Faculty Biographical Information

October 27 & 28, 2016

Intensive Child Protection Training

Primer

Christ Andrikakis

Called to the bar in 1991. From 1991 to 1993 I worked as an associate with Pinkofsky, Lockyer, Kwinter practicing Family law and

Civil Litigation. From 1993 to 2000 I was a sole practitioner practicing Family Law, Child Protection, Civil litigation and

some Real Estate. I have been with the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto from the year 2000 to the present. I am

currently counsel with the Society's South Branch. In the past I have held the positions of Acting

Associate Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel, Floater Counsel within the Society.

The Honourable Judith C. Beaman, Commissioner

L'honorable Judith C. Beaman, Commissaire

400 University Avenue Suite 1800A Toronto, Ontario M7A 2R9 info@motheriskcommission.ca

400 Avenue University Bureau 1800A Toronto (Ontario) M7A 2R9 info@motheriskcommission.ca

Commissioner Bio: Commissioner Judith C. Beaman was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 1998, rising to the post of Regional Senior Justice for Eastern Ontario in 2008, a position in which she served until 2012. In her judicial role, Justice Beaman presided over both family and criminal cases. She also served as the Chief Justice’s appointee on the Ontario Judicial Council and the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee. Justice Beaman was called to the bar in 1977 and specialized in child and family protection law, working first as a sole practitioner and then as a partner in the firm of Dickson, Sachs, Appell and Beaman. While in practice, she also served as a Hearing Officer for the Ministry of Community and Social Services on adoption review cases. She also worked as a legal policy analyst at the Status of Women Canada Directorate in Ottawa shortly before being appointed as a judge. Justice Beaman was appointed by Order-in-Council to lead the Motherisk Commission on January 15, 2016.

Graduate from the University of Alberta, called to the Ontario Bar in 1990.  Practice is devoted to the 

area of Child Protection Law, representing primarily parents and children.  

MichelleCheung

MichellegraduatedfromOsgoodeHallLawSchoolin1994,articledwiththeOfficialGuardian/OfficeoftheChildren’sLawyerfrom1994‐1995andwascalledtotheOntarioBarin1996.

Michellespentherfirstthreeyearsasalawyerinprivatepracticedoingrealestate,familylawandchildprotection,includingworkfortheOfficeoftheChildren’sLawyerChildRepresentationpanelsinTorontoandYorkRegion.

In1999,MichellejoinedtheLegalServicesDepartmentattheChildren’sAidSocietyofToronto.ShehasbeenLegalCounselassignedtotheScarboroughBranchfrom1999‐2000,assignedtotheEtobicokeBranchfrom2000‐2007andasthedepartmentFloaterfromDecember2008‐April2016.SinceApril2016,MichellehasbeentheSpecialInitiativesCounselfortheLegalServicesDepartment.

Michellehaspresentedatcontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentprogramsorganizedbythe311JarvisOpenBarSeries,the47SheppardContinuingEducationProgram,theLawSocietyofUpperCanadaaswellasinprogramsorganizedwithintheChineseCanadianprofessionalcommunity.

Michellecanbereachedat: TheChildren’sAidSocietyofToronto30IsabellaStreetToronto,OntarioM4Y1N1Tel:(416)924‐4640ext2083Fax:(416)324‐2550Email:mcheung@torontocas.ca

After taking her first family law course at the University of Toronto’s law school, patti was hooked. Her professional career has focused on family courts. patti articled and worked for the Office of the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, before moving to her current position as the Family Counsel for the Office of the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice. She has worked as family counsel for the Senior Justice of the Family Courts (S.C.O.) and with the Family Rules Committee. Today, she advises the Chief Justice, the Senior Advisory Family Judge, and the OCJ Advisory Committee on Family Law on policy and legislative issues and other matters of interest to family judges. She was the co-chair for the AFCC Ontario’s Coordinating Committee to establish the AFCC Ontario and was the chapter’s first President. She also serves on the parent AFCC Board of Directors in the United States. She is also a proud mommy of her twelve year old daughter, Maggie.

