Eric M. Roher, a senior partner at Borden Ladner Gervais and a towering figure in education law, passed away on April 23, 2026, in Toronto after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 71. His family confirmed the news, remembering him as a devoted husband, father, and community leader.
Roher was a third-generation member and, at the time of his death, president of Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto's historic Reform synagogue. His legacy is felt across law offices, classrooms, and places of worship, where colleagues and friends recall a man whose professional brilliance was matched by an unwavering commitment to community life.
A Life of Service and Curiosity
Whether arguing a complex legal case, leading his beloved synagogue, or exploring a new corner of the world, Eric Roher approached every endeavor with restless curiosity and deep care. His friend Vernon Shaw, who met Roher while walking their dogs nightly, described him as someone who would talk to anyone. Their walks often turned into conversations with neighbors, and their friendship spanned three decades.
Shaw recalled weekly lunches at a local Italian restaurant, where staff quickly learned Roher's name and reserved his favorite table by the window. "He was simply everywhere—a huge presence in our community," Shaw said. "Eric sought no tributes, no acknowledgements, no reciprocation. He simply lived with quiet generosity."
Pioneer in Education Law
Roher helped shape the field of education law in Canada, building a practice that advised school boards and independent schools on labour relations, employment, and governance. He taught education law at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law for 18 years and co-created the course there. Colleague Robert Weir, who worked with Roher from the mid-1990s until his retirement from BLG in 2021, said, "He was passionate about what he did so he could make education better for people."
Roher became the trusted adviser to many school boards and independent schools, guiding them through issues such as bullying, harassment, human rights accommodations, and the legal complexities of COVID-19. He conducted endless professional development sessions for teachers and principals, urging systems to treat students facing discipline "not as criminals, but as young people who had made mistakes, and were still there to be educated."
Author and Mentor
Roher authored or co-authored five books, including leading texts such as An Educator's Guide to the Role of the Principal. All his clients called him the guru, Weir recalled. "They relied so heavily on him." Weir credits Roher with helping drive the shift from fragmented, board-by-board labour negotiations to centralized, province-wide bargaining for teachers, arguing that Roher's advocacy helped make the system more stable and coherent.
Clients confided in Shaw that Roher was an "absolute delight" to work with: incisive yet fair-minded, seeking to understand every perspective, and devoted to forging settlements everyone could live with. His professional excellence was matched by his enthusiasm for community life, making him a beloved figure in every sphere he touched.
