Résumé

  • Culturally competent with strong anti-racism lens
  • Creates accessible environment and process
  • Assists parties to achieve a viable resolution with their dignity intact
  • Puts parties at the centre of process, ensures parties are heard and respected
  • Manages complex issues and high emotions during mediation, negotiation, facilitation, hearing

Education and ADR Designations

  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
  • Chartered Mediator (C. Med), ADR Institute of Canada, Inc.
  • Conflict Management Coach Certificate, CINERGY Conflict Management Coaching
  • Workplace Fairness Analyst Certificate, Workplace Fairness International
  • Mediating Disputes Certificate, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
  • Adjudicator Certificate, Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators
  • Arbitrator Certificate, ADR Institute of Ontario
  • Advanced Facilitator Certificate, Ontario Public Service, Centre for Leadership and Learning

Experience

2017-Present   Member, Administrative Penalty Tribunal, City of Toronto (quasi-judicial appointment)
  • Adjudicate appeals in a parking violation dispute, which often elicit high emotions from appellants
  • Approach rooted in principles of natural justice & procedural fairness
  • Remain fair, exercise control over the process even when appellants become agitated
  • Educate appellants regarding the By-law’s permissions, restrictions and public policies that inform enforcement
  • Render well-reasoned, evidence-based decisions
  • Frequent feedback from appellants about ‘being heard’, ‘feeling respected’, ‘being treated fairly’.
2013- Present Human Rights Mediator, Trainer, Coach, Private Practice
2014-2017
  • Arbitrator, ADR Chambers
2012-2013
  • Advisor, Trainer, Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention, Ministry of Government Services
2008-2012
  • Advisor, Dispute Resolution and Human Rights, Trainer, Mediation Co-ordinator, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
2007-2011
  • Deputy Rooming House Licensing Commissioner, City of Toronto (quasi-judicial appointment)
2001-2008
  • Mediator, Ontario Human Rights Commission
1995-Present
  • Mediator, Sole Practitioner
1993-2016
  • Lawyer, Sole Practitioner acting primarily as Settlement Counsel

Teaching and Coaching Experience

2015 – Present
  • Collaborate on the development of 5- day curriculum and delivery of training for Advanced Culture in Mediation course
  • Devise material and coach individuals who are alleged to have contravened employers’ academic or corporate human rights/equity/anti-bullying policies and/or the Ontario Human Rights Code
  • Devise and deliver Human Rights in Mediation & Human Rights for Paralegals to ADR and Paralegal students, as guest lecturer
  • Guest lecturer on human rights and conflict management for various organizations and not-for-profits
  • Devised and delivered Ethics in Mediation for ADR students, York University, School of Continuing Studies
2008-2013
  • Devised and delivered dozens of training sessions to management and staff in the OPS on Human Rights, Mediation, Fact-finding, Facilitation

Professional Development (Highlights)

  • On-going human rights professional development through ADRIO, ADRIC, OBA, Lancaster House, Indigenous Corporate Training, etc.
  • Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators
  • Arbitrator Training, ADR Chambers
  • Competing Human Rights, Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
  • Balancing Human Rights in the Workplace, OHRC
  • Bill 132, Lancaster House
  • Aboriginal Relations in the OPS, Centre for Leadership & Learning (CLL)
  • Preventing Discrimination because of Gender Identity & Gender Expression, OHRC
  • Advanced Training, Racism and Racial Discrimination, Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
  • Aboriginal Human Rights, OHRC
  • Rethinking Indigenous Identity, Ryerson University
  • Advanced Mediation Certificate, ADR Education
  • Narrative Mediation Training, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo
  • Victim Offender Mediation Training, Conflict Mediation Services of Downsview
  • Community Mediation Training & Mediation Training Certificate, St. Stephen’s Community House
  • Mediator, Beginner & Advanced Certificates, Stitt, Feld/University of Windsor

Volunteer Positions

2007-Present   Chair, Regional Chartered Mediator Accreditation Committee, ADR Institute of Ontario (0versee accreditation process of applicants for C. Med designation)

2017-Present   Designated Representative, Pro Bono Ontario, assisting & supporting unaccompanied minors who are claiming convention refugee status upon arrival in Canada

Affiliations/Memberships

  • ADR Institute of Ontario, Inc.
  • Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators
  • Member Law Society of Ontario (Retired)

Skills and Attributes

  • Expert in human rights, including conflicting rights and intersectionality
  • Expert in the prevention of and addressing personal harassment in the workplace
  • Experienced trainer and facilitator
  • Experienced human rights/employment mediator
  • Emphasis on parties’ preparation for mediation through thorough assessment and pre-mediation meetings
  • Strong, clear communicator
  • Flexible
  • Creative
  • Ethical
  • Establishes rapport
  • Tenacious