Gerry Owen practiced labor and family law, along with business law, in Nanaimo from 1975 until his retirement in 2010. In 1991, before he had taken any courses at The Haven, he attended an evening relationship event hosted by Ben and Jock. During that gathering, Ben posed a question that deeply challenged and inspired him: “What if a couple could break up and still value everything that had been good about their relationship?” As a family lawyer and certified family law mediator, Gerry carried that question forward, shaping his interest in how law and advocacy could help heal conflict and ease the pain for separating couples and their children.
Over time, Gerry narrowed his family law practice to mediation. He served as legal counsel for Ben and Jock, and later for the Haven Foundation. Working closely with both the original and later Boards of Directors, he was appointed a Member in 2014, following John Gill’s retirement.