- Geoff Machum Takes On Fun Directorship At Canada’s Walk of Fame
By Andrew Madonald
Top drawer construction litigator Geoff Machum has been appointed as a board of director of Canada’s Walk of Fame, a Toronto charitable organization.
Yes, Canada has a Walk of Fame. And, it is in the spotlight given the “heightened patriotic times”, as Machum describes it.
He has a partner at Stewart McKelvey.
The Walk of Fame had been interested in seeking board members across Canada, and current board member, Kim Mason, recommended Machum as an Atlantic director.
Mason is a senior Royal Banker, who some 15 years ago served as Atlantic Regional RBC president, based at Halifax offices.
Mason was a banking tour de force in Halifax, and she befriended many of the region’s top movers and shakers, and she also befriended Machum while she did her banking stint in the city.
Machum is upbeat about the board directorship at Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“My latest board adventure promises to be very exciting, especially during our heightened patriotic times!,” Machum tells The Macdonald Notebook.
“Since its launch in 1998, Canada’s Walk of Fame has excelled in its mission to inspire all Canadians by proudly shining a light on extraordinary achievers from across the country,” says Stewmac, in a note announcing the appointment. The regional law firm calls the Walk of Fame an “esteemed organization.”
“Canada’s Walk of Fame is a national not-for-profit organization that inspires all Canadians by proudly shining a light on extraordinary Canadian achievers and their successes,” the org states.
“We recognize the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provide the foremost national platform to celebrate Canadian achievement,” the org adds.
It’s stated vision is “to celebrate, honour, and spotlight inspirational walk-to-fame stories of courage and determination of our prominent and aspiring Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.”
“Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provides the foremost national platform to celebrate achievement in the fields of Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Athletics, Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, and Science, Technology & Innovation,” the org states.
Machum, who grew up in Saint John, NB is the son of Lawrence Machum, who was a Tory bagman for Premier Richard Hatfield in the 1970s-1980s. His dad had musical talents and was a leading lawyer in New Brunswick.
Machum was admitted to the NS Bar Society in 1985. One of his legendary mentors was Ron Pugsley, a brillant corporate lawyer who later went to the NS Bench.
Machum’s brother, Grant Machum, is also a senior partner at Stewmac. At one point, Grant was a director and former chair of the Telefilm Canada Board. He sat there for 13-years. Grant is now chair of the Art Gallery of NS (AGNS), and a past chair of NSCAD University. (An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Grant was a director of National Film Board, which is not the case).
“For Geoff’s clients, the stakes involved in litigation are quite significant and affect their bottom line. He works with national and multinational commercial insurance companies, building contractors, building suppliers, directors and officers of corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Chartered Banks and regional business interests involved in litigation disputes,” says Geoff’s bio.
His practice areas are: class actions, construction, corporate governance, entertainment, infrastructure, insurance, litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as doing legal work in the fields of media, advertising and marketing.
His education includes the Directors Education Program (DEP), Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, 2014; University of New Brunswick, LL.B., 1984; Dalhousie University, B.A. in Economics and Political Science, 1981.
In a conversation with The Macdonald Notebook, Geoff Machum says the Walk of Fame wants to get cross-Canada participation.
“With all that is going on with the world these days, they are keen to make sure they have more cross-Canada representation. I was effectively recruited to the board. Kim Mason recommended me to the board,” says Machum.
“It’s not for profit, so it is not like many of my boards, which are companies.”
Machum had been on the board of governors at Halifax Grammar School (2009 to 2013), he is past board chair at Symphony Nova Scotia ( 2009 to 2013), and had been a chair at the Halifax Port Authority (2012 to 2015), and port director (2006 to 2015).
Until recently, he was a director of Wildbrain Inc., the firm created by Michael Donovan (TSX, NASDAQ), which owns children’s TV programming.
He is also a director of the largest Canadian cannabis grower and producer, Organigram Holdings Inc (OGI: TSX/ NASDAQ).
He is president of the board of governors of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers ( 2022 – present).
He also has involvement in community charitable endeavours for various organizations, including United Way of Halifax, Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and Arthritis Society of Nova Scotia.
He has his King’s Counsel, originally as a QC in 2003.
His accolades include Best Lawyers: Construction Law, 2012 – 2025; Best Lawyers: Insurance Law, 2006, 2008 – 2025; Best Lawyers: Personal Injury Litigation, 2006, 2008 – 2025; Best Lawyers: Product Liability Law, 2013 – 2025.
Before he accepted the invite to join Canada’s Walk of Fame, he consulted his wife, Kim. “She said, Geoff, this is really inspiring, and you should engage them.”
Folks from this region who have a sidewalk star on King Street, Toronto, include renowned painter Alex Colville, comedian Rick Mercer, singer Anne Murray, TV actor Donald Sutherland, who had a NS connection.
It is a tradition for corporate lawyers in various law firms in the region to take on board roles with publicly traded companies or not-for-profits. “Our firm, Stewart McKelvey, is very supportive of its lawyers getting involved in these kinds of initiatives and enterprises.”
Machum and his spouse have seen the positive heightened patriotism at sporting events, “where the anthem has never been sung so loudly, whether you are in Toronto, Halifax or on the West Coast.
“It’s fun to be a boy from Saint John, working in Halifax on this board, a patriotic board. My mom is a proud Canadian. She is 91. She is a strong-willed Canadian who has groomed all her kids to appreciate what we have in this country, and the advantages we have as Canadians. I won’t tell you (Notebook) her views on President Trump.”
I joked with Machum that his mother must have choice words to describe Trump, maybe off-colour, and he laughed, adding he would not want to quote his mother without her approval.
Geoff Machum is a senior partner with Stewart McKelvey, based at its Halifax offices. He specializes in construction law. (Contributed).
