ARCHIVED – Backgrounder — Reappointments and designations to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Marie-Josée Hadaya (Montreal) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on January 25, 2008. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Hadaya was a Refugee Protection Officer with the IRB. She also spent several years as Counsel with the Board and as Special Advisor – Quality Assurance with the Office of the Deputy Chairperson. She received her Bachelor of Laws for the University of Montréal and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1988.

Michael Hamelin (Montreal) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on November 10, 1997. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Hamelin owned a private practice specializing in corporate, commercial, family and immigration law and in general litigation. Mr. Hamelin received his diploma in Social Sciences from Vanier College, his Bachelor of Civil Law and Bachelor of Laws from McGill University and his Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University.

Barry D. Barnes (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on September 1, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Barnes worked as a Senior Executive in Human Resources and Labour Relations, was Director of Learning with Lafarge North America and Manager of Human Resources with Lafarge Canada Inc., and Lafarge Construction Materials Canada East. Mr. Barnes received his Bachelor of Arts and his Masters in Education Technology, from Concordia University (formerly known as Sir George Williams University) in Montréal.

Kirk Dickenson (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on June 18, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Dickenson was a Hearings Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). He has also been a Regional Program Advisor with CIC and a Refugee Claims Officer with the IRB. Mr. Dickenson received his Bachelor of Arts from York University.

Cathryn Laurie Forbes (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on May 12, 2008. Prior to her present appointment to the Board, Ms. Forbes served as a member of the IRB from 2003-2006 and was a member/adjudicator of the Landlord and Tenant Board. She was also a member of the Ontario Board of Parole. Ms. Forbes attended Sheridan College and Mohawk College.

Linda Hart (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on May 19, 2008. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Hart was a Refugee Protection Officer with the IRB as well as a member of the Public Service Learning and Professional Development Committee and the Refugee Protection Division Professional Development Committee. Ms. Hart received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University.

Judy Lewis (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on June 18, 2008. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Lewis was a Mediator with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. She has also been a Dispute Resolution Officer as well as a Refugee Claims Officer with the IRB and an Appeals Officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Ms. Lewis received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto.

Donald Virtue Macdougall (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on August 1, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Macdougall was an Assistant Crown Attorney for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. He was also an instructor for the Skills and Professional Responsibility Program of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Economics) from the University of Toronto, Victoria College, his Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University in Kingston and his Masters of Laws from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Mr. Macdougall was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1975.

Louise Paquette-Neville (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on August 18, 2008.  Prior to her appointment to the Board,  Ms. Paquette-Neville, a former IRB member, was a Tax Specialist with Premiere Canada Tax Services and Holt Renfrew. She was also a Project Manager with LNDi, Louise Neville & Company and an Adjudicator with the Social Benefits Tribunal of Ontario. Ms. Paquette-Neville studied at The Mitchener Institute, the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School.

Paul G.C. Robinson (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on May 19, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Robinson was the Director of the Immigration Section at Federal Court of Canada and was a Regional Taxation and Assessment Officer. Mr. Robinson received a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Stephen Rudin (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on August 1, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Rudin was the Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada and served as a member of the Ontario Health Services Review and Appeal Board. He received a Bachelor of Science from Boston University, a Masters of Education from Northeastern University in Boston and a Masters in Science from the University of Missouri.

Michael Sterlin (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on June 18, 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Sterlin was senior paralegal for the Ontario Realty Corporation and legal counsel for Centrecorp. He has also been legal counsel and leasing manager for Valiant Property Management. Mr. Sterlin received a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, a Bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School and a Masters in Business Administration from York University. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1980.

Cynthia L. Summers (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada effective August 1, 2008. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Summers worked in Community Engagement and Research with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and at York University in the capacity of Director. She was also a Member for the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal.   Ms. Summers received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Social Work degree from McMaster University.

Hazelyn Ross (Toronto) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on August 7, 2001. She was designated Assistant Deputy Chairperson on May 28, 2009. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Ross was a lawyer with Shepherd Mondrow in Toronto. She held a number of positions in the Government of Ontario. She received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of the West Indies in Barbados and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1996. Before earning her law degree, she received her Bachelor of Arts, Honours Sociology, and her Master of Arts, Educational Technology, from Concordia University in Montreal.

Kim D. Workun (Vancouver) was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on August 10, 1998. She was designated Assistant Deputy Chairperson on October 12, 2007. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Workun worked as a lawyer for a private legal practice in Alberta. She also worked as legal counsel within Citizenship and Immigration Canada and was employed with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. She received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary and her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. Ms. Workun was called to the Alberta Bar in 1986.

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