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GEORGE CZUTRIN The Honourable George Czutrin, Senior Judge of the Family Court, Superior Court of Justice (December 2013); Justice of the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) Toronto (January 2007); Justice of the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), Hamilton Family Court (June 1993) ; Local Administrative Justice, Hamilton Family Court (1995 – 2006); Family Team Leader in Toronto, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario) (September 2009), LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University; (1976) called to Ontario Bar 1978; member Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics; director Ontario Superior Court Judges' Association (2001-2007); member of Family Rules Committee; Past Chair Chief Justice's Committee on the Unrepresented Litigant; past member of the Civil Justice Review Family Law Subcommittee and the Family Law Implementation Committee; Past President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Presenter at various educational programmes including: Canadian Bar Association; Law Society of Upper Canada; Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conferences; National Family Law Programme Federal Law Societies; National Justice Institute; Educational Sessions of the Ontario Court (General Division) and the Superior Court of Justice; Alberta Provincial Judges Association; Osgoode Hall Law School Continuing Legal Education; Central South Superior Court Judges Seminars; and Canadian Judicial Council Members Annual Seminar. As a Lawyer: certified specialist in Family Law; past President of the Hamilton Law Association; past Instructor at Bar Admissions Course; past member of the Law Society of Upper Canada's Family Law Certification Committee and member of the Children's Lawyer's Child Representation Panel.

 

JANET DABY

Janet Daby graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.Sc. in Psychology and Anthropology and she went on to graduate from Queen’s Law School.

She opened her own law practice after being called to the bar, practicing in criminal and then adding family law to her practice. She has been practicing law for 20 years. She gives priority in accepting Child Welfare matters in her office given the severity of the outcome for the parent and child.

At times, she finds that Child Welfare work can be very frustrating given the issues that a lot of parents face. This can be very rewarding work when the family can be reunited successfully, however it requires a lot of patience.

Amelia M. Daurio, B.A., LL.B. 

Ms. Daurio has been Counsel with the York Region Children’s Aid Society since 2005. 

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2001 and a 

Bachelor of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2004.  She was called to the Bar of 

Ontario in July 2005. 

Ms. Daurio’s legal training and practice has primarily focused on issues impacting children and 

their families.  She has had the opportunity to work as a law student at Parkdale Community 

Legal Services and the Family Responsibility Office.  She completed her Articles with the Office 

of the Children’s Lawyer.   

Ms. Daurio has appeared before various courts and tribunals in Toronto and Newmarket, 

including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Divisional Court, the 

Child and Family Services Review Board, the Consent and Capacity Board, the Criminal Injuries 

Compensation Board and the Social Benefits Tribunal.  She has extensive litigation experience, 

regularly attending before the Unified Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice at 

Newmarket. 

Ms. Daurio has been a Board Director for the York Region Law Association since 2012, and 

served as the Treasurer in 2013/14.   She has been a member of the Law Association since 

2005. 

 

Yvonne Fiamengo practices child protection law at the Children’s Aid Society of

Toronto. Ms. Fiamengo graduated from the University of Alberta Law School in May

1997 and was called to the Ontario Bar in February 1999 after completing her articles

with an insurance defence firm in Toronto. After a few years of insurance defence, Ms.

Fiamengo saw the light and began working in association with a small family law firm.

Before long, having acted for parents in both domestic and child welfare proceedings,

she joined the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto as in-house counsel. Ms. Fiamengo

has been with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, happily, since 2002.

Simon Fisch is counsel at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto.  Simon has been with the Society 

for over 10 years and has represented the Agency at all levels of Court in Ontario and at a Coroner's Inquest as Society counsel.  Before joining the Society, Simon was a litigation Associate at McCarthy Tetrault and also spent 1 year as a Judicial Clerk at the Superior Court of Justice.  Simon has participated in numerous educational programs and enjoys teaching and acting as a Mentor for Osgoode Hall law students.  When not in Court Simon can be found rock climbing or chasing after his two young children.  

Dr. Daniel Fitzgerald began his work with children and adolescents as a front‐line worker and supervisor 

in residential treatment programs in Ontario. He received his PhD in psychology from the University of 

Toronto in 1990. He has been a registered psychologist since that time and has done extensive clinical 

work with children, adolescents and families. He has worked in clinical programs and as a chief 

psychologist in a school board. Currently, his private practice involves assessment and consultation to 

residential treatment programs, child protection agencies and private clients. He conducts psychological 

assessments of children, adolescents and adults experiencing a broad range of psychological issues 

including trauma. He also conducts court‐ordered parenting capacity assessments and custody and 

access assessments. He has testified on numerous occasions in Ontario Courts. He is former Chair of the 

Board of Directors of Access for Parents and Children of Ontario (APCO) in Toronto. 

Haley Gaber‐Katz was called to the Bar in 2005.  She currently works at Glass and Associates representing Jewish Family & Child in their child protection matters as well as representing children as a panel member of the Office of the Children's Lawyer.   

