Any interested and qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for federal judicial appointment by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaires are then used by the Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada to review candidates to submit a list of "highly recommended" and "recommended" candidates for consideration by the Minister of Justice. Candidates are advised that parts of their questionnaire may be made available to the public, with their consent, should they be appointed to the bench. The information is published as it was submitted by the candidates at the time they applied, subject to editing where necessary for privacy reasons.
Questionnaire for Judicial Appointment
PART 5 - LANGUAGE
Please note that in addition to the answers to the questions set out below, you may be assessed as to your level of language proficiency in Canada's two official languages.
Without further training, are you able to read and understand court materials in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to discuss legal matters with your colleagues in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to converse with counsel in court in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
Without further training, are you able to understand oral submission in court in:
- English: Yes
- French: No
If you have answered yes to all four questions above, for both English and French, please answer the additional two questions below:
Without further training, are you able to write decisions in both French and English? *
- No
Without further training, are you able to conduct hearings in both French and English? *
- No
*Please note that the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs conducts random verifications and assessments of candidates' language proficiency as stated in their questionnaire.
PART 6 - EDUCATION
Name of Institutions, Years Attended, Degree/Diploma and Year Obtained:
York University, 2010-2013, Osgoode Professional Development part-time, Master of Law (Administrative Law), 2013
University of British Columbia, 1999-2002, Juris Doctor, 2002
University of Toronto, 1995-1999, Honours Bachelor of Science (Human Biology and English double major), 1999
Continuing Education (past 5-10 years):
Class Actions modules (3 x 1 hour sessions) presented to Legal Services Branch, 2023
Indigenous Intercultural Course (IIC), Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC), December 2023
Lexis+ Introduction, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, July 2023
Introduction to Decolonization (Hummingbirds Rising), Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, May 2023
Reconciliation Community of Practice Dialogue, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, May 2023
Trans Competency Training - Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, 2022
LSB Writing & Skills Workshop Series, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, 2022
LSB Neurodiversity Series, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, 2022
Litigation Community of Practice-Administrative Law, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, 2022
Government Lawyers Series: Navigating Ethical and Moral Obligations, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA), December 2022
Reconciliation Community of Practice Dialogue, Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, 2022
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Discussion, BC Prosecution Service, Ministry of Attorney General, 2022
Periodic continuing education - Civil Resolution Tribunal Members Case Law and Process Review - 2018-2021
Cultural Perspectives Training, Indigenous Perspectives Society, November 2019
New Tools to Research, Track and Collaborate on Annotated Legislation (CRT), Quickscribe Services Ltd., 2019
Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) Foundations Online Course for Justice, Public Safety and Anti-Violence Community Sectors in British Columbia hosted by the Canadian Police Knowledge Network, August 2019 (10 hours)
Perils and Pitfalls of Social Media - Roundtable, BC Council of Administrative Tribunals (BCCAT), 2018
Topics in Small Claims Adjudication, Civil Resolution Tribunal, 2018
BCCAT's 2018 Annual Education Conference, BC Council of Administrative Tribunals (BCCAT), 2018
The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same - Chambers Practice and Collegiality, Trial Lawyers Association of British
Columbia (TLABC), 2018
2017 Legal Ethics Topics, Harper Grey LLP, 2017
CLEBC Administrative Law Conference, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLE-BC), 2017
Small Claims Training Session, Civil Resolution Tribunal, 2017
Strata Property Roundtable, Civil Resolution Tribunal, 2017
Advanced Decision Writing Workshop (tailored for the Civil Resolution Tribunal), BC Council of Administrative Tribunals (BCCAT), 2016
Hearing Skills Workshop, BCCAT, 2016
Administrative Justice - Practice & Procedures for Decision Makers, BCCAT, 2016
Harper Grey LLP Health Law Study Group, 2015
Privacy and Security Basics, Harper Grey LLP course, 2015
Respectful Workplace Policy Overview, Harper Grey LLP course, 2015
CoRe Speaker Series: The Civil Resolution Tribunal, CoRe Conflict Resolution Society, 2015
Ethical Concerns with Pro Bono Files, Harper Grey LLP course, 2013
From Clutter to Clarify: Optimize Yow Practice with Litigation Software, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia (TLABC), 2013
CLE-TV: New Code of Professional Conduct - Part I, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLE/CLEBC), 2013
The New Code of Conduct - an Overview - Harper Grey LLP course, 2013
Dealing with Difficult Clients 2013, Harper Grey LLP course, 2013
Administrative Law - Canadian Bar Association (CBA) - BC Branch section meetings, 2013
Common Ethical Problems in a Litigation Practice, Harper Grey LLP course, 2013
Honours and Awards:
2010 - W.R. Reymont Foundation Award for community contribution and academics
2002 - Outstanding Oral Presentation - University of British Columbia Inaugural Undergraduate Multidisciplinary Research Conference
2002 - Alexander J. Cohen Memorial Award in Law for original research about law and social context
1999 - University College Honour Award
1995-1999 - LORAN Foundation National Scholar - Royal Bank National Award for character, leadership and service
1997 - Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
1997 - Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Summer Studentship Award
1995 - St. Joseph's Health Care Centre Student Volunteer Award
1995 - Mon Sheong Foundation Silver Jubilee Award of Excellence, Honourable Mention
1995 - University of Toronto Book Award
1995 - W.R. Taylor University College Alumni Scholarship
PART 7 - PROFESSIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Please include a chronology of work experience, starting with the most recent and showing employers' names and dates of employment.
