Neal worked his way through college and law school, including stints in Banff and Whistler. In 1989, Neal rode his bicycle across Canada, camping most of the time. Parts of the trip were through the rugged hills and resource towns of northern Ontario. The last 10 days of the bicycle trip were through the mountain passes, valleys, and towns along Highway 3 in British Columbia, like Cranbrook and Castlegar, then finally along Highway 7 into Vancouver.
As a child, Neal went on camping trips with his family. As a preteen and teenager, he took part in canoe trips and hiking trips in places like New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont and Ontario. As a younger man, Neal co-owned a business taking people on day hikes in the Coast Mountains. Neal regularly takes his children on road trips through rural areas and cities outside the Lower Mainland, to the Cariboo, to the Thompson Okanagan and to the Kooteneys, visiting places such as Williams Lake, Kelowna, Nelson, Rossland, Fernie and Creston, B.C., as well as Spokane, WA and other towns in the Pacific Northwest.
Today, Neal’s practice takes him to cities and towns throughout British Columbia. The chances to meet persons in – and to visit – other parts of the province are some of the most enjoyable aspects of being a civil litigation lawyer.
In 2016, one of our client’s legal cases brought Neal back to Prince George, B.C. where he has had other cases. Later that year, Neal and his family visited the Cariboo-Chilcotin and were fortunate to enjoy a two-day raft trip on the Chilcotin River with Big Canyon Rafting, followed by more camping and fishing in Horsefly Provincial Park. We spent time in cities like Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Quesnel.
Neal believes that there is an important future for areas of the province outside the Lower Mainland.
These experiences travelling and working continue to influence Neal, and give him perspective and respect for people who live and work outside of the big cities.