Lorne Glass was called to the bar in Ontario in 1978 having graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School. 

He has practised family law and has worked mainly in the area of child protection. He has represented children's aid societies, parents, grandparents, foster parents and children involved in family court proceedings. Mr. Glass has been a panel lawyer for the Office of the Children's Lawyer since 1979.  He is now lead counsel for the Motherisk Commission.    

Gary Gottlieb has practiced law since his call to the Ontario Bar in 1987. His practice is 

restricted to Family Law, Divorce, Child Protection Litigation, as well as Family Mediation and 

Arbitration.  An experienced family lawyer, he is well able to serve clients as legal counsel or as 

the mediator / arbitrator.  As senior counsel, Gary has appeared frequently before the Superior 

Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.  He has many years of trial experience in  

family law matters and child protection  cases.  When in court, Gary is known to be well 

prepared, as well as to excel at "thinking on his feet."  He is often called upon to quickly analyse 

and resolve difficult issues. As a Mediator and Arbitrator, Gary is well respected as fair, 

reasonable in his approach, creative in thought, as well as decisive.  His vast experience before 

the courts has allowed Gary to serve clients from diverse cultural and socio‐economic 

backgrounds. He has worked with legal counsel and child protection workers affiliated with the 

Children's Aid Society of Toronto, the Catholic Children's Aid Society, the Jewish Family Child 

Service, and the Native Child Family Service. As a long standing Panel Member of the Office of 

the Children's Lawyer, Gary is well  versed in children's law, and the social science literature 

outlining children's  emotional and psychological responses to separation, both in the family 

law and  child protection contexts. Gary Gottlieb has honed his interpersonal skills, learned the 

value of professionalism, and the necessity of being sensitive to his clients' needs and desires. 

He will always tell his clients what they need to hear when they seek his advice.  His peers also 

respect what he has to say.  Gary has been called upon to lecture other members of the 

profession in many Continuing Legal Education programmes and the family law masters 

programme through Osgoode Hall. 

Anna Harris was called to the bar in 2012 and practices in the areas of family

and criminal law and has a special interest in litigation involving child welfare and youth criminal justice. Ms. Harris is an associate in the Law Office of T. Edgar Reilly and began working in the office in 2011 while completing her Articles of Clerkship under the oversight of Mary Reilly and William Sullivan. Ms. Harris obtained her her law degree in 2011 from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Public Policy and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Marice Hart, a social worker at Jewish Family and Child Service, conducts investigations and works on 

both a short and long term basis with children and families who are involved with the Ontario child welfare system. After  obtaining  a Master  of  Social Work  degree  from  Carleton University, Marice worked  at SickKids  in the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Unit. At Jewish Family and Child Service, Marice has worked as a Foster Care Coordinator, Permanency Worker, Child  in Care Worker and a Child Protection Worker. Marice  also  holds  a Master  of  Business  Administration  degree  from  the  Rotman  School  of Management at the University of Toronto.   

Linda Hofbauer Senior Counsel/Manager of Legal Services Children’s Aid Society of Toronto 30 Isabella St. Toronto, ON M4Y 1N1

Tel: 416-924-4640 ext.2562 Fax: 416-324-2550 E-mail: LHofbauer@TorontoCAS.ca

Linda Hofbauer is Senior Counsel and Manager of Legal Services at the Children’s Aid Society of

Toronto (CAST), where she oversees the delivery of legal services to the Scarborough Branch of

the Agency by an in-house team of lawyers and legal support staff. The Scarborough team is

one branch of the larger CAST legal department of lawyers, legal support staff, and disclosure

teams, all of whom work together to provide legal services to Society staff in cases under the

Child and Family Services Act.

Linda obtained her Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Toronto in 1981 and her

Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University in 1984. She was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1986

and was subsequently employed with the Department of Justice, Canada as Counsel for the

Advisory/Commercial Department. She began her child welfare practice as staff counsel with the

Children’s Aid Society of Toronto in 1988 and, with the growth in the legal services department,

Linda assumed the newly created Senior Counsel and Managerial position in 2000 where she

has continued to enjoy the challenges of Child Welfare.

