Russ Sheppard

Russ is the owner of Spruce Legal, with offices in Cranbrook BC and Creston BC, located in the Kootenay Valley of the Rocky Mountains, where he also serves as a full-time lawyer. Prior to practicing law, Russ was a teacher, Administrator and Dean of Students throughout 12 years in various parts of Canada. Russ began his teaching career in the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut, a place he still calls home. While in Kugluktuk in the early 2000s, Russ introduced a lacrosse program at the high school, which helped student-athletes create a sense of pride and purpose in themselves and their community. Russ worked with the Medicine Game and other sports to assist in empowering his students and ensuring they had the confidence to tackle the everyday challenges in front of them. The story served as inspiration for the feature film “The Grizzlies” which had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival and can now be watched internationally on streaming platforms such as Netflix USA, Crave Canada etc. From Nunavut Russ moved to Edmonton, Alberta to assist in the development of a public school based lacrosse curriculum at Vimy Ridge Academy. Russ ended his teaching career at the prestigious Hill Academy in Vaughan Ontario as their Dean of Students. While at the Hill Russ was blessed to work with the Merrill family and many athletes that are playing in the NLL today. Russ moved to Cranbrook BC in 2012 to develop and pursue his law career.

Russ attended the University of Saskatchewan obtaining a Bachelor in Education degree in 1998 and then obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Alberta Law School in 2013.

Outside of his busy legal practice Russ still coaches and works developing lacrosse. Russ has been involved in lacrosse since the mid 1990’s and from that time has contributed at the local, provincial, national and international level. He spends much time working within North America to promote and develop youth empowerment strategies and indigenous rights. He is currently involved in the Cranbrook Lacrosse Association as a technical director, the Canadian Lacrosse Association Coaching Committee, Chair of the BC Lacrosse Coaches Technical Group and is a member of a Arctic lacrosse initiative called N60 Lacrosse with a mandate of bringing the medicine game to the arctic circle.