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Committees and Task Forces
Committees, task forces and liaisons conduct governance work associated with our core regulatory functions. View members and mandates for the following committees:
The mandate of the Appeal Committee is to:
- review and decide appeals from dismissals of complaints
- review the written record that was before the Executive Director when the direction to dismiss the complaint was made
- if necessary, review new evidence if it is relevant and material and was not reasonably available prior to the dismissal
- upon completion of the review, direct that the matter be dismissed or referred to the Conduct Committee
Members:
| Walter Pavlic, QC, C | Corinne Petersen |
| Jim Lutz, VC | Stacy Petriuk |
| Ryan Anderson | Bob Philp, QC |
| Arman Chak | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Corie Flett | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Deanna Steblyk |
| Bill Hendsbee | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Cal Johnson, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Linda Long, QC | Ken Warren, QC |
| Barb McKinley | Louise Wasylenko |
| Bud Melnyk | Nate Whitling |
| Staff Support: Julie James |
The mandate of the Assurance Fund Adjudications (Finance) Committee is to:
- adjudicate claims made to the Assurance Fund
- make decisions on matters referred to the committee for determination
- refuse or approve with or without conditions all or any part of the amount of compensation that may be claimed by a person who submits a claim based on a lawyer’s misappropriation of funds or property entrusted to them in the course of their practice as a barrister and solicitor
- report to Benchers all dispositions of the claims brought to it
Members:
| Stacy Petriuk, C | Walter Pavlic, QC |
| Ryan Anderson, VC | Corinne Petersen |
| Arman Chak | Bob Philp, QC |
| Corie Flett | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Bill Hendsbee | Deanna Steblyk |
| Cal Johnson. QC | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Linda Long, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Jim Lutz | Ken Warren, QC |
| Barb McKinley | Louise Wasylenko |
| Bud Melnyk | Nate Whitling |
| Volunteers: Sheri Epp Michael Hokanson |
Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Paule Armeneau, QC Jody Saunders Jill Sletto |
The mandate of the Audit and Finance Committee is to:
- monitor the financial affairs of the Law Society including oversight of the audit of the annual financial statements
- review the Law Society annual business plan and budget and recommend to the Board
- act on behalf of the Board in regard to the review of quarterly interim financial results and investment performance
- set or recommend fees and costs payable by lawyers as required and as prescribed by the Rules
- make recommendations to the Board concerning financial matters
Members:
| Kathleen Ryan, QC, C | Jim Lutz |
| Bud Melnyk, VC | Louise Wasylenko |
| Ryan Anderson | Ex-officio: Elizabeth Osler |
| Volunteers: Garnet Matsuba Kelly Osaka Bill Ostapek David Sevalrud |
Staff Support: Cori Ghitter Nadine Meade Colette Linton |
The mandate of the Bencher Election Task Force is to:
- develop strategies for increasing number and diversity of candidates running for Bencher.
- develop strategies for increasing voter engagement and turnout for Bencher election.
- develop recommendations for Bencher candidate campaign materials.
- develop recommendations for Bencher candidate education and orientation.
- make recommendations regarding how election results are shared with candidates and the profession.