Linda has a keen interest in child welfare training. Throughout her career she has participated as

Central Representative on the OCCAS (Organization of Counsel for Children’s Aid Societies),

and lead Conference Representative for the OCCAS for the presentation of two-day conferences

on child welfare related issues for counsel associated with Children’s Aid Societies across

Ontario. Linda is currently a certified Trainer for the Ontario Child Protection Training Program

with the OACAS (Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies) providing ongoing legal training

to new workers, authorized workers and managers/supervisors of Child Protection Agencies. She

has also provided extensive training internally on amendments to the Child and Family Services

Act. Linda has presented as a panel member for ongoing legal education for the LSUC and Bar

Admission Course. She is a member of the Executive Bench/Bar committee with Toronto North

Court and is an ongoing member of the 47 Sheppard Education Committee which organizes

educational speakers 5 times/yearly. She is the CAST representative for the Children’s Lawyer

Externship program and contributes to the student Moot exercises at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Linda has dedicated her legal career to the area of child protection.

Lauren B. Israel is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and has been practicing family law since 1993. Ms. Israel’s practice is a mixture of domestic and child welfare work in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court. Ms. Israel has been a member of the panel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer since 2000. She also has been on the duty counsel panel since 1998. Ms. Israel is an active member of the North York Bench and Bar Committee. She has been a member of the IDVC committee. She also is a member of the North York Continuing Education Committee and has spoken at continuing legal education programmes. Ms. Israel has taught family law at the bar admission course and at the 2011 and 2013 Intensive Child Welfare Education seminar.

Katharina Janczaruk was called to the Bar in 1992 and has worked exclusively in the areas of child protection and family law since 1995. Katharina Janczaruk has been a panel member of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer since 2000. Katharina currently is Chair of the Family Lawyers Association.

Bio  

Reide Kaiser was called to the bar in 1992.   His background included an MA in history, and a brief 

dalliance with the PhD program.   He was in private practice in the Region of Peel until 1999, when he joined Legal Aid Ontario.    Since then he has been with what was initially called the Family Law Office, and is now the Family Law Service Centre.  His practice includes domestic family matters, child protection and occasional forays at the appeal level.    

Katherine Kavassalis, LLB, Hon. BA Katherine has practised family law and child protection since her call to the bar in 1984. In 2004, she joined the in-house staff at the Office of the Children's Lawyer as counsel. She is currently the Legal Director in the Personal Rights Department at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. In this role she oversees the development and delivery of training for over 400 fee-for-service lawyers on the Office’s Child Representation Panel. As an advocate herself, she has appeared in every level of court in the province. She has guest lectured at the Faculties of Law at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Windsor and the University of Toronto, has taught Family Law for Mediators at T.A.P.E., the Bar Admission preparatory course for Family Law at the University of Toronto and taught Law and Ethics, in 2006-07 at the Department of Social Work, University of Western Ontario. Katherine is a trainer for the Advocates Society, and moot supervisor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. She has co-authored two books on child custody assessments.

GILEAD KAY

Gilead Kay is one of the founding partners of Zinati Kay, Barristers and Solicitors.

He graduated from Osgood Hall law school in 1994 and has been practicing law for over 20 years.

He has appeared in all levels of court as counsel for the Family Responsibility Office as well as counsel for payors and recipients.

His law practice is primarily focused in the area of child protection and child advocacy. He appears as counsel for parents as well as OCL counsel for children who are the subject of child protection proceedings.

He is also a certified family mediator.

 

Karen Ksienski is a graduate of Queen’s Law School.  Ms. Ksienski was called to the Law Society of Upper 

Canada in 2002. Since  2002  Ms. Ksienski has been employed as  legal counsel for the Catholic Children’s 

Aid Society of Toronto.  

Lisa LaBorde was called to the bar in 2000 after completing her LLB at Queen’s University Law School. Following her call to the bar she worked at the Ontario Human Rights Commission and as Advice Counsel for the African Canadian Legal Clinic. Since 2004, Ms. LaBorde has exclusively practiced child protection law in private practice representing both parents and children. Ms. LaBorde is also an accredited family mediator. Currently, Ms. LaBorde is one of the staff counsel for the Motherisk Commission.  

Tammy Law Tammy received her LL.B. from the University of Toronto in 2003 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005. Prior to her call, Tammy clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and then spent a year in Beijing studying Chinese. Tammy has practiced in the areas of family law and child protection law since her call to the bar and has acted for children, parents, foster parents, aboriginal bands and Children’s Aid Societies in all levels of court in Ontario. She has worked in private practice, in various capacities at Legal Aid Ontario, and at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. She was a past editor of the child protection chapter in Wilson on Children and the Law and is currently a member of the 311 Open Bar committee. Tammy co-wrote the Family Lawyers Association’s submission to Justice Susan Lang’s Motherisk Review. She is currently in private practice and is also commission counsel at the Motherisk Commission.

