Many Provincial Court judges share their knowledge and experience with students and lawyers in legal education programs, but Judge Stella Frame must be one of the Court’s most active mentors. In addition to teaching family law at the Thompson River University (TRU) Faculty of Law, she judges students in mock trials, is a frequent guest speaker, and contributes her time to a wide range of other volunteer activities. 

Judge Frame studied law at the University of Victoria and became a lawyer in 1989. She practised commercial litigation and insolvency law and served part-time on the Residential Tenancy Arbitration Review Panel. She was also a member of the Provincial Council Executive of the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch and served on many of its committees, including chairing its Equality Committee. 

In December, 2006, she was appointed a Provincial Court judge. Between 2010 and 2014 she served as Administrative Judge and Local Liaison Judge for the Kamloops district. Since then, she has continued to serve on a variety of court committees. 

Two of her recent volunteer activities highlight the commitment, energy, and creativity she has maintained throughout her professional life.

TRU Family Law Conference

The brainchild of Judge Frame and TRU Dean Daleen Millard, last year’s inaugural TRU family law conference was a success. This year, Judge Frame helped organize a second annual conference held on March 5, 2026. Family law lawyers and judges offered students useful information and practical tips on working as a family lawyer. 

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Moot courts and mock trials

In a “moot court”, law students argue cases as if they are appearing in an appeal court. They get feedback on their presentations from people acting as judges. Students are marked on their performance and law school teams compete in moot court competitions. 

In January 2026, Judge Frame volunteered as a judge for the semi-final of TRU’s Oral Advocacy Moot. Former lawyers Gregory Pun and Natasha Little served with her as moot judges. 

Participating in moot courts teaches students advocacy skills. This one was organised by  TRU’s Oral Advocacy Club, a volunteer, student-run club. The Club helps students prepare and practice for months before it hosts a week-long Dean’s Cup competition. 

In February, Judge Frame judged the TRU Criminal Law Club’s Mock Bail Hearing Competition (shown in the photo at top). Later this year she’ll judge practice sessions of the TRU team competing in the MacIntyre Cup, an annual trial advocacy moot competition for law schools in the western provinces. 

Her interest in educating lawyers extends beyond the law school. Judge Frame served on the committee that established an Inns of Court program to increase the knowledge and skills of junior lawyers in Kamloops, and she continues to participate as a panelist and table mentor. 

“I’ve always believed mentoring matters. Law students work incredibly hard to reach their goals, and they deserve support to help them find their footing and begin to feel at home in the legal profession. That need has only grown since Covid, when many lost out on the informal mentoring and observational learning that comes from being around experienced lawyers.

Moot courts and mock trials give students the freedom to experiment, take risks, and make mistakes without consequences for real clients, and they’re genuinely fun. My work with students and young lawyers is very much a two-way exchange. They bring fresh perspectives and thoughtful ideas about how we can strengthen and modernize the justice system.”

                                                                                                            Judge Stella Frame 

Indigenous court Elders

Judge Frame worked with the Tk’emlups Nation, the Aboriginal Justice Committee, local and provincial stakeholders, other judges, lawyers, probation officers and court staff to launch the Kamloops Cknu'cwentn First Nations Sentencing Court in 2013. She and Judge Christopher Cleavely (retired) were the court’s first judges. 

“Sitting in the Indigenous court has been the most fulfilling and rewarding part of my work as a judge. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to learn from the Elders and to build genuine relationships with them. They’ve taught me so much about the Indigenous cultures I engage with every day.

Their care extends far beyond the people who appear before the court. They support the judges and court staff they work alongside as well. After one particularly heartbreaking case, two Elders phoned me simply to ask if I was alright — a gesture I will never forget.”

                                                                                                            Judge Stella Frame

Other activities

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Judge Frame speaks frequently to lawyers’ groups and others within the justice system, often on family law topics including intimate partner violence.

As part of her commitment to equity and diversity, Judge Frame belongs to the International Women Judges Association and hosts the annual general meeting of the local section of the Canadian Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Forum. 

Last year, she was a panelist and registered volunteers for the Braiding Diversity into Justice conference in Kamloops. Held in cities in BC and Ontario, these events introduced racialized and gender-diverse youth to justice professionals to learn how they might have careers in the justice system. 

Outside the justice system, Judge Frame has volunteered as manager or coach for several youth sports teams and in support roles for community running events. She has also contributed articles explaining legal principles to a local newspaper. 

She is the proud parent of a daughter she describes as having a strong sense of social justice, who is currently working on a master’s degree in counselling psychology.