The email that made my day.

This is the third time in the past five years that I have received this wonderful little email [see full email at end of post]. Receiving this email has likely meant more to me than many of the other immigration lawyers that have received it in the past. Why?

In the summer of 2006, I made the very difficult decision of leaving my wonderful colleagues at then Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Calgary and my entire immigration practice, to return home to Lethbridge to be closer to my elderly widowed mother and extended family.

In the short time I spent summering, articling, and working as an associate at Gowlings, I was given tremendous support to initiate the business immigration practice in the Calgary office. The professional opportunity was unparalleled. Having worked on the Alberta/Montana border as an immigration officer and then as a Pro Bono student to the Hearings Officers in Calgary while attending law school, the ability to practice immigration law exclusively at Gowlings was a dream come true.

Unfortunately, after only a few short years, it was necessary for me to leave this golden professional opportunity to return home. Although I have always attempted to maintain a satellite office in Calgary, practicing immigration law from Lethbridge, Alberta was definitely a career-limiting reality. I can still remember many lawyers telling me that I would never be able to practice business immigration from Lethbridge and that I would be throwing all of my hard work away.

....those words should have dissuaded me, but instead, they empowered me and lit a fire in me that led me to where I am today. I have spent the last 17 years of my practice telling myself "why not"? Why can't someone practice immigration law exclusively from a small Alberta centre? Why won't clients choose to hire me even though I don't live in the same city as them? Just because no one has done this before, why can't I be the first? Why not?

Holding true to the simple mantra of "Why not", has taken me to places I never dreamed possible. Instead of focusing on all of the reasons why I couldn't or shouldn't do something, I instead focused my energies on making my strongest desires a reality. Over the years, I had lots of opportunities to work with amazing lawyers and wonderful firms, but in the end, I consistently turned down opportunities to move back to Calgary to rejoin the big global firms. I simply couldn't leave my elderly mother and the wonderful community in which my dear wife, Dianna, and I chose to raise our four amazing children.

As I look back over the years, I can't believe what has happened. Despite practicing immigration law primarily from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, I have had the privilege of representing some of the largest companies in the world with their Canadian business immigration needs. I have had the treasured opportunity of speaking at countless immigration conferences, seminars and workshops across the country. I was one of the first to start a Podcast on Canadian Immigration entitled....obviously, the "Canadian Immigration Podcast " and later founded the Canadian Immigration Institute which has been a valued source of information and education on Canadian immigration law. Thousands of people have benefited from the weekly Canadian Immigration Live Q&As on YouTube, and the various DIY Courses and Master Classes hosted within the Canadian Immigration Institute platform.

And last, but not least, I have had the absolute privilege of devoting much of my professional career to serving in various capacities within the Canadian Bar Association's local and national immigration law sections. My term of service within the national executive came to an end nine days ago when I officially dropped off the table having served as secretary, vice-chair, chair and immediate past chair for the past four years. I now take my place amongst all of the other past National Chairs of the CBA Immigration section knowing that the section is in tremendously good hands.

As I think back over the years to all of those high school teachers I had in Vulcan, Alberta, that likely thought this poor country farm boy wasn't going to amount to much....I have to concede that they were mostly correct. However, this has never stopped me from trying my darndest to make a difference in the world. Some may agree and some may disagree with my methods; however, no one can fault my sincere genuine desire to be the best immigration lawyer I can be.

So, ......this is why the email below means so darn much to me. Google Reviews are definitely important when it comes to client satisfaction; however, what truly matters most is how you are viewed by your peers. And with so many other deserving immigration lawyers in the Calgary area, I am so grateful that my friends and colleagues chose me again this year.....

Subject: Published Today: Your 2023 Lawyer of the Year Award

Dear Mark Holthe,

Congratulations! I am pleased to share that you have been recognized by your peers as the?2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in?Immigration Law in Calgary. In addition to this honor, you will be highlighted in the 17th?edition of?The Best Lawyers in Canada??for your high caliber work in?Immigration Law.?We are proud to include you in this esteemed group. These awards were published today on the newly redesigned?BestLawyers.com .

For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has been regarded—by both the profession and the public—as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction. As such, recognition by Best Lawyers symbolizes excellence in practice.

Our founding principle remains unchanged since 1981 and forms the basis of our transparent methodology: the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 1.6 million confidential evaluations by top lawyers in Canada.?As always, no fee or payment to participate is allowed. Consequently, as a Best Lawyers honoree, you possess the elite privilege to participate in our exclusive voting process for next year’s edition.

Best Lawyers increases visibility of your recognitions to referring lawyers, worldwide counsel and clients of legal services through our partnerships with?Calgary Herald,?Montreal Gazette?and the?National Post, plus the national?Canada’s Best Lawyers?publication, which is circulated in both print and digital formats.

We are honored to include you as one of our distinguished colleagues.

Sincerely,

Phil

Phillip S. GreerCEO

www.bestlawyers.com