Carolyn Leach Carolyn was called to the Ontario Bar in 1997, after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1995 and articling with the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. Following her call to the Bar, Carolyn spent a year in private practice (focusing primarily on family law) before joining the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) in 1998. As counsel with the OCL, Carolyn represents children in child protection and custody/access proceedings. She appears regularly in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, and has also successfully argued appeals before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In addition to her own casework, Carolyn provides supervision and support to panel lawyers representing children on behalf of the OCL in Northern Ontario and Toronto. She also co-manages the child protection ADR program at the OCL. In this capacity, she reviews referrals for the appointment of child’s counsel in child protection ADR matters, supervises counsel assigned to these cases, and is a primary point of contact for the OCL within the Ontario ADR community. Carolyn presents regularly on a variety of topics related to representing children in family law matters, including: appellate advocacy on behalf of children, the role of child’s counsel in child protection ADR, representing minor parents in child protection cases, and children’s participation in family law decision-making. Carolyn has just completed an LL.M. specializing in civil litigation and dispute resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Sheila C. MacKinnon Called to the Bar in Ontario 1988, University of Windsor Law School graduated LLB 1986 Queen's University graduated BA 1983 Member Toronto Lawyer's Association since 1988 Office of the Children's Lawyer Panel Agent since 2001 Member Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Member Family Lawyer's Association Member Cross Over Youth Committee since January 2014 Past Instructor Intensive Child Protection Course 2013 and 2015 Sole practitioner from 1997- present Miller Thomson from 1992-1997 Kingsmill, Jennings 1986-1992 Loves to go on cycling holidays and her favorite Charity is Easter Seals

Peter Marshall  Currently in‐house counsel at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Peter has over 15 years of experience acting for children's aid societies, parents and children. Peter is also a founder of Recovery Science Corporation, a social entrepreneurship project dedicated to helping create alternatives to incarceration in criminal law and more effective approaches to substance abuse cases in family and child protection law.  

Elizabeth McCarty is an in-house counsel at the Office of the Children's Lawyer, where she articled and then returned as counsel after her call to the Bar in 1998. Elizabeth represents children in custody and access and child protection cases. She currently oversees the OCL's openness program and the adoption program. Elizabeth has written and presented on topics ranging from Custody and Access considerations for special needs children, Fresh Evidence on Appeals, and Openness and Adoption.  

BIOGRAPHY OF PAULA M. McGIRR – SENIOR BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR

Paula M. McGirr is a graduate of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and has been practicing family law since 1990. From 1995 to 1998, she pursued on a part time basis a Master’s Degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School. Ms. McGirr was in private practice until 2003, at which time she joined the Family Law Office of Legal Aid Ontario (now the Family Law Service Centre-North Toronto). Ms. McGirr provides private legal representation to family law clients in receipt of legal aid certificates. Ms. McGirr takes on some of the most difficult family law problems around, tending to represent individuals whose legal issues are too complicated to be handled by the private bar on legal aid certificates under the existing legal aid tariffs. A significant number of Ms. McGirr’s cases involve immigrants and litigants with mental health issues, both as clients and as unrepresented opposing parties. In addition, she most frequently represents individuals who are survivors of spousal or partner abuse. Her practice encompasses both domestic and child welfare matters, at every court level from the Ontario Court of Justice to the Court of Appeal of Ontario. Ms. McGirr also conducts child welfare mediations in Newmarket at the Legal Aid office there and provides agency representation in family law matters for the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. Ms. McGirr was a board member of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic from 2003 to 2010 and a board member of the Family Lawyers’ Association for many years. She is presently a board member of the Brock Early Years Centre and sits on the Policy Committee of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Ms. McGirr is also a member of the 47 Sheppard Court Education Committee, the 311 Jarvis Court Education Committee and the North York Family Court Bench and Bar Executive. As well, Ms. McGirr is a frequent speaker at numerous external legal continuing education programs, such as at the Law Society of Upper Canada, as well as in the community at large. She has authored a number of papers regarding family law issues. Ms. McGirr is also a frequent speaker at Ontario Family Judges’ Conferences and at National Family Judges’ Conferences. Ms. McGirr is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, where she teaches an upper year law course in child protection law. She is also an instructor in the joint Osgoode Hall/Legal Aid Ontario/Children’s Aid Society externship program for law students. Ms. McGirr also instructs and/or speaks at other professional programs such as the Intensive Child Welfare Institute and Legal Aid Ontario’s various continuing legal education programs. Ms. McGirr was nominated for the Sidney Linden Award in 2014 and 2015. She is the articling principal in her office and has and continues to spend countless hours mentoring new lawyers. While in private practice, Ms. McGirr also worked as and trained duty counsel and for many years volunteered her time as a family court referee (mediator) at the Ontario Court of Justice in Scarborough, prior to the dissolution of that program.

