Members of the Board - Order in Council

CHAIR

Kevin Whitaker

Mr. Whitaker was appointed Chair of the Board in September 2001. He is a graduate of Queen’s University (Bachelor of Physical Education 1979) and Osgoode Hall Law School (1984). Upon being called to the Bar of Ontario in 1986, he practised labour law in Toronto with a large national law firm. Mr. Whitaker spent two and a half years at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal in the Counsel Office, the last year as Senior Counsel to the Tribunal. In 1989, with others, he established a labour law firm in Toronto and practised for six years before being appointed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board as a Vice-Chair in May 1995.. Since 1995, Mr. Whitaker has worked as a labour arbitrator and mediator in both rights and interest matters in all sectors, public and private. He continues to serve as an arbitrator on numerous collective agreement panels and was appointed to the Minister's List of Arbitrators in Ontario. He was a Vice-Chair of the Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board, until his appointment to the Board as Chair. Mr. Whitaker has written and lectured widely on a variety of labour relations issues. He is currently an Editor of the Labour Arbitration Yearbook and an Executive member of the Ontario Labour Management Arbitrators Association.

ALTERNATE CHAIR

Diane Gee

Diane Gee was appointed Alternate Chair of the Board in August 2008. She is a graduate of University of Toronto (B.A. 1983) and Osgoode Hall Law School (1986). Upon being called to the Bar of Ontario in 1988 she practiced labour and employment law in Toronto with a large national law firm. Ms. Gee was appointed to the Board as a Vice-Chair in January 1994 and served in that capacity until October 2002 when she returned to private practice. In the year prior to her appointment to the Board as Alternate Chair Ms. Gee worked in-house for a national retail operation with a large union and non-union workforce. Ms. Gee is also the Chair of the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal.

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VICE-CHAIRS

Christopher Albertyn, Vice-Chair

Mr. Albertyn was appointed a Vice-Chair of the Board in October 1994. In 1997, he was appointed Chair of the Ontario Education Relations Commission and the Colleges Relations Commission. He is a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (B.A. Honours), the University of South Africa (B.Proc.) and the University of Natal, Durban (LL.B.). He was the founding Director of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies in the Law Faculty of the University of Natal in Durban. He practised law during the period 1977 to 1988. Since that time he has practised as an arbitrator and mediator. He settled in Canada in 1993. He is on arbitration panels in Canada, South Africa and the US, and has been admitted to the Minister’s list of arbitrators of the Ontario Office of Arbitration. He is the co-author of Alcohol, Employment and Fair Labour Practice. He wrote the section on South Africa in International Labour and Employment Law (BNA Books) and has written several articles on labour law.

Ian Anderson, Vice-Chair

Ian Anderson was appointed a full time vice chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board in April, 2004. Prior to his appointment to the Board, Anderson practiced law for 17 years in the areas of labour law, workers‘ compensation, constitutional and civil litigation and other areas of administrative law. Anderson was the founder of the Workers‘ Rights Group at Parkdale Community Legal Services, the chair of the Board of Directors of the community legal clinic Injured Workers‘ Consultants for many years, the first chair of the Workers‘ Compensation Section of the Ontario Bar Association and a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada‘s Workers‘ Compensation Specialist Certification Committee. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Work & Health.

Peter Chauvin, Vice-Chair

Peter Chauvin comes to the Board after twenty years of practice with a management-side law firm where he acted for clients before a variety of administrative tribunals. Peter has spoken and written widely on employment law topics and is the Co-Author of the Employment Law Factbook published by Carswell. He was called to the Bar in 1985. He joins the Board as a full-time Vice-Chair.

Mary Ellen Cummings, Vice-Chair

was appointed a part-time Vice-Chair in August 2008, at the end of her term as Alternate Chair, a position she held from 1999. She is now a full-time arbitrator and mediator Prior to joining the Board, she held adjudicative positions at the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, Employment Equity Tribunal, Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal and Office of Adjudication. Ms. Cummings started her legal career practising labour and employment law in Toronto, after graduating from Queen's University (LL.B.) and McMaster University (B.A.).

