Department of Justice

, February 12, 1998 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

Arthur LeBlanc, Q.C., of Antigonish is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax. He replaces the Honourable J.P. Kennedy, who was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Court.

Mr. Justice LeBlanc graduated in law from Dalhousie University in 1968, and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar that same year. He has been practising civil litigation with emphasis on personal injury litigation with the firm of LeBlanc, MacDonald in Port Hawkesbury. Justice LeBlanc is bilingual.

Linda Oland, Q.C., of Halifax is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax. She replaces Mr. Justice H.S. Nathanson, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Oland received her LL.B. from Dalhousie Law School in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1977. She has since practised law with the firm of McInnes, Cooper & Robertson in Halifax. Madam Justice Oland has mainly practised corporate and commercial law, estates and trusts law, and immigration law.

Madam Justice Oland has also lectured on succession and wills at Dalhousie Law School and been director and treasurer of the Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia. She is a past president and director of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Atlantic Chapter.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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