Kathryn Oviatt
Kathryn Oviatt is appointed the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, with a five-year term ending November 30, 2027. Prior to her appointment as Chief, she was appointed for three terms as a Member of the Commission, in which she was a leader on the Tribunal and demonstrated commitment to the principles of natural justice and the rule of law. Ms. Oviatt served as Acting Chief of the Commission from 2020 through 2022 (with statutory authority to act in the absence of the Chief), and then as the interim Chief from November 2021 through July 2022. She has published dozens of decisions, many of which are leading cases in Alberta human rights law.
Ms. Oviatt has spent her entire legal career practicing in administrative law, including in human rights, labour and employment, professional regulation, privacy, policing, and education. Since 2015, she has exclusively practiced as a neutral adjudicator, including as labour arbitrator in Alberta and federally. Other past appointments include to the Hearing Panel for the Real Estate Council of Alberta, the General Insurance Council, the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and its Safeguarding Tribunal (which addresses abuse, harassment, and discrimination in sport), the Law Society of Alberta's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the Subdivision Development Appeal Board for the City of Edmonton.
Ms. Oviatt holds the designation of Chartered Arbitrator from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada and a certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice from the Foundation of Administrative Justice. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree (with distinction) in 2001 and a Law degree (with distinction) in 2005, both from the University of Alberta. Ms. Oviatt was called to the Alberta Bar in 2006.
Members of the Commission:
- Nduka Ahanonu
- Sandra Badejo
- Faraz Bawa
- Doris Bonora, K.C.
- Samuel Crowfoot
- Cynthia Dickins
- Jessica Gill
- Teresa Haykowsky, K.C.
- Duncan Marsden
- Ali Memon
- Evaristus Oshionebo
- Kathryn Oviatt
- Erika Ringseis
- Karen Scott
- Wilma Shim
- Salimah Walji-Shivji, K.C.
- Nathalie Whyte
Nduka Ahanonu
Nduka Ahanonu has been appointed for a term ending August 20, 2024. Mr. Ahanonu is a trial lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the legal field. He is the founder and managing lawyer at Duke Law Office. Prior to this, he worked as the student-at-law for Legal Aid Alberta and as a legal resource officer for the Alberta Law Line. Mr. Ahanonu is an active member in the community and is currently serving as a member on the Legal Aid Appeals Committee. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Lagos, his Barrister-at-Law from Nigerian Law School, and a Master of Laws from the University of Alberta.
Sandra Badejo
Sandra Badejo has been appointed for a term ending August 20, 2024. Ms. Badejo is a lawyer with over 17 years of experience, specializing in all areas of family law, including divorce, parenting, child and spousal support, and property. She also represents children and youths in child welfare matters. Ms. Badejo is currently a partner at Crerar Badejo Hagen Family Law Group and a director and shareholder in I. Sandra Badejo Professional Corporation. Ms. Badejo received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Lagos, a Barrister-at-Law from the Nigerian Law School, and a Master of Laws from the University of Alberta.
Faraz Bawa
Faraz Bawa has been appointed for a term ending August 17, 2025. Mr. Bawa is the senior associate at Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, primarily practicing immigration and family law. Prior to being called to the Alberta Bar in 2014, he was a compensation analyst for the Wynford Group and a currency trader for Olympia Trust Company. Mr. Bawa received a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.
Doris Bonora, K.C.
Doris Bonora has been appointed for a term ending August 14, 2025. She received a Law degree in 1986 from the University of Alberta. Ms. Bonora was called to the Alberta Bar in 1987.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Bonora practiced at Reynolds, Mirth, Richards & Farmer Law Firm in Edmonton. Ms. Bonora has been a partner at Dentons Canada LLP since 2012, where she is currently the Canadian group leader for Dentons’ Trust, Estates, Tax and Wealth Preservation practice. She has extensive experience at all levels of court in Alberta and also in alternate dispute resolution. Ms. Bonora holds the designation of Trust and Estate Practitioner (STEP) from The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Ms. Bonora is involved in dealing with advocacy for seniors around ageism and also litigation involving trusts which are discriminatory to Indigenous women.
