Board & Staff

The Manitoba Law Foundation Board of Directors are appointed under the provisions of The Legal Profession Act. Five of the ten directors are appointed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Province, including the Chair and Vice-Chair. Three directors are appointed by the Benchers of The Law Society of Manitoba and one is appointed by the President of the Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. The Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, or a faculty member appointed by the Dean, is the tenth. Appointments to the Board are for a term of two to four years, but directors continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.

The Board meets regularly, at least four times each year, to oversee the operations of the Foundation, develop policies and consider grant applications.

Current Board members (with date of first appointment)

Appointed by the Minister of Justice:

  • Irene Merie, Vice-Chairperson (2021)
  • Melanie Beaudry (2021)
  • Laurelle Harris (2022)
  • Ian Scarth (2021)

Appointed by the Law Society of Manitoba:

  • Yasothini Mathu (2022)
  • Sharyne Hamm (2024)
  • Wayne Onchulenko (2024)

Appointed by the Canadian Bar Association (Manitoba Branch)

  • Candray Mehkary (2023)

Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba

  • Dean Richard Jochelson (2021)

Staff:

Past Manitoba Law Foundation Board Members

Past Chairpersons (by Attorney General appointment)

  • Lori Jack R. London, Q.C. (1986 – 1993)
  • John Burgess, Q.C. (1989-1997)
  • Richard M. Swystun (1997-2012)
  • Garth Smorang (2012 – 2021)
  • The Honourable Justice Victor Toews, Chairperson (2022-2023)

Past Vice-Chairpersons (by Attorney General appointment)

  • Eleanor Thompson (1986-1989)
  • Ian Restall (1989-1993)
  • Robert Sulkers (1994-1996)
  • Elizabeth Beaupre (1997-2012)
  • Lori Ferguson Sain (2012-2019)

Past Board Members

Attorney General appointments

  • Marta Smith (1986-1989)
  • Victor Schwartzman (1986-1989)
  • Sister Bernadette O’Reilly (1986-1989)
  • Patricia Bruderer (1989-1993)
  • Linda Butcher (1989-1993)
  • Sarah Fleury (1994-1996)
  • Glenn Joyal (1998-1999)
  • Grant Stefanson (1996-2001)
  • Joan Nemetchek (1996-2001)
  • Dirk Blevins (1999-2004)
  • Catherine Steven (2001-2012)
  • Davis Daycock (2001-2014)
  • John Neufeld, Q.C. (2012-2014)
  • Terumi Kuwada (2012-2021)
  • Monica Adeler (2013-2021)
  • Janna Cumming (2015-2021)

Law Society appointments

  • Hymie Weinstein, Q.C. (1986-1989)
  • Knox B. Foster, Q.C. (1986-1989)
  • John A. Duncan, Q.C. (1986-1990)
  • Jack A. Chapman, Q.C. (1989-1990)
  • J.F. Reeh Taylor, Q.C. (1989-1992)
  • E. William Olson, Q.C. (1990-1992)
  • Sam I. Wilder, Q.C. (1991-1993)
  • Colleen P. Suche, Q.C. (1992-1995)
  • Colin R. MacArthur, Q.C. (1992-1996)
  • Bjorn Christianson, Q.C. (1993-1997)
  • Donald Douglas, Q.C. (1996-2002)
  • Lori Spivak, Q.C. (1997-2003)
  • Bjorn Christianson, Q.C. (2002-2005)
  • Garth Smorang, Q.C. (2003-2005)
  • Doug Finkbeiner, Q.C. (2004-2007)
  • Jennifer Cooper, Q.C. (2005-2009)
  • Jon van der Krabben (2005-2006)
  • William Johnston (2006-2009)
  • Jon van der Krabben (2007-2010)
  • Karen Clearwater (2009-2013)
  • David Kroft (2009-2013)
  • Helga Van Iderstine (2013-2015)
  • Diane Stevenson (2010-2016)
  • Bill Gange (2015-2018)
  • Barry Effler (2016-2019)
  • Ted Bock (2018- 2020)
  • Jack Cram (2014 – 2021)
  • Vincent Sinclair (2020)
  • Patricia Kloepfer (2019)
  • Anita Southall (2021)

Manitoba Bar Association appointments

  • Allan P. Cantor, Q.C. (1986-1992)
  • Rheal Teffaine, Q.C. (1992-1998)
  • Shawn Hughes (1998-2004)
  • Barbara Shields (2004-2009)
  • Gary Goodwin (2009-2015)
  • Karlee Blatz (2015-2019)
  • Kevin Antonyshyn (2019-2023))

Faculty of Law appointments (Dean or appointee ex officio)

  • D. Trevor Anderson, Q.C. (1986-1989)
  • Roland Penner, Q.C. (1989-1994)
  • E. Arthur Braid, C.M., Q.C. (1994-1999)
  • Harvey Secter (1999-2008)
  • Christopher Axworthy (2008-2010)
  • Lorna Turnbull (2010-2016)
  • Jonathan Black-Branch (2016-2020)
  • David Asper, Q.C. (2020-2021)