Joe Gordon’s interest in becoming a lawyer began in his youth as the oldest of five rambunctious brothers. Back then, he noticed that his parents would sometimes have to consult “a lawyer” about their family life, business, and the aftermath of his siblings’ spirited activities.

While attending Okanagan College, he was the first student president and organized the first environmental student march to clean up Okanagan Lake. He also played Junior A Hockey for the Kelowna Buckaroos.

Joe completed his Bachelor of Arts at Notre Dame University (where he was Student Association President) in Nelson, BC, later receiving his law degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

During his university days, Joe worked the summers as a sawmill labourer, a Lectra Haul truck driver, and the first tourist guide at Brenda Mines in Peachland, BC. In law school, he worked as a part-time litigation assistant.

After articling in downtown Vancouver, he was called to the BC Bar in 1978. He then jumped at an opportunity to work in Grande Prairie, AB, with some of Alberta’s best lawyers and gained invaluable courtroom experience. He was called to the Alberta Bar and practiced concurrently in both BC and Alberta for many years.

Following the practice of law in Alberta, Joe returned to the Okanagan with his family, and worked as an associate at Salloum Doak in Kelowna. He then became a partner at Bassett Gordon in West Kelowna before establishing his own firm, Gordon & Company, in 1991 in Kelowna.

In addition to his work as a lawyer, Joe was Chair of the United Way in Grande Prairie and upon moving to Kelowna was Co-Chair of the Kelowna and District United Way. Joe was an active Volunteer Firefighter at the Kelowna Fire Station No. 9 (McKinley Landing) for six and a half years, was a member of two neighbourhood associations, and helped coach youth hockey and soccer for many years. 

For the past eleven and a half years, Joe volunteered with Designated Driver Dads on Friday and Saturday nights between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., safely driving people and their vehicles home.
 
Joe remains an avid hockey player.  Joe and his wife of 40 years, Julie, have 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. None of Joe’s brothers went to jail.