Members:
| Stacy Petriuk, C | Ryan Anderson, VC |
| Bill Hendsbee, QC | |
| Volunteers: Codie Chisholm Kene Ilochonwu |
Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Ruth Corbett |
The mandate of the Conduct Committee is to:
- provide timely, efficient, consistent and fair review and disposition of conduct matters
- as appropriate, dismiss a conduct matter or direct that the matter be dealt with by a Hearing Committee when appropriate
- hear and decide matters referred to it in connection with the professional status of students and lawyers
- refer conduct matters to the appropriate department of the Law Society as required
Members:
| Darlene Scott, QC, C | Barb McKinley |
| Bill Hendsbee, QC, VC | Walter Pavlic, QC |
| Bud Melnyk, VC | Corinne Petersen |
| Deanna Steblyk, VC | Stacy Petriuk |
| Ryan Anderson | Bob Philp, QC |
| Arman Chak | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Corie Flett | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Cora Voyageur |
| Cal Johnson. QC | Ken Warren, QC |
| Linda Long, QC | Louise Wasylenko |
| Jim Lutz | Nate Whitling |
| Volunteers: Emi Bossio Roxanne Davis Colin Feasby Karen Fellowes Jamie Gagner Alifeyah Gulamhusein Lise Houle, QC Denise Kiss Michell Plouffe Andrew Wilson Brent Windwick, QC |
Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Paule Armeneau, QC Nicholas Maggisano Meghan Thomlinson |
The mandate of the Credentials and Education Committee is to:
- assess the competency and risk factors of an individual who wishes to enter or re-enter the practice of law in Alberta
- review and decide applications for admission to the Law Society and for a change of professional status, including reinstatement
- review and decide good character matters
- hear and decide CPLED appeals
- otherwise hear and decide matters referred to it in connection with the professional status of students and lawyers
- as otherwise required, hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Executive Director
Members:
| Bob Philp, QC, C | Bud Melnyk |
| Margaret Unsworth, QC, VC | Walter Pavlic, QC |
| Ryan Anderson | Corinne Petersen |
| Arman Chak | Stacy Petriuk |
| Corie Flett | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Bill Hendsbee | Deanna Steblyk |
| Cal Johnson, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Linda Long, QC | Ken Warren, QC |
| Jim Lutz | Louise Wasylenko |
| Barb McKinley | Nate Whitling |
| Ex-officio: Dean Ian Holloway, QC; Dean Paul Paton | |
| Volunteers: Kelsey Becker Brookes Connie Mah Maureen McCartney-Cameron Kelly Robinson Wendy Rollins, QC Sukhi Sidhu |
Staff Support: Tina McKay Brianne Mason Katie Shea |
The mandate of the Executive Committee is to:
- make recommendations to the Board for motions to be passed by the Benchers;
- monitor the Strategic Plan and Business Plan
- make decisions on any matter arising between Board meetings that in the opinion of the Committee requires immediate consideration
- determine the remuneration payable to the Executive Director
Members:
| Rob Armstrong, QC, C | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Kent Teskey, QC, VC | Ken Warren, QC |
| Cal Johnson, QC | Louise Wasylenko |
| Darlene Scott, QC | |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Ruth Corbett |
The mandate of the Innovating Regulation Task Force is to:
- research the current state of the regulation of alternate service providers across Canada and beyond and report to the Benchers on the potential implications for regulation in Alberta
- research and consider issues surrounding the regulation of law firm ownership structures and report to the Benchers on the potential implications for regulation in Alberta
Members:
| Cal Johnson, QC, C | Stacy Petriuk |
| Bill Hendsbee, VC | Kent Teskey, QC |
| Arman Chak | Louise Wasylenko |
| Walter Pavlic, QC | |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Andrew Norton Len Polsky Shabnam Datta Raj Atkar Christine Schreuder |
The mandate of the Nominating Committee is to:
- recommend to the Board individuals for appointment to committees
- recommend to the Board individuals for appointment to other bodies as Committee members or representatives
- when additional people are required to staff a task force or sub-committee, make recommendations to the Board to fill vacant positions from the list of practicing lawyer applicants who were not appointed to a committee
Members:
| Rob Armstrong, QC, C | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Don Cranston, QC | Kent Teskey, QC |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Christine Schreuder |
The mandate of the Pension Committee is to:
- oversee the administration of the employee pension plans of the Law Society in accordance with the applicable pension legislation
- make recommendations to the Executive Committee related to changes in governance, funding and fund investment policies and other plan documents
