Department of Justice

OTTAWA, June 20, 1996 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Ronald L. Berger of Edmonton is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of Alberta. He replaces Justice D.C. McDonald, who passed away.

Mr. Justice Berger graduated in law from McGill University in 1967, and was awarded a Fellowship in criminal law from the University of Pennsylvania. He was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1969.

Mr. Justice Berger was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in 1985. Prior to his appointment to the Bench, Mr. Justice Berger practised law with the Department of the Attorney General and then worked in private practice in Edmonton, specializing in civil and criminal litigation.

Since his appointment to the Queen's Bench, Mr. Justice Berger has served as a guest lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta and as a speaker and instructor for the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and the National Judicial Institute.

Gerard C. Hawco, Q.C., of Calgary is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in Calgary. He replaces Mr. Justice M.E. Lomas, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Hawco graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1965, and was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1966 and the Bar of Alberta in 1967.

Mr. Justice Hawco was a member of the Law Department of Canadian Pacific Railway Company from 1966 to 1969. He then joined the firm of McLaws & Company, where he mainly practised oil and gas law. After having practised general litigation with Nelson, Henders & Hawco, Mr. Justice Hawco joined the firm of Howard, Mackie, where he has been a partner since 1980.

Mr. Justice Hawco has been a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta since 1987. He has also been Director of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta.

Cameron Scott Brooker, Q.C., of Calgary is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary. He replaces Mr. Justice C.G. Virtue, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Brooker graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1970. He was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1971 and to the Bar of the Northwest Territories in 1977.

Mr. Justice Brooker first practised law with the firm of Fenerty, McGillivray, Robertson, Prowse, Brennan, Fraser, Bell & Code. Since 1973, he has been a litigator with the firm of Code, Hunter Wittmann. Mr. Justice Brooker has lectured extensively for the Legal Education Society of Alberta and the Canadian Institute on civil litigation issues.

Sterling Michael Sanderman of Edmonton is appointed a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton. He replaces Mr. Justice R.L. Berger, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Justice Sanderman graduated in law from the University of Alberta in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1977. From 1977 to 1981, he worked as a Crown prosecutor for the Attorney General of Alberta, General Prosecution Section. He has since been practising criminal law with the firm Brimacombe, Sanderman, Stroppel and Finlayson.

Marina S. Paperny, Q.C., of Calgary is appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in Calgary. She replaces Mr. Justice R.T.G. McBain, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Paperny graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1978, and was called to the bars of Alberta and Ontario in 1980.

Madam Justice Paperny first practised civil litigation with the firm of Barron, McBain in Calgary. She then joined the firm of Howard, Mackie, with whom she became a partner in 1985, primarily practising corporate/commercial, health and matrimonial law. Since 1992, Madam Justice Paperny has been President and General Counsel of Madacalo Investments Ltd. She has also been a member of the Alberta Securities Commission since 1993.

Madam Justice Paperny has taught law courses at the University of Calgary Law School and the Legal Education Society of Alberta.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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