David Miller David was born and raised in North York. He graduated from the University of Toronto Law School in 1993. The day after being called to the bar in 1995, David opened his own law practice in Toronto practicing criminal, family and child protection law, and David has been working at his own office since that date. David's law firm is now called Miller & Miller, Family & Child Protection Lawyers, and David's main focus is on representing parents in child protection cases. For many years, he also represented children for the Office of the Children's Lawyer. David is a regular speaker at continuing legal education programs. David has 3 children, ages 15, 12, and 5.

Charlotte Murray Barrister and Solicitor 402 – 197 Spadina Avenue Toronto, Ontario Charlotte was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989 after articling at was then the Office of the Official Guardian (now the Office of the Children’s Lawyer). Since that time Charlotte has practised exclusively in the field of family law with a special emphasis in the areas of child protection and adoption. Charlotte has represented children, parents, children’s aid societies, women’s shelters, youth organizations and government ministries at all levels of the Ontario courts. Charlotte has had mixed success at the trial and appellate levels. Charlotte is and has been an active participant on many CPD programs, committees and pilot projects aimed at reforming and improving the family law system. Charlotte is a frequent presenter at continuing education programs. Charlotte has also had mixed success at these endeavours. Charlotte generally completes the Globe cryptic crossword each morning. Charlotte usually carries the consolidated statutes in her purse. Charlotte is a dweeb.

K. Stacy Neill has been the Senior Counsel with the Children’s Aid Society of Brant since 2004. Stacy obtained in B.A. in Philosophy and Math from McMaster University, her L.L.B. from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Common Law, and was called to the Bar in Ontario in February, 1996. Stacy joined the Children’s Aid Society of Brant in 1998 following time in general private practice, and was Senior Counsel from 2004 to 2013. Stacy was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in December, 2013 and presently sits in Kitchener, Ontario.

Margarida Pacheco was called to the bar in 1982 and has practiced child protection law since 1991. Margarida has represented parents, children and children’s aid societies. Margarida is also qualified as a family law mediator.

Brenda Packard bio Brenda Packard has worked as a Child Welfare Practitioner for over 30 years and is currently employed as a Child Welfare Supervisor at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. She represents the agency on the Infant Mental Health Promotion Steering Committee at the Hospital for Sick Children, and is the chair of the Family Law Initiatives Committee. She has presented on the subject of Infant Mental Health and Attachment at various venues across the country and has taught an online course at York University regarding parenting and attachment. Brenda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience.

Debra Paulseth Debra is a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice and assigned to 47 Sheppard Family Court. She was appointed in November, 2005. On January 1, 2014, Debra was appointed to the new position of Senior Advisory Family Judge for the Ontario Court of Justice. Before her appointment, Debra was a lawyer with the provincial government, serving as Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Legal Services and Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Court Services. After her Call to the Bar in 1981, Debra worked with local child welfare agencies and joined the Children’s Lawyer in 1987. She has appeared at all levels of court. Debra has also worked in the area of justice reforms, including the Civil Justice Review, the Discovery Task Force, the NJI/CIDA reform project in Jamaica, and the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice. She is past President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts-Ontario Chapter.

MIRA PILCH

Mira Pilch practices child protection law at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, where she has

been employed since 2000, currently in a Senior Counsel/Manager position. Ms. Pilch holds a

BSc. degree in psychology and psychoanalytic theory from the University of Toronto and an

LLB. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Ms. Pilch was called to the bar in

1993, following a year of articles at the Official Guardian’s office (as it then was). After a brief

(very brief) stint in private practice, Ms. Pilch was employed as in house counsel at Family and

Children’s Services Niagara for five years.

Ms. Pilch can be reached at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, at 416-924-4640 ex. 2561 or

by email at mpilch@torontocas.ca.

