AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 11, 2026
Law Society of B.C. Issues 10-Year Ban to Former Salmon Arm Lawyer
The Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) has disbarred former Salmon Arm lawyer Ian Frank McTavish for 10 years after he admitted to sexually harassing a client assigned to him through Legal Aid B.C.
Details of the Admission and Undertaking
According to an undertaking published by the LSBC, McTavish, 79 at the time of the decision in August, agreed that he would not practice law anywhere in Canada for a decade. McTavish retired from legal practice in December 2024, several months after the incidents came to light and his retainer with the client was terminated.
Conduct Leading to Discipline
The events leading to McTavish's disbarment began in September 2023, when he was assigned to assist the mother of a teenage girl with a family law matter. The undertaking contains an agreed statement of facts indicating that McTavish gave the client his cellphone number and engaged in inappropriate behaviors such as hugging and "inhaling" her. During meetings and phone calls, McTavish is reported to have made both direct and indirect requests for massages.
On one occasion, the client accompanied McTavish on a road trip, during which he reportedly held her hand and took deep inhales while squeezing her hand. In addition, McTavish sent sexually suggestive text messages, including comments like "it would be nice to have a release" and multiple compliments regarding the client's appearance. The LSBC found that on June 30, 2024, after the client raised concerns about her daughter, McTavish commented on the teenager's appearance in a text message.
Further Inappropriate Communications
The undertaking details further suggestive exchanges. On July 11, 2024, McTavish sent the client texts indicating he was undressing to go to the beach and wrote, "I love suggestive talk." He continued to compliment her and invited her to his home. The professional relationship ended on July 31, 2024, following these incidents.
Retirement and Subsequent Actions
McTavish retired as a lawyer on December 31, 2024. Attempts by CBC News to reach McTavish at his current business were unsuccessful, and a visit to the listed address for his Atelier Gallery in Salmon Arm found the location vacant. The gallery’s website and contact emails are no longer operational.
McTavish had been called to the bar in June 1974 and worked as a sole practitioner in Salmon Arm for most of his career. In his undertaking, McTavish said he believed the client "lacked self-confidence" and that his messages were an attempt to "buoy her up." He acknowledged that some of his comments could be interpreted as having sexual connotations and described other remarks as "banter." According to the LSBC, McTavish is required to inform the regulatory body if he seeks to practice law in any other jurisdiction in the future.
Official Response and Requirements
The LSBC’s decision to issue a 10-year disbarment is part of its broader mandate to uphold professional conduct standards in the legal profession. There has been no public response from McTavish or his representatives regarding the undertaking.
Source: cbc.ca.
