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Profiles of Citizenship Judges

October 2006

SIMARD, Michel C.
Senior Citizenship Judge

Appointed senior citizenship judge in August 2003, Michel Simard was the former Executive Director of the Healthpartners Fund. Previously, he conducted public and government relations for the Canadian Nurses Association. A past board member of Club Richelieu in Ottawa and of the statutory committee for French programs in medicine at the University of Ottawa, he was also a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. In addition, Mr. Simard received his Bachelor of Law from Laval University, as well as a post-graduate certificate in International Administration from the École nationale d’administration publique. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1981.

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(in alphabetical order)

AKHTAR, M. Saleem
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in November 2005, Judge M. Saleem Akhtar is a community outreach worker who has provided a number services to new immigrants including language instruction, assistance with settlement and integration, citizenship classes and cultural interpretation. He has sat on a number of committees and boards including the Multi-cultural Outreach Advisory Committee, the Cultural Interpreters Advisory Committee and the Hamilton Spectator Community Editorial Advisory Board. He received the Community Award in 1999 in recognition of his community involvement, in particular with issues confronting seniors and youth. An educator and former civil servant, Judge Akhtar holds degrees in Political Science and in History and has studied law.

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ALLAIRE, Normand A.
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in November 2005, Judge Normand A. Allaire is a healthcare executive who held the position President and CEO of Runnymede Healthcare Centre in Toronto for over 20 years. An outspoken advocate for the needs of the chronically ill and disabled, Judge Allaire has served as the Director and Vice Chairperson of the Toronto District Health Council, as a faculty member in the Department of Health Administration at the University of Toronto and on numerous health related boards and committees. Judge Allaire holds a Master of Health Science Administration.

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ASSADOURIAN, Sarkis
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in July 2005, Sarkis Assadourian is a well-known and well-respected community leader in the Greater Toronto Area. A former member of Parliament, he is also the former Executive Director of the Armenian Community Centre in North York. As a member of Parliament, Mr. Assadourian was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

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BITAR, Sonia
EDMONTON, Alberta

Appointed citizenship judge in Edmonton in October 2005, Sonia Bitar is a recipient of the 2003 Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She has a broad variety of community experience, including work as the executive director of Changing Together: a Centre for Immigrant Women, a board member for the Canadian Council for Refugees, a member with the Court Challenge Program, Vice-Chair for the Greater Edmonton Foundation, and a member of the Advisory Committee of Tobacco Free Alberta. She has also been an executive member with the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada, and a member of the Planning Committee of the Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations (NAARR).

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BROWN, Brenda M.
British Columbia Region

Appointed in August 2005 as a citizenship judge in Vancouver, Judge Brown is a former member of the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal. She has also been professionally active in the real estate, events management and the fundraising sectors. Judge Brown is currently chair of UNICEF BC and a member of the governance and nominating committee of the UBC Alumni Association.

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DAY, William L.
British Columbia Region

Appointed citizenship judge in Vancouver in April 1999, William Day is a Member of the Order of Canada with an extensive background in adult education. He retired in 1995 after serving 14 years as President of Douglas College. Mr. Day has received the Distinguished Service Recognition Award from the Association of Community Colleges of Canada and the Outstanding Service Award from the Advanced Education Council of British Columbia.

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GLEASON, Patricia
CALGARY, Alberta

Appointed citizenship judge in Calgary in December 2000, Patricia Gleason spent over 24 years in the nursing profession in Calgary. For the past six years, she has worked for the federal government, more recently as Senior Advisor in the Strategic Planning and Executive Services of the Millennium Bureau of Canada in Ottawa.

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MIKI, Arthur
WINNIPEG, Manitoba

Appointed citizenship judge in Winnipeg in February 1998, Arthur Miki is a Member of the Order of Canada and Treasurer for the National Visible Minority Council on Labour Force Development. He is vice-chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, chair of the Pearson-Shoyama Institute, Executive Director of the Organization for Cooperation in Overseas Development, a former school administrator and a past president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians. Mr. Miki has an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Winnipeg. In June 2002, the Manitoba Federal Council granted him the Exceptional Contribution Award for his outstanding community and public service contributions.

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MOHAN, Kris
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in November 2005, Judge Kris Mohan is a registered Professional Engineer who worked for over 27 years at Atomic Energy of Canada in both technical and commercial capacities. He has organized conferences regarding global warming and contributed to Canada’s strategies to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations. Among his many volunteer activities, Judge Mohan has helped newcomers settle and integrate into Canadian society. He has been active in several technical organizations and also holds a Master of Business Administration.

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MORROW, Robert M.
HAMILTON, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Hamilton in May 2004, Robert Morrow was born in Hamilton and served as that city’s mayor from 1982 to 2000, and as an alderman, controller and deputy mayor from 1970 to 1980. He taught at both the secondary and college levels and graduated in history and political science. Mr. Morrow earned an Associate Diploma in piano from the Royal Toronto Conservatory of Music. A professional musician and organist, he has played and conducted choirs at several Hamilton churches, and has given recitals in Canada, the United States, Austria, Italy and Great Britain. As mayor of Hamilton, Mr. Morrow was particularly active within all the national and ethnic communities that make up that diverse city. He received awards and honours from a wide variety of organizations and public bodies, including two senior knighthoods—one from the President of Poland (1999) and the other from the President of Italy (2003).