Julie Ralhan was called to the bar in 2003, and has practiced family law exclusively since this time. Following her call to the bar, Ms. Ralhan worked as Legal Counsel to the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton and the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton over a cumulative period of six years. In 2009, Ms. Ralhan accepted a position at a boutique matrimonial law firm in Toronto, where her practice included all aspects of family law. In 2012, Ms. Ralhan launched her own law practice, focussing on the representation of parents and other family members in Children’s Aid Society cases. Ms. Ralhan obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from York University in 1999, her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2002, and her Master of Laws degree (part-time LL.M.) in Family Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2009.  

Tharsi Selvaratnam obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Major) and Biology 

(Minor) from York University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. Tharsi has six years of experience working in the social service field. She has a background in research focusing on childhood sexual abuse and attachment. She also has experience working with families in the medical setting and has developed and facilitated support groups for women who have experienced trauma and violence. Tharsi is currently a Family Service Worker at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and has specialized training in Infant Mental Health and Safety Planning.   

Biography- Justice Stanley Sherr

Justice Sherr has presided in the Ontario Court of Justice (Family Court) at 47 Sheppard Ave. East, Toronto since 2005. Justice Sherr graduated from the University of Windsor law school in 1979 and was called to the Bar in 1981. Justice Sherr was a partner in the Toronto firm of Ulrich and Sherr from 1981- 2005. He was primarily a family law practitioner who specialized in child protection law. Justice Sherr was a member of the Child Representation Panel for the Office of The Children’s Lawyer from 1987- 2005. He was involved in many capacities with the Toronto Supervised Access Program from 1991- 2003. He frequently presents at continuing education programs for the bar and the judiciary.

Sherri Smolkin

Sherri obtained a BA(Hon.) degree in History and Political Studies from Queen’s University in 1997 and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2000. Sherri completed her articles at the Ministry of the Attorney General-Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) from 2000 to 2001, prior to being called to the bar of Ontario in 2002. Sherri spent some time with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, in the position of Legal Counsel, between 2002 and 2005, and a brief time in private practice and on the OCL panel in 2004. Sherri has been with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, in the position of Legal Counsel, since joining the agency in February of 2006.

Adit Sommer-Waisglass obtained her B.A. from the University of Toronto, and her LL.B. from Osgoode Hall (York University). Ms. Sommer-Waisglass was in general practice in Newmarket in 1988-1990, and in 1990, joined York Region Children’s Aid Society as one of their in-house counsel. Since September 2005, she has been the Legal Services Supervisor and counsel at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. Ms. Sommer-Waisglass currently sits on the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies Policy and Legislation Committee and Senior Counsel Network and is an OACAS trainer. In addition, she sits on the Bench and Bar committee of the 311 Jarvis Family Court, on the Ve’ahavta Briut Ontario Aboriginal Programs Advisory Committee, and the Content Committee of CLEO’s ‘Steps to Justice’ project. From 1996-1999, she was on the Board of Directors of the Yellow Brick House-Project Hostel, was formerly a member of the Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning’s School of Social & Community Services Forensic Practice Advisory Committee. In 2012, Ms. Sommer-Waisglass provided consultation to the Customary Care Process Guide Project [Barnes Management Group for Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Child Welfare Secretariat] and the Office of the Children’s Lawyer child protection consultation committee. She has presented to lawyers and judges on issues in providing child welfare services to the aboriginal community.

Debbie Stewart Debbie is a sole practitioner family law lawyer in practice for over 30 years in Toronto, with extensive experience in both domestic and child protection Family Law, currently practicing almost exclusively in the child protection area. She represents both adult clients and as a panel the Ontario courts, and tribunals.

Debbie is also an accredited Family Mediator, (designated AccFM) fully accredited by the OAFM in Ontario, providing family mediation services, and has recently completed the training for family mediators in the area of Openness post adoption..

Herb Stover 

LL.B. – Queen’s 1986 

Called to the Bar – 1988 

Represented clients in Child Protection proceedings from 1988 to the present at OCJ, appeals to 

SCJ, appeals to CA 

 

 

 

 

BIO – Lauren Stringer 

I have been counsel for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society since 1998. I am currently a Senior 

Supervising and Floater counsel and in this role I supervise a team of Law Clerks and Court Process 

Assistants. I conduct trials, appeals have been involved in inquests, mediations, drafting policy and 

conducting legal education training programs. I have been on the 311 Jarvis Education (Open Bar) 

Committee since 2013 designing and presenting Education programs for family lawyers and prior to that 

I was on the 47 Sheppard Education Committee since its inception. I am currently a co‐author of the 

Carswell loose leaf book “Child Protection Law in Canada”. 

