News Release

Minister announces designation and reappointment to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, March 9, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the designation of Ken Sandhu as Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). The Minister also announced the reappointment of Barbara Berger to the IRB.

Ken Sandhu (Toronto) was first appointed to the IRB on June 21, 2004. He was designated Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division on March 5, 2007. Prior to his appointment, he was the Chair of the Ontario Board of Parole. He was also Regional Director of Community Corrections with the Ministry of Public Safety and Correctional Services of the Ontario Government, and has taught criminology at the University of Guelph as a sessional lecturer.  Mr. Sandhu is a past President of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association and past President of the Ontario Association of Corrections and Criminology. In 2001, he was awarded the Medal of Honour by the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators for his outstanding contribution to the administrative justice system of Ontario and, in 2002, the Association of Paroling Authorities International awarded him the Vincent O’Leary award for his contribution to the field of parole. He has a Bachelor of Arts (honours) in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Guelph and a Masters in Criminology from York University.

Barbara Berger has been reappointed as a part-time member in the Montreal regional office for a term of one year, effective February 9, 2007.  Ms. Berger has been with the Board since October 28, 1996. Prior to her appointment to the IRB, she was Chief of the Intercultural Affairs Division for the City of Montreal and a part-time member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. She also served as policy advisor to the Quebec Minister of Cultural Affairs and Immigration and worked as Assistant Communications Director for the Allied Jewish Community Services of Greater Montreal. While in Poland, Ms. Berger worked as a journalist specializing in international affairs. She received her certificate in Philosophy and her Master of Laws from the University of Warsaw.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Board has three divisions — the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.

For more information:

Philippe Mailhot
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650