Legal Work History:
Legal Counsel 3, Litigation Group, Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General 2021-present
Civil litigation, administrative law, constitutional law, health law and professional regulation-based legal practice
Lead counsel on several health law cases including judicial reviews of Provincial Health Officer public health Orders in the health care and gathering and events contexts
Ongoing mentorship of junior counsel
Knowledge Bank point of contact and approver for Litigation Group
Tribunal Member, Civil Resolution Tribunal
February 2018 - 2021
2015-February 2018, part-time Tribunal Member (while practising at Harper Grey LLP)
Adjudicating small claims and strata disputes
Writing and issuing decisions in claims involving jurisdiction, contracts, negligence, statutory interpretation, service quality and delivery, strata, obligations to repair and maintain buildings, strata governance, bylaw infractions
Delivering training to tribunals members on topics including small claims jurisdiction and professional responsibility and ethics
In fall 2016, subject matter expert contributing to development of content for the CRT Solution Explorer, in a collaborative team using software to support knowledge engineering and mind mapping
Drafting plain language information sheets for the parties within the Solution Explorer
Contributing to ongoing group study and peer support initiatives
Associate Lawyer, Harper Grey LLP
May 2003-February 2018
Articling - May 2002-May 2003, Summer Articles May-August 2001
Acting for clients including in medical negligence defence, contract disputes, residential construction, personal injury, and motor vehicle matters
Conducting litigation in the BC Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Provincial Court including on matters involving professional negligence, insurance law and contract disputes
Representing clients in examinations for discovery, mediation, negotiation, at trial and on appeals, including preparing witnesses, conducting direct and cross-examination and drafting and delivering submissions
Administrative law and professional regulation
Representing professionals before their regulators on issues of professional conduct, sexual misconduct, standards of practice, licensure, fitness to practice and ethics
Representing clients before the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and before various health authorities, universities/university programs and other administrative law decisions makers
Providing compliance opinions and advice on legislative changes, accreditation and bylaw drafting for professional regulatory bodies
Conducting meetings and mediations with corporate, institutional and individual clients to generate durable problem-solving options
Negotiating and drafting complex consent agreements for clients to resolve various administrative law and regulatory disputes
Counsel appearing on judicial review applications and statutory appeals from decisions of administrative bodies, including the Health Professions Review Board
Acting for clients facing sexual assault, fraud and other charges, including court appearances
Leadership roles while at Harper Grey LLP
Assistant Chair, Professional Regulation Practice Group 2008-2011, 2012-2013
Creating and implementing group business plans to ensure the group reached client relations, revenue, and education goals, providing ongoing mentorship to legal counsel and legal assistants, and ensuring productive team dynamics
Associate Chair
For several years, leadership of about 25 associate lawyers, including representing their interests before tire partnership management committee
Student Recruitment Committee Member
For several years, part of a dynamic team contributing to the growth and development of the firm and its practice groups through assessing, interviewing and selecting law students
Non-Legal Work History:
Dispute Resolution Project Research Assistant
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
Summer 2000
Conducted interviews of mediators and family law lawyers and generated reports and analysis
Human Resources Summer Student
Stikeman Elliott Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto
May-August 1999 and May-August 1998
Acted as Assistant to the General Manager
Trained lawyers to use new word processing software
Developed website content
Medical Research Summer Student
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
May-August 1997
Assisted with cystic fibrosis study protocols and analysis for gene therapy and salmeterol testing
Co-authored an abstract that was presented at an American Thoracic Society meeting
Medical Research Summer Student
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
May-August 1996
Performing gene sequencing and analysis, including DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and tissue culture for cystic fibrosis research laboratory
Guest Services Associate and Student Archivist, part-time
Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto
1991-1996
Summer Student
Ontario Hydro, Toronto
August 1992
Developed and implemented a lab protocol to test reactor site fuel samples for trace metals
Other Activities and Memberships:
List all bar associations, legal or judicial-related committees of which you are or have been a member and give the titles and dates of any offices which you have held in such groups.
