Department of Justice

OTTAWA, March 18, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

Barry H. Matheson, Q.C., of St. Catharines is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Welland. He replaces Madam Justice E.I. MacDonald, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Matheson graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1966. He then joined the firm of Sullivan, Mahoney, where he has mainly practised criminal and civil litigation. He has been designated a specialist in both areas of the law by the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Mr. Justice Matheson has been President of the Lincoln County Law Association.

Douglas Maxwell Belch, Q.C., of Kingston is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Kingston. He replaces Mr. Justice T.J. Lally, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Belch graduated in law from Queen’s University in 1967, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1968. He then joined the firm Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham, with whom he was a partner. Mr. Justice Belch has practised criminal and civil litigation, real estate, and estate law, as well as family law. He has also been a part-time lecturer at the School of Business and at the Faculty of Law of Queen’s University.

Mr. Justice Belch has been President of the Frontenac County Law Association.

Russell G. Juriansz of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Toronto. He replaces Mr. Justice W.J. Festeryga, who will be transferred to Hamilton to replace Mr. Justice G. Yates, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Juriansz graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974.

Mr. Justice Juriansz practised law first with the firm of Merrick, Young, Merrick & Cannings and then with the firm of Kram & Juriansz. In 1977, he worked for the Metro Toronto

Task Force on Human Relations with the Pitman Commission on Racism and Violence. From 1978 to 1987, he was Legal Counsel and then General Counsel and Director of Legal Services with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. In 1987, he joined the firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon, and since 1994, he has been a sole practitioner in Toronto. Mr. Justice Juriansz has mainly a litigation practise in administrative law, constitutional law and employment law with emphasis in human rights, labour relations and pay equity issues.

J. Bryan Shaughnessy of Whitby is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Whitby. He replaces Mr. Justice W.B. Lane, who resigned.

Mr. Justice Shaughnessy graduated in law from Queen’s University in 1974, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. Prior to his appointment to the Bench, Mr. Justice Shaughnessy practised family law, civil and commercial litigation with the firm of Sosna & Shaughnessy in Whitby. In 1985, Mr. Justice Shaughnessy was appointed a Deputy Small Claims Court Judge in the Regional Municipality of Durham.

Myrna L. Lack of Oshawa is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in Whitby. She replaces Mr. Justice H. Laforme, who will be transferred to Toronto to replace Mr. Justice K.A. Hoilett, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Lack graduated in law from Queen’s University in 1975, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1977. Madam Justice Lack first practised law with the firm of MacDonald & Lack, and since 1986, she has been a sole practitioner in Oshawa. Madam Justice Lack has mainly practised family law and real estate law.

Thomas Albert Heeney of Tillsonburg is appointed a judge of the Ontario Court (General Division) in London. He replaces Mr. Justice K.G. Ouellette, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Heeney graduated in law from the University of Western Ontario in 1977 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1980. Mr. Justice Heeney has practised with the firm of Mandryk and Heeney in Tillsonburg, mainly civil, family and criminal litigation.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:     Johanne Senécal 
          Minister's Office
          (613) 992-4621