- regularly review pension fund financial statements, actuarial valuations and investment performance
- oversee the ongoing administration of the pension plans by Law Society management
Members:
| Kent Teskey, QC, C | Chris Brown |
| Bud Melnyk | Brita Wahl |
| Ex-officio: Elizabeth Osler; Nadine Meade | |
| Consultant: Pat Johnson |
Staff Support: Colette Linton |
The mandate of the Policy Committee is to:
- as directed by the Executive Committee and in consultation with the Executive Director, support the Board’s policy making process by ensuring due diligence and analysis of policy issues before they are placed before the Board for consideration
- in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Executive Director, develop and maintain processes and tools to monitor the progress of all active policy initiatives
- generally coordinate, in accordance with the current Strategic Plan policy, initiatives that arise from time to time
Members:
| Darlene Scott, QC, C | Linda Long, QC |
| Ken Warren, QC, VC | Barb McKinley |
| Elizabeth Hak | Deanna Steblyk |
| Bill Hendsbee | Nate Whitling |
| Ex-officio: Rob Armstong, QC; Kent Teskey, QC | |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Paule Armeneau Barbra Bailey Nancy Carruthers Shabnam Datta Jennifer Freund Raj Atkar Christine Schreuder |
The mandate of the Practice Foundations Task Force is to:
- critically assess how students and new lawyers are trained in Alberta
- examine alternatives for training students and new lawyers in Alberta and present options to the Benchers
- engage with the legal profession and other stakeholders regarding student training and objectives
Members:
| Kent Teskey, QC, C | Jim Lutz |
| Kathleen Ryan, QC, C | Corinne Petersen |
| Corie Flett | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Linda Long, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Christine Schreuder |
The mandate of the Practice Review Committee is to:
- identify lawyers who may be encountering difficulties in their law practice
- take proactive steps to assist such lawyers, including providing timely, practical, and achievable recommendations to them
- as appropriate, refer such lawyers to Law Society staff for such assistance
- as appropriate, refer such lawyers to the Conduct Committee or a Hearing Committee
- monitor such lawyers’ progress over a reasonable period of time
- ensure appropriate reporting to relevant parties
Members:
| Linda Long, QC, C | Walter Pavlic, QC |
| Stacy Petriuk, VC | Corinne Petersen |
| Ryan Anderson | Bob Philp, QC |
| Arman Chak | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Corie Flett | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Deanna Steblyk |
| Bill Hendsbee | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Cal Johnson, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Jim Lutz | Ken Warren, QC |
| Barb McKinley | Louise Wasylenko |
| Bud Melnyk | Nate Whitling |
| Volunteers: Mohamed Amery Denise Bright Andrew Lamb Waverly Muessle Erin Runnalls Angela Saccomani David Wedge |
Staff Support: Len Polsky Karyn Kraemer Donna Moore Tera Yates Merry Rogers Laurie Sniher |
The mandate of the Professional Responsibility Committee is to:
- determine whether or not to re-examine a complaint dismissed by the Executive Director, the Conduct Committee, or the Appeal Committee; and commence such determination only if the Chair of the Conduct Committee is of the view that the person dismissing the matter may have overlooked a significant legal or factual element or may not have been aware at the time of dismissal of all of the significant legal and factual elements
Members:
| Bob Philp, QC, C | Linda Long, QC, VC |
The mandate of the Strategic Plan Task Force is to:
- produce a Strategic Plan for the Law Society that will provide a framework for all major directions and decisions of the Law Society
Members:
| Rob Armstrong, QC, C | Bob Philp, QC |
| Louise Wasylenko, VC | Deanna Steblyk |
| Cal Johnson | Ken Warren, QC |
| Bud Melnyk | |
| Staff Support: Elizabeth Osler Cori Ghitter Christine Schreuder |
The mandate of the Trust Safety Committee is to:
- adjudicate claims to undisbursable trust funds
- hear appeals from decisions of the Manager, Trust Safety, or Executive Director
- ensure compliance with mandatory Trust Safety condition requirements
- ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements concerning lawyer trust accounts
Members:
| Walter Pavlic, QC, C | Bud Melnyk |
| Nate Whitling, VC | Corinne Petersen |
| Ryan Anderson | Stacy Petriuk |
| Arman Chak | Bob Philp, QC |
| Corie Flett | Kathleen Ryan, QC |
| Elizabeth Hak | Darlene Scott, QC |
| Bill Hendsbee | Deanna Steblyk |
| Cal Johnson, QC | Margaret Unsworth, QC |
| Linda Long, QC | Cora Voyageur |
| Jim Lutz | Ken Warren, QC |
| Barb McKinley | Louise Wasylenko |
| Staff Support: Cori Ghitter Chioma Ufodike Anjanie Marathe |