2021 - Committee Member - Legal Services Branch articled student assessments - assessing written evaluations
2010-2011 - Executive Member of Canadian Bar Association's National Health law Section
2011: Canadian Bar Association's National Health Law Summit: co-chair of panel on managing disruptive behavior in health care
2009: Presenter on health policy and professional regulation: Canadian Bar Association Critical Issues in Health Law: A National Summit
2009-2011 Vancouver Bar Association Executive, Chaired Courthouse Barristers' Lounge Committee that implemented a partnership with Vancouver Art Gallery's Art Rental Program
2014-2015 CORE Dispute Resolution Society member
periodically from 2003-2015 BC Medical-Legal Society member
2005 BC Courthouse Dispute Resolution Society - Treasurer
2004 Vice Chair - Canadian Bar Association BC, Health Law Section
Pro Bono Activities:
2003-2018 - Pro bono file work for medical students and residents facing disciplinary and other legal issues, file work for lawyers facing Law Society complaint or credentialing issues, representing university students facing non-academic disciplinary issues including representation at university-based tribunals
2005-2013 UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program (Britannia Clinic)
-Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator and Supervising Lawyer Liaison (including shifts as supervising lawyer at Britannia Clinic, where I was formerly a student clinician)
Teaching and Continuing Education:
List all legal or judicial educational organizations and activities you have been involved with (e.g. teaching course at a Law Faculty, bar association, National Judicial Institute, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, etc.
2024 - Guest lecturer for UVIC Law Civil Procedure course (lecture on Practical Tips for Examinations for Discovery)
2023 - Volunteer judge for UVIC Advocacy course moot
2021 - Facilitator for BCCAT Roundtable discussion on "Tribunals and Indigenous Reconciliation What is Being Done? What Must Be Done?"
2020 - Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Administrative Law Section, Co-presenter of session - Online Administrative Law Hearings and Tribunals-Tips and Tricks
2018 - Panel Member on "Adjudicating with Technology" at BC Council for Administrative Tribunals Education Conference "Accessing Justice"
2018 - Delivered welcome remarks on behalf of BC Council of Administrative Tribunals at the American Bar Association Judicial Division Town Hall
2017 - Presentation - Best Practices for Transparency - Infonex Professional Regulation Conference
2017 - Subject Matter Expert and Project Mentor for student - Thompson Rivers University - Legal Knowledge Engineering Externship Law
2016 - present
British Columbia Council for Administrative Tribunals (BCCAT) Board of Directors
- Co-Chair, BCCAT Policy & Research Committee, 2021-present, involved in policy development on issues of gender-neutral forms of title and address for administrative law hearings, and Indigenous reconciliation in the administrative law context
2013 and various: Volunteer judge for UBC First Year Moot, UBC Mediation Moot
2012: Guest lecturer - UBC Law course "Law and Medicine": "The Health Professions Review Board and the Duty to Report under the Health Professions Act"
2010: Guest lecturer - UBC Law course "Law and Medicine": "Complaint Handling under the Health Professions Act"
2010: Ethics Panel presenter - BC Society of Occupational Therapists
Community and Civic Activities:
List all organizations of which you are a member and any offices held with dates.
