Lindsey Richardson’s contributions to the legal profession and her commitment to providing access to justice for underserved communities make Kettle Valley Memorial and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce excited to recognize her as a recipient of the Top 40 Awards.
A lifelong resident of the Okanagan, Lindsey’s professional journey first began in the wine industry, including serving on the Board of the Naramata Bench Wineries Association and even obtained her Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) level 3 in Florence, Italy, which is no easy feat given only 50 per cent of students globally pass the exam.
From there, she set her sights on the law, receiving her Juris Doctor from Thompson Rivers University, which for those unfamiliar with the term is a 3-year law degree that can be taken only after having already earned a bachelor’s degree. It is in her capacity as a lawyer that Lindsey quietly but impressively contributes to the wellbeing of our community.
Even though she is not yet 40 years of age, Lindsey is the President of the Penticton and District Bar Association and has been actively encouraging our local legal community to consider mentorship of younger lawyers, similar to what she already does with younger attorneys located in rural communities. She has also recently been accepted onto the roster for the Community Legal Assistance Society’s ‘Stand Informed’ group, which offers legal aid and advice to survivors of sexual assault without having to pay legal fees.
In the workplace, Lindsey has inspired growth at Jaimie Kidston Law Office, expanding the team from four to nine members which has enabled the firm to serve more areas of the community. She works hard at maintaining open lines of communication with her team, sets achievable and measurable goals, and fosters a positive work environment through thoughtful gestures like bringing in homemade baked goods, organizing staff parties, and encouraging team involvement in community activities.
She’s also the first to recognize staff going above and beyond, and takes the time to perform tasks like organizing the storage room or shredding papers to show that she isn’t “better than” any other type of job that is performed in her office.
When Lindsey isn’t working, you might find her at the South Okanagan Similkameen Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association sitting on their Board of Directors, or enjoying time out in the South Okanagan with her spouse and daughter.