Ms. Bonora is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker on topics including trusts, litigation and disabled-adult estate planning, presenting to local, national and international audiences. She has also written numerous articles for a variety of legal publications. Ms. Bonora is a sessional professor at the University of Alberta.
Ms. Bonora currently serves as a director of Covenant Health Foundation, and also volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta, Edmonton Community Foundation and Edmonton Community Legal Center. Ms. Bonora also serves as a mentor to many young lawyers practicing in the area of wills and estates.
Ms. Bonora is recognized in Who’s Who Legal, is a ranked lawyer in Chambers, and was a finalist in both the Women in Law Awards 2019 and the International Legal Team of the Year Awards 2019.
Samuel Crowfoot
Samuel Crowfoot has been appointed for a term ending August 17, 2025. Mr. Crowfoot is a graduate of Utah Valley State College (A.S.), Brigham Young University (B.A.), and the University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D.). Originally from Siksika, he spent the better part of the last 20 years living and working in the United States.
Mr. Crowfoot worked as a prosecutor and represented a tribal Children and Family services agency in their litigation of abusive and neglectful parents/guardians. During his time as a prosecutor, he collaborated with various law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office.
Mr. Crowfoot also delved into private practice with a national law firm in Phoenix and served four years as Tribal Court Chief Judge in western New Mexico. As a Chief Judge, he heard an array of criminal matters, including kidnapping, homicide, and aggravated sexual assault. He also heard civil matters, such as child support, family law, child dependency, and probate. During his tenure as Chief Judge, Mr. Crowfoot implemented alternatives to incarceration and, where possible, employed restorative justice practices, choosing to focus on recovery, healing, and re-education.
He has served on various boards for school districts, non-profits, and community organizations. Mr. Crowfoot is currently completing his first term as a Siksika Nation councillor, working in the areas of health, social services, public safety, and land claims (recently settling the largest and oldest land claim in Canadian history). He lives in the Calgary area with his wife and four children.
Cynthia Dickins
Cynthia Dickins has been appointed for a term ending October 6, 2025. She attended the University of Alberta for her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree and her Bachelor of Laws degree. Ms. Dickins was called to the Alberta Bar in 1982. Ms. Dickins' career reflects her respect for values, ethics, diversity and the rule of law.
Ms. Dickins is General Counsel at the Department of Justice Canada, Prairie Region Office at Edmonton where she has spent most of her career litigating criminal and civil law cases at every level of court, including at the Supreme Court of Canada. Ms. Dickins articled with a sole practitioner, Philip Lister, and spent two years in private practice before joining Federal Justice in what is now the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
Ms. Dickins has appeared before several Tribunals including the National Energy Board, the Specific Claims Tribunal and the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service. Ms. Dickins is a past co-chair of the Canadian Bar Association Aboriginal Law subsection, and has completed arbitration, negotiations and other alternative dispute resolution training.
Ms. Dickins regularly mentors junior counsel, and leads teams in a broad range of litigation areas including Constitutional Aboriginal and Administrative Law matters. Ms. Dickins has taught Legal Ethics, Advocacy and Negotiations to law students at the Bar Admission Course and has lectured widely to police and Federal agencies.
Ms. Dickins is a dedicated volunteer at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, where she advises low-income clients. In 2022, Ms. Dickins received the Distinguished Service Award (co-presented by the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta) for her oustanding contribution to the provision of pro bono legal services. She is a past President of the Autism Society of Edmonton Area, a volunteer literacy tutor with Family Literacy Centre and has extensive experience serving on nonprofit boards.
In 2013, Ms. Dickins received the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee medal recognizing outstanding and exemplary contributions to society.
Jessica Gill
Jessica Gill has been appointed for a term ending August 17, 2025. Ms. Gill has experience providing legal advice on labour and employment, human rights, privacy, and administrative law matters to provincial and federally regulated employers. She is currently counsel for the Canada Energy Regulator in Calgary. Ms. Gill was previously an associate with an international law firm in Calgary and also clerked with the Alberta Court of Appeal. She received a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from the University of Calgary. Ms. Gill also serves on the Board of Directors of the South Asian Bar Association and is a volunteer with the University of Calgary Public Interest Law Clinic.