UBC BC Cancer Research Ethics Board (REB) - Legal Member, 2018-present
-Reviewing proposed adult cancer research studies in BC, particularly with regard to ethical and legal issues
LORAN Foundation (loranscholar.ca) Volunteer in various roles, 1999-2022 (away temporarily in 2023 due to hearing schedule) - annual selections volunteer within Canada's largest and most comprehensive four-year- undergraduate scholarship award program for young Canadians on the basis of character, service and leadership
(a) Chair of the Vancouver Interview Committee 2009 and 2010;
(b) Applications Assessor some years;
(c) Chair of a Vancouver Island Committee 2020 and 2021;
(d) Interview Committee member some years.
Litigation Committee Member - Student Legal Fund (University of British Columbia), 2005 and 2007
Treasurer - Green College Dining Society, 2001
UBC Crane Disability Resource Centre - volunteer reading course materials onto tape, 2000
Off-Campus Representative - University College Literary & Athletic Society, 1996/97
- Deputy Women's Athletics Commissioner - University College
- Member of Anti-Harassment Policy Subcommittee - University College
PART 12 - THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN CANADA'S LEGAL SYSTEM
The Government of Canada seeks to appoint judges with a deep understanding of the judicial role in Canada. In order to provide a more complete basis for evaluation, candidates are asked to offer their insight into broader issues concerning the judiciary and Canada's legal system.
For each of the following questions, please provide answers of between 500 and 1000 word.
1- What would you regard as your most significant contribution to the law and the pursuit of justice in Canada?
Over my 20-year legal career, my most significant contribution to the law and pursuit of justice in Canada has been to improve access to justice through pro bono legal work, private practice, as a tribunal member and through volunteer and community-based activities. These access to justice impacts include representing and making decisions for those unable to afford legal representation, policy changes to encourage diversity and inclusion at administrative tribunals, a legal practice where Charter rights are a central consideration and working to ensure cancer studies represent our diverse population and are conducted ethically.
In law school, I was a Law Student Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) student clinician at Britannia (Commercial Drive) Clinic. Once I started private practice, I volunteered as a supervising lawyer at the same clinic from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 to 2013, I became the sole law firm coordinator for the same clinic, scheduling supervising lawyers, assisting student clinicians with client legal issues, taking supervising shifts and ensuring the clinic provided quality client advice and representation and student mentorship, alongside staff of LSLAP. Within my pro bono work with LSLAP, I acted for and supported student clinicians in assisting clients charged with assault, drug related offenses, and administrative law issues. Our clients included those marginalized for many reasons, including recent immigrants, persons with disabilities and health issues. All LSLAP clients faced financial challenges impacting their ability to pay for much needed legal services.
I was also a multi-year member of the Litigation Committee for the UBC Student Legal Fund Society, assisting in identifying and directing resources for litigation that would improve education and access to education for UBC Students. At Harper Grey LLP, I was Associate Chair for several years where I identified and remedied workplace concerns.
While at Harper Grey LLP, I handled pro bono matters as part of my case load throughout my 15-year tenure. I represented post-secondary students who faced allegations of non-academic misconduct, sometimes facing removal from their programs, and without means to retain counsel to assist them, I also acted pro bono for people with disabilities attempting to access benefits that had been denied. I assisted lawyers and articled students facing credentialing and other Law Society issues, sometimes where those situations were complicated by health factors. In many of these pro bono matters, a combination of litigation, advice and alternate dispute resolution work resulted in clients being permitted to return to their studies, continue in their professional practices and access durable supports for health and other crises.
As a Tribunal Member with the Civil Resolution Tribunal, part time from 2016-2018 and then full-time from 2018-2021, I contributed to access to justice by providing efficient, accessible decision making as part of Canada's first online tribunal. The ability to upload evidence and submissions asynchronously, developed under the leadership of the then Chair, meant that parties could engage with their claims without recourse to the courts, outside their own work and family commitments and while representing themselves. As a decision maker, I worked diligently to ensure that parties had a fair process where both sides were heard, and to produce timely, plain language decisions. I issued over 400 final decisions and many more preliminary decisions. I also engaged in co-mentorship and education efforts with other tribunal members to ensure quality improvement.
My current role as counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General includes several Charter cases, where key considerations include public interest and the protected rights and freedoms of British Columbians, both in my advice role to my client and in submissions to the courts. Many of these cases have broader implications than those in my private practice litigation. Access to justice is furthered in the sense that these efforts ensure reliable materials go before the court, supporting sound decision making on the scope of Charter rights.
