In preparing the Wills of my wife and I, Del was very well organized and methodical. He was also able to easily explain any questions that we had for him. An added benefit to my wife and I was that Del was also quite familiar with the provisions in a Will that are specific to Baha’is as we are members of the religion, and Del incorporated such provisions in our Wills.

In Summary, Del was confident throughout the whole process, and it was easily apparent that he was very skilled and experienced in the area of Wills and Estates. He is constantly kind, polite and professional. It was easy for me to refer my parents and other family members to him.

My personal opinion is that people should have their Wills done properly by a lawyer, and that that lawyer is Del Elgersma.

S.M.
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