Teresa Haykowsky, K.C.
Teresa Haykowsky has been appointed for a term ending August 14, 2025. She received a Certificate in French civilization and language at the Sorbonne, a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 from the University of Alberta, a Teaching Diploma in 1986 from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, and a Law degree (in French) in 1989 from Université Laval. Ms. Haykowsky is a member of the law societies of Quebec (1991), Alberta and Nunavut (2010), and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1997.
Ms. Haykowsky clerked at the Quebec Court of Appeal in Quebec City and also articled in Edmonton at an Edmonton law firm after which she worked as a legal research officer for the Court of King's Bench of Alberta. She then served as legal counsel for school jurisdictions across Alberta (Anglophone, Francophone, Public and Separate) through the Legal Branch of the Alberta School Board Association. Following this, Ms. Haykowsky served as the first in-house legal counsel for Edmonton Catholic Schools before joining McLennan Ross LLP in 2004, where she has been a partner since 2007.
Ms. Haykowsky is fluent in French and practices in both official languages in the areas of education law, labour and employment, human rights and constitutional law. She has appeared at all court levels including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ms. Haykowsky also served as a sessional lecturer at Campus St. Jean, University of Alberta, where she taught a business law course in French for nine years. She is a frequent webinar presenter and publishes regular email legal updates, both for McLennan Ross LLP. She has served in various volunteer capacities, including as co-founder of the Women’s Legal Forum, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association, and Chair of the 2017 Women’s Legal Forum, Co-Chair of the 2019 Women in Litigation Symposium, Advocates’ Society, and creator of the book
Truth Be Told: Inspirational Stories by Women in Law, which was published in 2018.
Duncan Marsden
Duncan Marsden has been appointed for a term ending June 28, 2024. He received a Law degree (with French) from Leicester University in 1996. Mr. Marsden was called to the England and Wales (Solicitor) Bar in 2000 and called to the Alberta Bar in 2009.
Mr. Marsden has years of experience in all areas of labour and employment law. Upon graduating from law school, he practiced employment law for several years in London, England. He moved to Canada and joined Borden Ladner Gervais, where he is now a Partner and Regional Leader of the Labour and Employment Group in the Calgary office. Mr. Marsden is fluent in French and provides advice to clients on employment matters including dismissal procedures, dispute resolution, workers' compensation, discrimination law, and interpretation of employment contracts and policies.
Mr. Marsden is an active volunteer in the community. He was a member of the Board of Directors of MitoCanada, a charity assisting Canadians with mitochondrial disease (2010 to 2014). Mr. Marsden also serves as duty counsel for pro bono Court shifts at the Provincial Court and Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, and is a volunteer lawyer with Volunteer Lawyer Service. In 2014, Mr. Marsden was the recipient of the National Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award, co-presented by the Law Society of Alberta and Canadian Bar Association - Alberta, where he was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the provision of pro bono legal services. He was recognized in the 2015 edition of
Benchmark Canada - The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys as a "Future Star: Alberta."
Ali Memon
Ali Memon has been appointed for a term ending August 17, 2025. Mr. Memon is a practicing lawyer with over 10 years of experience. Currently, he is a partner with the financial services team at Miller Thomson LLP. Mr. Memon received a Juris Doctor from the University of Saskatchewan. He is trilingual and is an active member in the community.
Evaristus Oshionebo
Dr. Evaristus Oshionebo has been appointed for a term ending August 20, 2024. On August 31, 2022, the Minister of Justice appointed Dr. Oshionebo as Acting Chief of the Commission and Tribunals. He served as Chief of the Commission and Tribunals from September 27, 2022 to November 30, 2022.
Dr. Oshionebo is a tenured professor and associate dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. He teaches law of contracts, business associations, and mining law. He previously taught at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Oshionebo has a Bachelor of Laws from the Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria), a Masters of Laws from the University of Lagos, as well as from the University of Alberta, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Erika Ringseis
Dr. Erika Ringseis has been appointed for a term ending August 14, 2025. She received a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 from the University of Calgary, a Master in Science (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) in 1997 and a Ph.D. (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) in 1999, both from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from the University of Calgary. She was called to the Alberta Bar in 2003.