From 2018 to present, I have served as a Legal Member on the BC Cancer Agency's Research Ethics Board (REB). The REB reviews proposed clinical studies about cancer in adults. My role includes identifying legal or ethical issues with the studies and considering extra monitoring where warranted, particularly where vulnerable people are involved. The REB also ensures that studies become more representative of the population, for example by placing conditions for translation of informed consent materials and ensuring that ethnicity and diversity information is included and requested ethically, to try to make study outcomes applicable to the population and not just a portion of it. My work, alongside that of the whole REB, provides an important oversight of cancer studies, approving only safely designed, ethical studies that may ultimately assist in improving cancer care.
As Policy and Research Co-Chair with the BC Council for Administrative Tribunals, my committee's work has included drafting and adopting pronoun and title procedure guidance to encourage inclusive practices across BC administrative tribunals, and efforts to provide education and policy development work on ongoing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the administrative law sphere.
2. How has your experience provided you with insight into the diversity of Canadians, and their unique perspectives and lived realities?
While my experience has given me insight into the rich diversity of Canadians, it has also underscored that one person can never fully understand the lived experiences of another. I am aware of my privilege and approach my role as counsel with humility.
I am committed to continuing to learn, listen and improve my understanding of others.
My experiences in pro bono and paid legal work have included acting for marginalized clients with disabilities, and those without financial means to pursue needed legal remedies. As counsel, I have acted for racialized clients where racism was a motivating factor in criminal charges brought against them and in civil lawsuits where racism, even perpetrated by client's own family members in one instance, was central. I have also been counsel in matters where ageist arguments were employed by opposing counsel. In those disputes, I identified the discrimination and used my advocacy skills to call it out and seek just outcomes.
In my work with BCCAT's Policy & Research Committee, I met with members of the CBA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community about the power of language in considering forms of address and title in courts and before tribunals. These forms of address can either be inclusive of all participants, staff and decision makers, or can serve to discriminate based on sexual identity and gender orientation. On this front, I led BCCAT's efforts to draft and adopt a guided document that recommends BC tribunals use titles and forms of address that respect the identities of the parties before it following similar guidance issued through a practice directive of the BC courts.
In Indigenous Cultural Perspectives Training as a Civil Resolution Tribunal Member, I was privileged to hear directly from a member of the Cowichan Nation about his lived experience as an Indigenous youth in at Penelakut (Kuper) Island residential school and the impacts on his life afterward. As a settler on these lands, I was and am moved and ashamed that Canada's Indigenous peoples were treated without regard to fundamental rights and freedoms we pride ourselves upon, with the result being ongoing discrimination that continues to oppress so many.
I subsequently organized and moderated a BCCAT round-table on what tribunals must do to support Indigenous reconciliation with distinguished Indigenous lawyers as speakers. While I can never fully understand the lived experiences caused by ongoing colonial oppression against Indigenous people, I understand some of its ramifications in the justice system. Given this understanding, I continue to work in reconciliation efforts to improve representation, support for Indigenous parties before tribunals and education. As a parent, I have actively educated my children about residential schools and their impacts. In my role at BCCAT, my committee is at work to provide further resources for tribunals on reconciliation.
My experiences have shown me that Canada is rich in diversity and complex; no one descriptor can fully describe us each as individuals. I remain humble and open to my own shortcomings, while moving forward to take action where I can be effective.
3. Describe how judicial decision-making impacts society in a constitutional democracy.
In a constitutional democracy, judicial decision-making provides an important constraint on government legislative action by ensuring it complies with the Charter. The courts have the role of being impartial, unbiased, independent decision makers who provide this safeguard, to protect vulnerable and marginalized groups. At the same time, the courts must allow deference to the legislature in matters of policy to ensure that parliamentary democracy can function effectively.
The impact of the judicial role on society can be profound, as reflected in the jurisprudence on medical assistance in dying. In Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 5, the Supreme Court of Canada held that Criminal Code provisions making medical assistance in dying illegal violated the life, liberty and security interests protected by Charter section 7. The court commented that section 7 protected interests of terminally ill people in choosing whether to obtain assistance in dying were engaged, as they were critical to individual dignity, autonomy and quality of life. The prohibition on the right to decide about a person's own bodily integrity and medical care trenched on their liberty. The provisions were found not to be justified under Charter s. 1.