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NORTHCOTE, Ann
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in May 2000, Ann Northcote is a Member of the Order of Canada. She served not only a four-year term as President of the YMCA of Canada, but also as World President of the YMCA, in addition to serving on the boards of directors of the Family Service Association of Toronto and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Ms. Northcote is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada as well as the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002).

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PINEL, Suzanne
OTTAWA, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Ottawa in December 1997, Suzanne Pinel is a Member of the Order of Canada, a composer, a producer, a performer, an educator and the recipient of various awards for outstanding achievements in children’s television programming. Ms. Pinel is past chair of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation; a member of the Steering Committee for Health Services for Ottawa-Carleton, and past honorary chair for the Ottawa-Carleton’s Children Aid Society Foundation. In 2002, she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa.

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POTTS, Agnes Ugolini
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in December 2002, Agnes Potts is actively involved in her community, and was Executive Director of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, vice-chair of the Etobicoke Red Shield Campaign and a partner of the Canadian First Partners, which promotes national unity. Ms. Potts is also a successful businesswoman in real estate. She worked as a teacher for the Etobicoke Board of Education and was a trustee for the Metropolitan Separate School Board. She is also a former Etobicoke city councillor. Ms. Potts attended McMaster University and Lakeshore Teachers College where she is President of the Alumni Association. She is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (December 2002).

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PUREWAL, Shinder Pal Singh
British Columbia Region

Appointed in August 2005 as a citizenship judge for Surrey, Dr. Shinder Purewal is a respected academic and author. Since obtaining his PhD in Political Science from Queen’s University in 1998, he has been a professor and lecturer at Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen University College, the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and Queen’s University. He has also been a research associate at the Simon Fraser University Institute of Governance Studies and at the Centre for Indian and South Asian Research at the University of British Columbia. Judge Purewal has served on many boards, including those of the Progressive Inter-Cultural Services Society of Vancouver and Surrey, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. He was also a member of the editorial board of the Punjab Journal of Politics.

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RADYO, Vera
British Columbia Region

Appointed citizenship judge in Surrey in October 2004, Vera Radyo has over 25 years of experience in multiculturalism and working with immigrants and refugees. She was the Executive Director of MOSAIC and the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of B.C. She also worked for the United Way of the Lower Mainland and for the provincial government in multiculturalism policy and programs. Ms. Radyo has been a consultant and in that role, worked with a number of immigrant-serving agencies. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her many years of community service.

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ROBERTI, Roberto
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in February 1999, Roberto Roberti has been involved in citizenship counselling and volunteer service in his community. He was formerly district manager for Seagram Limited.

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SEAL, Barbara
MONTRÉAL, Quebec

Appointed citizenship judge in Montréal in October 1997, Barbara Seal is a Member of the Order of Canada and a former member of the Conseil des arts de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal and the Board of Directors of Place des Arts. She served for many years as City Councillor for the Town of Hampstead. Her charitable and community efforts have earned her many awards, including the Golda Meir Woman of the Year Award, the Canadian Parks and Playgrounds Merit Award, the Canadian Cancer Society Merit Award and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, as well as special Recognition for being one of the 125 outstanding Canadian volunteers. In 2002, Ms. Seal was honoured by Tel Aviv University and received the prestigious President’s Medal. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and was awarded the Medal of Excellence from the Quebec Cultural Communities.

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VECCHIARELLI, Peter
TORONTO, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Toronto in November 2003, Peter Vecchiarelli was a business consultant specializing in business direction, marketing strategies, fundraising, public and government relations and foreign and political affairs. Previously, he was the manager of marketing and public relations for VIN Bon Juice Company Ltd., and a member of the company’s board of directors. Mr. Vecchiarelli is actively involved in his community, most notably with Save Our Schools, the York Finch General Hospital and the Jane-Finch Multicultural Associations. He attended the business administration program at Seneca College.

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WALKER, Michael J.
WINDSOR, Ontario

Appointed citizenship judge in Windsor in December 2003, Michael Walker was Vice-President, University Advancement, at the University of Windsor. Prior to this position, he had a long and distinguished career with Daimler/Chrysler and the Valiant Corporation. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the University of Windsor/Daimler Chrysler Canada Inc. Automotive Research and Development Centre. Mr. Walker is actively involved in his community and is currently the second vice-chair of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital. Previously, he served with the Conference Board of Canada’s Corporate and National Councils on Education, the United Way and the Development Commission, as well as many other organizations. He received his B.A. from the University of Windsor and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Central Michigan. Mr. Walker has been honoured with the Charlie Clark Award from the University of Windsor and is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

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WILKING, Sandra
British Columbia Region

Appointed citizenship judge in Vancouver in February 2003, Sandra Wilking was Director of the Laurier Institution, which focuses on research issues related to diversity in Canada, and a board member of the Vancouver Foundation and the Vancouver Children’s Choir. Ms. Wilking has also dedicated years of service to the United Chinese Community Enrichment Service Society (SUCCESS), a major social service agency serving newly arrived immigrants from Chinese and other communities. This successful businesswoman is also a former Vancouver City councillor and the first Chinese-Canadian woman to be elected to public office in B.C. Ms. Wilking received an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Simon Fraser University.

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