Judicial appointments announced in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, PEI

David Lametti, federal justice minister and Canada’s attorney general, has announced that new justices have been appointed in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Ardith Walkem has been appointed judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, replacing Justice Miriam Gropper in Vancouver, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Apr. 14.

Justice Walkem has served as a lawyer at Cedar and Sage Law Corporation in Chilliwack and as a mediator who has worked within Indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms. She has helped Indigenous communities and organizations fight for their Aboriginal title and treaty rights and has defended children’s rights.

Walkem is a member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation. She has been appointed Queen’s Counsel. She earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia with a research focus on Indigenous laws.

Lynn Michele Angotti has been appointed justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, taking the place of Justice John J. Gill in Edmonton, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Jan. 18.

Justice Angotti has served as legal counsel at Alberta Health Services in Edmonton, where she focused her practice on labour and employment law, and has worked at Parlee McLaws LLP. Her other practice areas include Aboriginal law and commercial litigation.

In 2001, Angotti graduated from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law.

Elliot H. Leven has been appointed puisne judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba, replacing Justice Robert G. Cummings in Brandon, who elected to resign effective Sept. 1.

Justice Leven has served as deputy chief commissioner at the Residential Tenancies Commission of Manitoba in Winnipeg and as vice chairperson and commissioner at the Manitoba’s Human Rights Commission. He has worked at Myers LLP in Winnipeg and as partner at Cherniack Smith LLP. As a private practitioner, he focused his practice on labour, employment, Aboriginal, human rights and administrative law.

Leven earned his LLB from the University of Manitoba and his admission to the Manitoba bar in 1993.

L. Kim Antonio has been appointed puisne judge of the Family Division of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba, taking the place of Justice Gwen B. Hatch in Winnipeg, who was elevated to the position of associate chief justice effective May 13.

Justice Antonio has served as partner at Taylor McCaffrey LLP in Winnipeg, where she practised in the area of family law. She has been an Honourary Life Council Member of the Manitoba Bar Association and co-chairperson and member of the Women Lawyers Forum of the Manitoba Bar Association.

Antonio earned her LLB from Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba. She was called to the Manitoba bar in 2004.

Colin D. Clackson has been appointed judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, replacing Justice Ron C. Mills in Saskatoon, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Dec. 1.

Justice Clackson has served as a lawyer at WMCZ Lawyers in Saskatoon, at Kay, Dobko and Company in Alberta and at MacDermid Lamarsh in Saskatoon. He co-founded Wallace Meschishnick Clackson Zawada in Saskatoon in 1996. He has centred his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance defence, personal injury, criminal defence and family law.

Clackson was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2015. He received his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1983.

Leah Schatz has also been appointed judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, taking the place of Justice Donna L. Wilson in Saskatoon, who resigned effective Apr. 30.

Justice Schatz has served as partner at MLT Aikins LLP in Saskatoon, as associate at Gauley & Co. and as in-house counsel for the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations. Her practice areas include family law, labour and employment law and civil litigation.

Schatz was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016. She earned her LLB from the University of Saskatchewan and her admission to the Saskatchewan bar in 1994.

Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island announce new chief provincial judges

Shannon Metivier has been selected as chief judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan effective Mar. 1, 2021, replacing Chief Judge James Plemel.

Judge Metivier first joined the Provincial Court in 2013. She has served as vice-chairperson of the Saskatchewan Review Board and as partner at McKercher LLP in Saskatoon. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. In 1993, she was called to the Saskatchewan bar.

“Her time as a trial lawyer, her extensive practice in civil litigation, and her experience as a sitting judge make her an excellent choice to lead the Provincial Court,” said Gordon Wyant, justice minister and attorney general, in the news release.

Jeffrey E. Lantz has been appointed chief judge of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island, in which role he will serve a five-year term effective immediately. He takes the place of Chief Judge Nancy K. Orr, who has completed her five-year appointment.

Judge Lantz began sitting as provincial court judge in 2005. He has served as education minister, tourism minister and attorney general of Prince Edward Island. He has worked at the firms of Matheson & Murray and Cox Hanson O’Reilly Matheson. He earned his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1987.

“Judge Lantz has been an integral part of the provincial bench for the past 15 years,” said Bloyce Thompson, justice minister and attorney general, in the news release.