Alberta Human Rights Commission
Bonora, Doris
Doris Bonora, KC, is partner at Dentons Canada LLP. She is the Canadian group leader for Dentons' Trust, Estates, Tax and Wealth Preservation. She has a particular interest in equal rights of the Indigenous Canadians, elderly, and women. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. Members of the Commission must have a law degree. Doris was directly recruited and appointed based on meeting this requirement.
Haykowsky, Teresa Rose
Teresa Haykowsky, KC, is a Partner at McLennan Ross LLP. Teresa specializes in education law, labour and employment, human rights and constitutional law. She has appeared at all court levels including the Supreme Court of Canada. Teresa has a Bachelor degree from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Law from the Université Laval. Teresa is a member of the Québec, Alberta and Nunavut Law Societies. Members of the Commission must have a law degree. Teresa was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of meeting this requirement.
Ringseis, Erika
Erika Ringseis is located in Calgary and is senior legal counsel specializing in labour and employment law at InHaus Legal. Erika has a Juris Doctorate degree in addition to her undergraduate degree from the University of Calgary, and a Master’s of Science degree and a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, both from the Pennsylvania State University. Members of the Commission must have a law degree. Erika was directly recruited and appointed on the basis of meeting this requirement.
Dickins, Cynthia
Cynthia Dickins is General Counsel with the federal Department of Justice in Edmonton. She practices administrative, constitutional and Aboriginal law. She is a volunteer in the community, advising at Edmonton Community Legal Centre and tutoring at the Family Literacy Centre. She is also an advocate for persons with disabilities, serving as a past president of the Autism Society and other non-profits. She has taught negotiations, advocacy and ethics to law students and was co-chair of the Canadian Bar Association Indigenous law sub-section.
Whyte, Nathalie
Nathalie Whyte is a lawyer and a sole practitioner. Her areas of practice include Aboriginal and Treaty rights law, and family law. Nathalie is a sessional lecturer at the University of Calgary, teaching “Indigenous Law in Canada” through the International Indigenous Studies Program, Department of Political Science. She has a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from Carleton University and a Juris Doctor from the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan.
Bawa, Faraz
Faraz Bawa is the Senior Associate at Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Law Firm primarily practicing Immigration and Family Law. Prior to being called to the Bar in Alberta in 2014, Faraz was a compensation analyst for the Wynford Group and a currency trader for Olympia Trust Company. Faraz has a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary. Faraz Bawa was directly recruited and appointed to the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes required by the Commission.
Gill, Jessica
Jessica Gill has over six years’ experience providing legal advice on labour and employment, human rights, privacy and administrative law matters to provincial and federally regulated employers. She is currently Counsel for the Canada Energy Regulator in Calgary. Jessica was previously an associate with an international law firm in Calgary and also clerked with the Alberta Court of Appeal. Jessica has a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science both from the University of Calgary. Jessica Gill was directly recruited and appointed to the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the basis of acceptably meeting the competencies, skills and attributes required by the Commission.
Oviatt, Kathryn
Kathryn Oviatt is a partner at Oviatt Law where she focuses on labour arbitration, employment law, and legal research and writing. Kathryn has been a lawyer since 2006 and an independent adjudicator since 2014. She holds the professional designation of Qualified Arbitrator from the ADR Institute of Canada. Prior to joining Oviatt Law, Kathryn served as legal counsel for the Court of Queen’s Bench and was an associate at a large regional law firm.
Scott, Karen
Karen Scott has 16 years of experience as a practicing lawyer in Alberta. She is a partner with Seveny Scott Lawyers, practicing in the field of labour and employment law including human rights law. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (with distinction) from the University of Alberta and holds certificates from the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society. She is also a sessional lecturer at the UofA Law School.
Ahanonu, C. Nduka
Nduka Ahanonu is a trial lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the legal field. He is the Founder and Managing Lawyer at Duke Law Office. Prior to this, he worked as the Student-at-Law for Legal Aid Alberta and as a Legal Resource Officer for the Alberta Law Line. Nduka is an active member in the community and is currently serving as a Member on the Legal Aid Appeals Committee. He has a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Lagos, his Barrister-at-Law at Nigerian Law School and a Master of Laws at the University of Alberta.
Nduka Ahanonu was directly recruited and appointed to the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the basis of meeting the following competencies, skills and attributes: a Bachelor of Laws degree, knowledge of human rights and administrative law, strong writing skills, communication skills and mediation skills.
Badejo, Sandra
Sandra Badejo is a lawyer with over 17 years of experience, specializing in all areas of family law, including divorce, parenting, child and spousal support and family property. She also represents children and youths in child welfare matters. Sandra is currently a Partner at Crerar Badejo Hagen Family Law Group and the Director and Shareholder in I. Sandra Badejo Professional Corporation. Sandra has a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Lagos, a Barrister at Law from the Nigeria Law School and a Master of Laws at the University of Alberta.
Sandra Badejo was directly recruited and appointed to the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the basis of meeting the following competencies, skills and attributes: a Bachelor of Laws degree, knowledge of human rights and administrative law, strong writing skills, communication skills and mediation skills.
Oshionebo, Evaristus
Dr. Evaristus Oshionebo is a Tenured Professor and Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. He teaches Law of Contracts, Business Associations and Mining Law. He previously taught at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba. He has a Bachelor of Laws from the Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria), a Master of Laws from the University of Lagos as well as from the University of Alberta and a Doctor of Philosophy from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Shim, Wilma
Wilma Shim is a lawyer with over 10 years of experience, having worked as a Barrister and Solicitor and a Crown Prosecutor for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. She is active in the community, serving as a Senator on the University of Calgary Senate, the Vice Chair for the University of Calgary Alumni Association, and a Board member for Special Olympics Calgary. Wilma continues to be involved with her alma mater as a sessional instructor in the area of Sports Law for both the Faculties of Law and Kinesiology at the University of Calgary.
Wilma Shim was directly recruited and appointed to the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the basis of meeting the following competencies, skills and attributes: a Bachelor of Laws degree, knowledge of human rights and administrative law, strong writing skills, communication skills and mediation skills.
Abdelhamid, Rabie
Rabie Ahmed Abdelhamid is a lawyer who specializes in criminal defence, family law, and child welfare law. Before his legal career, Rabie worked with the Government of Canada regarding international social security benefits. Rabie graduated with an honours Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Christianson, Dana
Dana Christianson is an Associate with Seveny Scott Lawyers practicing in labour, employment, human rights, and administrative law. She is also a sessional lecturer at the University of Alberta teaching employment law. Dana has a Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of English, both from Carlton University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. She is currently enrolled in the arbitration course at the ADR Institute of Canada.
Leclerc, Shawn
Shawn Leclerc is a sole practitioner working in association with RMcD Law Offices. He provides employment advice with regards to wrongful dismissal, employment standards, and drafting employment contracts. He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, the Provincial and Supreme Court in British Columbia, and before the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Shawn has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa.
Sherry, Leigh
Leigh Sherry is currently a lawyer with Foster LLP. Prior to her career in law, Leigh worked as an addictions manager at an addiction treatment centre for women in Calgary. Leigh has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Strathclyde.
Wiltshire, Rod
Rod Wiltshire is practicing law part-time in private practice for the past five years. In 2019, Rod retired from Alberta Justice where he had been a lawyer for over 20 years practicing constitutional and public law and appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of the Attorney General. Rod has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree, both from the University of Alberta. Rod also has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School.