Dr. Ringseis started her legal career providing advice to clients of two major law firms, before moving to a large pipeline company, where from 2011 to 2018, she served as their human resources governance manager. Dr. Ringseis oversaw various human resources compliance and programs, including harassment investigations and the development of a diversity & inclusion strategy and program. She is currently senior legal counsel for InHaus Legal in Calgary, with a strong background in human rights and respectful workplace governance and implementation. Dr. Ringseis specializes in employment law with an emphasis on practical resolution and strategic legal advice.
Dr. Ringseis is the legal columnist for the Canadian Society of Industrial Organizational Psychology quarterly newsletter and has been selected as editor for the legal chapter of the text, “Recruitment and Selection in Canada.” In her spare time, Dr. Ringseis enjoys teaching fitness classes and leading a troupe of Girl Guides, in addition to various other community volunteer activities.
Karen Scott
Karen Scott has been appointed for a term ending June 28, 2024. She received a Law degree (Distinction) in 2002 from the University of Alberta. Ms. Scott was called to the Alberta Bar in 2003.
Ms. Scott has extensive knowledge of human rights, employment, and administrative law. After graduating from law school, she clerked at the Alberta Court of King's Bench and Alberta Court of Appeal prior to entering private practice. She has been a partner with the Edmonton law firm Seveny Scott since 2008, where she practices almost exclusively in the field of labour and employment advising and representing employees, employers, and unions on human rights and accommodation issues. Ms. Scott also maintains a civil litigation practice related to her labour and employment practice.
Ms. Scott holds certificates in Interest-Based Negotiation and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution from the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.
Ms. Scott is a frequent speaker on labour and employment issues to audiences from across Canada at conferences and audio-seminars presented by Lancaster House and the Canadian Bar Association. She was a guest lecturer for the University of Alberta employment law class in 2014, and has recently been appointed as a sessional lecturer at the University of Alberta Law School, co-teaching employment law.
Wilma Shim
Wilma Shim has been appointed for a term ending August 20, 2024. Ms. Shim is a lawyer with over 10 years of experience, having worked as a barrister and solicitor for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General and as a crown prosecutor. She is active in the community, serving as a senator on the University of Calgary Senate, the vice chair for the University of Calgary Alumni Association, and a board member for Special Olympics Calgary. Ms. Shim continues to be involved with her alma mater as a sessional instructor in the area of Sports Law for both the Faculties of Law and Kinesiology at the University of Calgary.
Salimah Walji-Shivji, K.C.
Salimah Walji-Shivji has been appointed for a term ending August 17, 2025. Ms. Walji-Shivji is the chief operating officer & general counsel for AgeCare - Communities of Care & Wellness, where she oversees all matters related to operations and acts as general counsel and advisor to the AgeCare Board and executive leadership team. Previously, she worked at Alberta Health Services as general counsel. Ms. Walji-Shivji is active within the community and serves on multiple boards and committees. She received a Bachelor and Masters of Social Work, both from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba. Ms. Walji-Shivji recently completed her ICD.D designation.
Nathalie Whyte
Nathalie Whyte has been appointed for a term ending October 6, 2025. In 1997, Ms. Whyte obtained a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from Carleton University and in 2007 received her Juris Doctor from the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan. Prior to her career in law, Ms. Whyte worked as a social worker in a variety of settings including Child and Family Services as well as health care.
Ms. Whyte articled and practiced for over 10 years at a boutique firm specializing in Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation. Ms. Whyte also practices in the area of family law. Ms. Whyte has appeared at all levels of Court, including the Supreme Court of Canada (co-counsel and written submissions), and has appeared before various administrative tribunals.
Since the fall 2019 term, Ms. Whyte has taught a course called "Indigenous Law in Canada" as a sessional lecturer at the University of Calgary, International Indigenous Studies Program, Department of Political Science.
Revised: March 24, 2023
