John O’Fee, KC began his legal career in his hometown of Kamloops after graduating from the University of British Columbia. His legal practice focused on business transactions, real estate, and estate planning.
Throughout his career, John has balanced a legal practice with extensive public service. He was elected to three terms on the Kamloops School Board, serving three years as Board Chair, before being elected to three terms on Kamloops City Council. His municipal service saw John hold leadership roles, including Finance Chair, President of the Airport Authority Society, Chair of the Hospital Board, Member of the Municipal Finance Authority, and Director of the Regional District. He also volunteered for more than a decade on the Thompson Rivers University Foundation Board, including six years as Board Chair.
More recently, John served as Chair of the Interior Health Authority and as a Director of the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia. He also completed a five-year appointment as a federal government representative on the British Columbia Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee.
In 2011, John left private legal practice to become Chief Executive Officer of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops Indian Band). In this multifaceted leadership role, he oversaw a diverse range of operations and services, including a working cattle ranch, retail gas station, community social programs, and an elementary school.
Professor O’Fee has taught Real Estate Transactions at Thompson Rivers University’s Faculty of Law for more than a decade. He first joined TRU as a sessional instructor in 2010 and accepted a full-time faculty appointment in 2014. Most recently, he was promoted to the rank of Full Teaching Professor in the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics (2026). He teaches courses in commercial law, employment law, real estate law, and advanced commercial law. He was also instrumental in establishing TRU’s Business Law Minor, enabling undergraduate students from a wide range of disciplines to pursue law-focused studies.
Beyond his teaching responsibilities, John serves as a member and panel chair of the BC Health Professions Review Board, an elected trustee with School District 73 (Kamloops–Thompson), and a director of the Central Interior Business Accelerator.
John’s contributions to the legal profession, education, and public service have been recognized through him being named a Distinguished Alumnus of Thompson Rivers University (1995), awarded the BC Community Achievement Award (2011) and appointment to King’s Counsel (2015). He was also awarded the TRU Gaglardi Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2017–2018) and the Dean’s Award for Service Excellence (2020–2021) and was nominated for the TRU Faculty Excellence Award in both 2023 and 2025.
Courses taught
- Real Estate Transactions (LAWF 3610)
