Ryan Callioux, an Indigenous lawyer with over 20 years of experience, starts as bencher
The Law Society of Alberta has announced that Bud Melnyk and Jim Lutz have begun their terms as its president and president-elect, respectively, for 2026–27, while Ryan Callioux has joined its board as a new bencher.
“I am truly honoured and thrilled to be taking on the Presidency role,” Melnyk said in a news release.
“Under Bud Melnyk’s leadership, the Benchers and staff will lead through hard work and a common goal of serving in the public interest,” Lutz added.
The law society also expressed gratitude to Stacy Petriuk, its outgoing president, for her time, commitment, and contributions.
“I have had the opportunity of working closely with our outgoing President, Stacy Petriuk, KC, and I hope I can do justice to her outstanding example of leadership,” Melnyk said.
Petriuk emphasized the law society’s commitment to promoting and supporting the rule of law, which, alongside the role of lawyers in a functioning democratic society, emerged as a theme that persisted in 2025.
“To that end, I was especially proud of the Ours to Protect campaign launch in November 2025,” Petriuk said in a news release. “Alberta lawyers have professional pride and over the last year we have seen many examples of individual lawyers and legal stakeholders advocating for the Rule of Law and we applaud those individual and collective efforts.”
Regarding the law society’s commitment to the rule of law, Lutz noted that the law society plans to become a stronger independent regulator, collaborate closely with stakeholders, and ensure that the public can access effective counsel.
The law society’s news releases provided more information regarding Melnyk, Lutz, Petriuk, and Callioux.
Bud Melnyk
Melnyk joined the law society’s board in 2018 and became president-elect in May 2025. At Warren Sinclair LLP in Red Deer, he works as a partner focusing on family law and civil litigation.
According to Melnyk, the benchers remained resilient in the face of numerous evolving challenges this past year. He shared that the benchers intend to move boldly ahead with the law society’s strategic plan.
“I am confident that together with the Bencher table and the Law Society’s excellent staff and management, we are well-positioned to take on the important work ahead of us this year,” he said in the news release.
Jim Lutz
Lutz joined the board in 2018. At Ross Lutz Dunn & Deshaye, he is a criminal law practitioner who acts for individuals before disciplinary boards.
“It was a privilege to be elected as a Bencher, and I am truly honoured to have been chosen by my fellow Benchers to be this year’s President-Elect,” Lutz said in the news release.
Stacy Petriuk
Petriuk joined the board in 2018.
At JSS Barristers, she is a partner exclusively practising in civil litigation, with a focus on professional negligence defence and commercial litigation. At the civil litigation boutique, she served as managing partner from 2015–17.
Petriuk noted that her presidential year started earlier than intended due to the appointment of her predecessor, Justice Ryan D. Anderson, to the Alberta Court of Justice just as his presidential term had commenced.
“While I needed to adjust to my new responsibilities at a quicker pace than what is usual, it has been an honour and privilege to serve during a time of significant change in the legal landscape,” Petriuk said in the news release.
She thanked the law society’s executive leadership and staff for their support during her term.
“We continue to look for innovative ways to fulfil our role as regulator and protect the public interest,” Petriuk said.
Ryan Callioux
Based in Edmonton, Callioux is an Indigenous lawyer with more than two decades of experience in family law matters, including child welfare and family violence. The law society noted that he became chair of Legal Aid Alberta in 2020.
In 2014, he established Callioux Law, with legal services spanning criminal law, family and child welfare law, and wills and estates. He joined the Alberta bar in 2002.