Harry Freedman, Vice-Chair

Mr. Freedman returned to the Board, having been appointed a Vice-Chair in September 1998. Before his recent appointment, he was a partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon, practising labour and employment law with that firm for almost ten years. In October, 1995, the Law Society of Upper Canada certified Mr. Freedman as a specialist in labour law. Prior to joining Blake, Cassels & Graydon in December 1988, Mr. Freedman had served as the Board’s senior solicitor from April 1979 until September 1984, when he was appointed a Vice-Chair of the Board. He was called to the Bar in 1977 after receiving his LL.B. degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1975 and his B.A. from the University of Toronto in 1971. Mr. Freedman practised law with Warren Winkler (as he then was), Roy Filion and David Wakely before joining the Board in 1979. He has taught labour law and collective bargaining at Ryerson Polytechnic University, an arbitration course at Osgoode Hall Law School and for several years was an instructor in public law in the Bar Admission Course. He has authored several papers, including "Securing the Attendance of Witnesses Before Labour Relations Tribunals" (1990), 11 The Advocates Quarterly 355. Mr. Freedman is an experienced and active arbitrator and mediator.

Norman Jesin, Vice-Chair

Norman Jesin was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1983. He was an articling student at the Board, then worked with Caley Wray. In 1988 he became a founding partner of Jesin Watson and McCreary where he practiced until earlier this year. Mr. Jesin has opened an arbitration and mediation practice and will be a part-time Vice-Chair at the Board.

Patrick Kelly, Vice-Chair

Mr. Kelly was appointed to the Board as a Vice-Chair in May of 1999. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Arts (B.A. 1980) and Faculty of Law (LL.B. 1983). Upon being called to the Bar in 1985, Mr. Kelly immediately began a career in Human Resources, beginning with a labour relations portfolio at Women’s College Hospital. In 1990 he was appointed as Director of Human Resources with the Regional Municipality of York. He then joined the City of York as its senior Human Resource lead in 1996. Upon amalgamation of York into the new City of Toronto in 1998, he was appointed at a Director level to provide human resource services to the new Fire, Ambulance and Public Works Divisions of the City.

Mark J. Lewis, Vice-Chair

Having received his initial education in the United Kingdom and Canada, Mark Lewis graduated form the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law in 1989 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1991. He has been a practising labour lawyer for the last fifteen years; first as an associate with the law firm of Sack, Goldblatt Mitchell and then, commencing in 1997, as General Counsel for Universal Workers Union, LIUNA, Local 183. Throughout his years of practice, Mr. Lewis developed particular expertise in the field of construction labour relations, a subject which he has written and spoken about in various professional contexts.

David A. McKee, Vice-Chair

Mr. McKee was appointed to the Board as a full time Vice Chair in 1999. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in 1972 and an LL.B. in 1978. In the interim he was employed as a youth worker in the east end of Toronto. He was called to the Bar in 1980. From 1980 to 1999 he was first an associate and later a partner at Caley & Wray, practising in the fields of labour, employment and benefit trust law. During that time he appeared in all levels of courts, before arbitrators and many tribunals.

Mary Anne McKellar, Vice-Chair

Mary Anne McKellar was appointed to the Board as a full time Vice Chair in 2001. She graduated from the faculty of law at the University of Toronto with an LL.B. in 1985. After her call to the Bar in 1987, she practised law in Toronto, with Koskie Minsky, as an associate with the title of director of research until 1990. From January 1990 to 1992, Ms. McKellar was a solicitor to the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal (PEHT). From September 1992 until present, she has been a vice-chair with the PEHT. Since 1995, Ms. McKellar has been a vice-chair with the Board of Inquiry (BOI).

Brian McLean, Vice-Chair

Mr. McLean was appointed as a Vice-Chair in July, 1998. He attended the University of Victoria and is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Mr. McLean practised labour law in Toronto for eight years until his appointment to the Board. He is co-author of the Collective Agreement Handbook.

Corinne Murray, Vice-Chair

Corrine F. Murray was a Vice-Chair at the Board in the mid-1980's and then worked as a management labour lawyer. She was recently Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel at Nortel Networks, and was latterly working as an arbitrator and mediator.

