George Anderson (Canadian politician)

Anderson was born and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia.^[3] In 2015, he graduated as valedictorian from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in criminology.^[4] He later attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.^[1] He was co-president of the Osgoode Business Law Society.

While at Osgoode Hall School, he participated in a legal exchange at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, where he was taught by negotiators from the European Union Parliament, and had the opportunity to meet the lead negotiator for the Iran–US nuclear deal and lead negotiator of Brexit for the European Union.^[promotion?]

Anderson briefly practised on Bay Street, before establishing himself as a commercial lawyer. He also worked at one of Canada's largest law firms prior to entering provincial politics.^[3] His practice involved: commercial, defence, and insurance litigation. Having worked on trials and class proceedings, Anderson has written and presented on: class actions, privacy and data security, and directors and officers liability.^[5][6][7]

Anderson has held volunteer roles including as chair of Vancouver Island University's board of governors, a volunteer for the Canadian Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee, president of Literacy Central Vancouver Island, a director of the Nanaimo Art Gallery, and volunteer with the Ontario Justice Education Network.^[8][9] In 2016, Anderson received the BC Achievement Award, presented by Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Judith Guichon, in recognition of his community service.^[1]