Although the Code provisions were a valid exercise of federal criminal law powers, the court's Charter analysis allowed it to suspend the offending Criminal Code provisions, paving the way for a regulatory process for competent adults to choose whether to seek assistance in dying when faced with grievous and irremediable medical conditions causing enduring and intolerable suffering. In considering whether the trial judge was bound by the earlier Rodriguez decision, which had found no violation of section 7, the court included important guidance on how trial courts may reconsider settled rulings of higher courts where either a new legal issue is raised or a change in circumstances or evidence "fundamentally shifts the parameters of the debate" (Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford, 2013 SCC 72). While precedent is an essential aspect of judicial decision making in a constitutional democracy, the courts also bear the responsibility to consider when such circumstances arise that require a fresh analysis.
The Carter decision highlights the gravity of the judiciary's responsibilities for independent decision-making in a constitutional democracy. The judicial role in reviewing government legislative action for Charter implications, from the trial judge to the Supreme Court of Canada, served to transform Canadian society by making medically assisted dying an available choice, given the limitations of medicine and palliative care, with safeguards to protect the vulnerable.
The judiciary also serves to review administrative law decisions, generally through a reasonableness framework (Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65; Mason, 2023 SCC 21). Judicial review of administrative law decisions provides important accountability given the scope of such decision making in Canada. However, the legislature remains able to impose a different standard of review, and a higher standard of correctness applies to constitutional questions (as well as questions of central importance to the legal system as a whole and questions about jurisdictional boundaries between two or more administrative bodies). This higher standard for constitutional questions is consistent with the courts' role in constraining government action that infringes the Charter.
The courts' role and powers are not without limitation. The judiciary has a distinct role from the legislature, and each body must show deference to the other. While the courts must protect against "incursions on fundamental values", they may not "second guess policy decisions" of the legislature (Rv. Chouban, 2020 SCJ No. 101 at para. 84, citing Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S. C.R. 143 at p. 194). In the context of considering the statutory scheme for jury selection and specifically the abolition of peremptory challenges, the court in Chouhan noted that while an accused's right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial jury may be reviewed by the courts for compliance with the Charter's fundamental rights protections, the legislature remains able to determine the features of the jury selection system.
The court's role in holding public officials and the legislature accountable to the Charter's protection of fundamental rights and freedoms is a crucial one, that has resulted in significant societal changes and functions to protect vulnerable citizens. This role is part of a judge's obligation to provide independent, impartial and fair decision making to the parties before them.
4. Please describe the personal qualities, professional skills and abilities, and life experiences that you believe will equip you for the role of a judge.
In my work as a tribunal member, I was a hardworking and thoughtful decision maker. I would strive to bring my qualities of diligence and thoughtfulness to the role of a judge.
Over many years, I have managed a large and varied practice, including being responsible for several highly sensitive client matters attracting media interest, such as those involving allegations of professional misconduct, sexual misconduct, fraud, unethical conduct and fitness to practice concerns. I provided representation in all matters with integrity, and confidentiality. I am able to handle diverse caseloads by multi-tasking effectively to meet commitments in an organized and timely way.
My personal qualities include and are enhanced by my interest in lifelong learning which I have used to develop and support my multi-faceted legal practice. I have completed continuing education in trauma-informed practice, cultural perspectives, Indigenous reconciliation, ethics, leadership and coaching.
I exercise very good judgment and make decisions based on evidence and law, both as a decision maker and in representing clients. My ability to listen, honed through practice and continuing education, is a key quality that would equip me well for a judicial role.
I approach clients, opposing parties and counsel and my co-counsel and support team with professionalism and compassion. I have excellent interpersonal skills, having worked with large and small groups of people from all backgrounds and in a variety of situations.
I have considerable experience doing counsel work, advising clients, marshaling evidence, drafting and making arguments and appearing at many levels of court and before many different tribunals. My counsel work includes in small claims matters and human rights tribunal cases where claimants acted for themselves and sometimes had mental health and other challenges, appearing as lead counsel, co-counsel and junior counsel on a variety of medical/nursing negligence trials before the BC Supreme Court, appearances before the BC Court of Appeal, including on one 5 member-panel appeal, and appearing before administrative tribunals. I have also acted for administrative law decision makers and administrative tribunals including helping them with bylaw drafting, consideration of evidentiary issues and decision drafting support.
I have excellent written and verbal communication skills. My litigation skills would enable me to manage the courtroom with the goal of fair decision making, evaluate cases before me on the evidence, and make preliminary rulings and merits decisions efficiently and as needed.