Anthony (Bill) Sullivan EDUCATION MCGILL UNIVERSITY Montreal, Quebec 1973-76 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Toronto, Ontario 1982-83 B.A. Honours Political Science & History DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY FACTULTY OF LAW Halifax, Nova Scotia 1984-1987 EMPLOYMENT HISTORY PARKDALE COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES Toronto, Ontario 1987-1995

Articling Student, 1987 – 1988 Part time lawyer, supervisor of students, 1989 – 1995

(WILLIAM A. SULLIVAN, Barrister & Solicitor) Toronto, Ontario 1989 - 2015 Practiced family law focusing on low-income clients with special emphasis on assisting

o Victims of domestic violence; o Refugees; o Parents in Child Protection Matters

Coordinated workshops and presentations for victims of domestic violence at shelters in the City of Toronto Member, personal rights panel, Office of the Children’s Lawyer representing children in domestic and child welfare files.

Danielle Szandtner, B.A. English (McGill) 1990, M.A. Canadian Studies 1991, Joint L.L.B. ‐ Master of Social Work (University of Toronto) 1996 has been in‐house counsel with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto since 2005. Prior to this position, she worked as a litigation associate with the law firm of Goodman and Carr in Toronto. She worked in the areas of civil sexual assault law and family law with Goodman and Carr for seven years after her graduation from the University of Toronto.    

Caterina E. Tempesta  Caterina is senior counsel at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (“OCL”).  Since joining the OCL in 2001, Caterina has provided legal representation to children in child protection and custody/access proceedings, including cases arising under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.  She has acted as counsel in matters involving policy, Charter and international law issues, providing representation to children at all levels of Court in Ontario and in applications for leave to the Supreme Court of Canada.    Caterina is active in the family law community and organizations focusing on the advancement of children’s rights, including the Canadian Bar Association’s Children’s Law Committee and Sub‐Committee on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; an interagency working group on children’s issues in the immigration and child protection context; an Ontario Court of Justice Indigenous Child Protection Group; and two Bench and Bar Committees in the Toronto area.   She is the editor of “The State and Child Protection”, Wilson on Children and the Law (LexisNexis), and has been a frequent presenter at continuing legal education programs on family law and immigration/refugee law issues as they relate to children.    

Ricardo Theoduloz, is currently the Child Welfare Project Coordinator at Jewish Family & Child. He 

has been with Jewish Family & Child for ten years with a focus on child protection investigations and ongoing family service. Ricardo obtained his Master’s in Social Work from York University and was previously a clinical investigator at the Office of Children’s Lawyer (OCL) and also the Coordinator for the Toronto High Conflict Forum. Ricardo is also an Emergency Afterhours Worker for the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and has been in this role for 5 years.   

Biography – Nancy J. Thompson  Since 2012, Nancy Thompson has practiced exclusively in the area of child protection law. She provides representation for parents, grandparents and caregivers, in addition to children, as a panel member of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. Prior to opening her law practice, she was In‐House Counsel with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto for eleven years.    Nancy attended McMaster University for undergraduate studies in history and political science. She graduated from the University of Windsor in 1998 with her LL.B. She subsequently articled at a large Bay Street firm and worked as an associate there following her call to the Bar in 2000.  In addition to her passion for child protection law, Nancy has been serving dinner to Toronto’s homeless for nine years with the Out of the Cold program.  

COLIN A. TOBIAS - BIO

Colin Tobias was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1992. Prior to entering law school at Osgoode Hall, he worked for the Ontario Attorney General’s Ministry in various courts, and the AG’s head office, for a number of years.

Colin focuses his practice on Child Protection cases against the various Children’s Aid Societies, but he also enjoys the challenge of extremely difficult custody and access cases.

Colin is a member of the North York Family Court Bench and Bar Committee, and a member of the North York Family Court Education Committee.

In addition to being an avid golfer, in his spare time, Colin enjoys travelling to new and exotic places with his wife Paula M. McGirr.

Colin has three daughters and a step-daughter in their 20’s, and enjoys quality family time.

Sara Westreich, an associate of Glass and Associates, serves as legal counsel for the Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Toronto. After obtaining her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and articling as a judicial law clerk at the Superior Court of Justice, Sara was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2007. Sara worked for the Ministry of the Attorney General as a staff lawyer for the Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario and as an assistant Crown Attorney. Sara holds a Master of Education degree from York University with a diploma in Urban Environments and is a proud member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers. She has recently been appointed to the panel of the Office of the Children's Lawyer.