She previously served as a judge of the Northwest Territories Supreme Court
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, announced the appointment of Karan M. Shaner to the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Edmonton.
Justice Shaner, previously a judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, will replace Justice M. Crighton, who became a supernumerary judge effective November 1, 2023.
Justice Shaner was appointed to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary (1986) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta (1990). She was admitted to the Northwest Territories bar in 1991.
Before her judicial appointment, Justice Shaner had an extensive career with the Department of Justice of the Government of Northwest Territories. From 1996 to 2011, she held various positions, including legal counsel, director of the legal division, and assistant deputy minister. In these roles, she specialized in labour law, human rights, administrative law, and general litigation. From 1991 to 1996, she was an associate at the law firm Johnson, Gullberg, Wiest and MacPherson (now Lawson Lundell).
In addition to her judicial duties, Justice Shaner has served as the judicial nominee of the chief justice of the Northwest Territories for the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Northwest Territories since 2019.
Justice Shaner will now bring her extensive legal expertise and judicial experience to the Court of Appeal of Alberta, the highest court in the province. The Court of Appeal hears criminal and civil appeals from trial courts, boards, and tribunals across Alberta.
Chief Justice Ritu Khullar of the Court of Appeal of Alberta expressed her pleasure in welcoming Justice Shaner to the court. Minister Virani also highlighted Justice Shaner’s track record of dedicated public service and expressed confidence in her ability to contribute effectively to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.
"I wish Justice Shaner every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve Albertans well as a member of the Court of Appeal of Alberta,” Minister Virani said.