I have good facility with technology, having litigated before and through the COVID-19 pandemic, and practiced through the evolution of many new software and hardware tools.
Since I was a teenager, I have worked and volunteered in many settings, giving me an understanding of some industries and lives outside of the legal realm. Together, all of these legal and non-legal experiences have made me a flexible and adaptable person with a broad base of legal knowledge, able to move between different areas of law, different types of litigation and practice before different decision makers and as a decision maker myself. I would bring my adaptability, flexibility and eagerness to continue to learn to the judicial role.
Throughout my life, I have balanced family and professional obligations, including as a spouse, parent and lawyer. I look after myself by ensuring I use supports for mental and physical well-being, and revising them frequently, so that I can balance my commitments and maintain this high level of energy.
If appointed, I aim to bring my personal qualities of empathy, calm professionalism, a careful listening ear, fairness and thoughtful decision making for all parties that appear before me.
5. Given the goal of ensuring that Canadians are able to look at the justices appointed to the bench and see their faces and life experiences reflected there, you may, if you choose, provide information about yourself that you feel would assist in this objective.
In my view, a balanced bench that reflects the many diverse faces and life experiences of Canadians who come before the court is crucial to providing sound decision making and access to justice.
As a woman and mother, I am part of a group that is historically underrepresented among BC Supreme Court justices. My mother worked full-time as a medical secretary while also raising two children with my father. With my family's example to follow and having worked as a woman both in scientific research and law, I understand the importance of representation for all genders and all different types of people, throughout our justice system. My hope is that litigants appearing before me would see and experience a woman listening, providing them with fair- decision making, satisfaction with the dispute resolution process, and compassion and integrity in all facets of judicial work.
Another component of my identity that would be reflected in my appointment is that of a grandchild of war refugees. It remains a tragic reality that families are being displaced from their homes in conflict zones around the world; some start again in Canada as refugees or immigrants.
During World War II, my maternal grandparents, teenagers at the time, were forcibly removed from their homes in Lodz, Poland by Nazi soldiers. They were separated from their immediate family and ultimately placed in a forced labour camp in Braunschweig, Germany. At the forced labourcamp, they met and later married. Shortly after the war ended, my grandmother gave birth to my uncle. The new family then came to Canada as refugees.
My mother was the first in our family to be born in Canada. While we were and are fortunate, particularly given the extent of historic and current atrocities, the displacement from Poland had intergenerational effects. Notably, my grandparents were unable to pursue education as they otherwise would have wished. They each took on work in Toronto's garment industry, eventually finding longer employment as a tailor (grandfather) and a Canada Post employee (grandmother) to provide for their young son and daughter. Throughout their lives, they also contributed to volunteer community service to the Polish Canadian community. Later, as a young child, I lived in Toronto in my grandmother's home with my parents, while my grandfather operated a restaurant in Scarborough.
My father was an immigrant from New Zealand who moved to Canada after meeting my mother. Like many Canadians, I am the product of a unique cultural background. The Polish/Kiwi/Canadian mixture at home taught me to listen well, maintain a flexible perspective and look outside my own experience to try to understand others.
Against the backdrop of my mother's family's resilience in reestablishing themselves in Canada, I became the first in my family to attend university. My younger brother and cousins followed in university studies, much to our family's delight.
My family has experienced profound losses that have given me an understanding of the impacts of grief and loss on individuals and families, and some insight into the experiences of many Canadians who rely upon or work within our health care, hospice and volunteer systems. These kinds of family losses were compounded during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had far reached implications across the country. Although this part of my life experience would not be seen directly by parties before me, it would allow me to listen with care and openness where people in my court are suffering through difficult experiences either as part of their litigation or as outside life factors.
My life experiences give me some appreciation, though I acknowledge not in every experience or detail, of the impacts of the refugee and immigrant experience, and what it means to be a woman and a working mother. I also bring an understanding of and compassion towards those experiencing life's losses and hardships, which are faced by all Canadians. The experiences of parties before me will be different from my own. Many will have faced far more significant challenges and traumas. I recognize that no person or life is static. As someone who strives to learn and become aware of the uniqueness and evolving life experiences of others, I would strive to create and maintain an environment of safety, fairness and compassion for people appearing before me at all times.