Caroline Rowan, Vice-Chair

Ms. Rowan was appointed to the Board as a Vice-Chair in 1999. She graduated from the University of Toronto (Honours B.A. in 1986) and from Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B. 1989). Since her call to the Bar in 1991, she has worked exclusively in the field of labour relations and employment law. She spent her first seven years in private practice in the labour and employment law group of a large multi-service downtown law firm. In the year prior to joining the Board, she worked in-house at a retail and wholesale operation with a large union and non-union workforce. She has been a member of the executive of the CBAO Administrative Law Section for the past several years and is currently acting as Secretary.

Tim Sargeant, Vice-Chair

Mr. Sargeant was appointed as a Vice Chair in March, 1996. He is a graduate of Yale University (B.A.), Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B.) and the London School of Economics (LL.M.), He is also a Queen’s Counsel. For many years, Mr. Sargeant practised labour law in Toronto. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Sargeant was acting as a private arbitrator.

Christine Schmidt, Vice-Chair

Christine Schmidt was appointed a full-time Vice-Chair effective January 2009. Christine was educated at McGill University, Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto, called to the Bar in Ontario in 1994 and recently completed the Arbitrator Development Program through the Ministry of Labour. Christine has been a practitioner in the adjudicative process for over 10 years. During that time, she also worked as an independent investigator, and regularly appeared as counsel before professional regulatory bodies and administrative tribunals.

Susan Serena, Vice-Chair

Ms. Serena was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1981. She is a graduate of Queen's University Law School and also received a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Toronto. Ms. Serena was Assistant General Counsel at Ontario Hydro where she practiced labour and employment law for ten years. She was also a member of the Labour and Employment Law group of Ogilvy Renault. Ms. Serena has worked for the legal branch of the Ministry of Energy and in the Cabinet Office of the Government of Ontario. She also teaches labour law at Ryerson University.

Lee Shouldice, Vice Chair

Lee Shouldice was called to the Bar of the Province of Ontario in 1987, and practiced labour and employment law until 1993. At that time, Lee was appointed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board as a Vice-Chair. He served on the Board until 1999, at which time he joined the Labour and Employment Law Group of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Lee was reappointed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board as a Vice-Chair in May, 2007.

Marilyn Silverman, Vice-Chair

Ms. Silverman was appointed to the Board as a Vice-Chair in April 1999. She graduated from McGill University (B.A. 1979) and the University of Ottawa (LL.B. 1983). After her call to the Bar in 1984, Ms. Silverman began practising law in Ontario as in-house counsel. In 1988 she began working in private practice in the area of management side labour relations. In her 11 years in private practice, she represented employers in all areas of labour and employment law, including grievance arbitrations, contract negotiations, labour board proceedings, worker’s safety and insurance matters, employment standards and wrongful dismissal actions.

Jack Slaughter, Vice-Chair

Jack J. Slaughter is a Vice-Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Prior to joining the Board, he had extensive experience in the construction industry as General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 from May 1985 to March 1995 and General Counsel for the Central Ontario Regional Council of Carpenters, Drywall and Allied Workers from August 1995 to February 2002. In 1995, he was Legal Counsel to the Railway Commissions under Mr. Justice George Adams, a Mediation-Arbitration Commission established by Parliament to resolve 13 collective agreements amongst CN, CP and the various railway unions. Mr. Slaughter is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, where he received the Ivan C. Rand Award in Constitutional Law, and the University of Toronto where he graduated with High Distinction with a Major in Economics.

Tanja Wacyk, Vice-Chair

Tanja Wacyk was called to the Ontario Bar in 1984. She has been a labour arbitrator and mediator for more than a decade and has particular expertise in employment standards, occupational health and safety and human rights. Ms. Wacyk has a Masters of Law degree (specializing in Administrative Law) from Osgoode Hall Law School and teaches ADR at the University of Toronto Law School. Tanja Wacyk is past Chair of the Labour Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association.

Kelly Waddingham, Vice-Chair

Kelly Waddingham has had an extensive practice in labour and administrative law. She has acted in a number of high profile inquests, professional discipline matters, hearings before Boards of Inquiry, and in court. She was called to the Bar in 1994.

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MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVE OF LABOUR AND MANAGEMENT

Richard Baxter

Mr. Baxter was appointed as a full time Board Member representing Labour for the Construction sector in April 2006. Mr. Baxter came to the OLRB from the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 50 Toronto. During his 40 years in the Elevator industry he served his members in several responsible positions. In 1992 Mr. Baxter was elected as a full time Business Representative and he held that office until 1998 when he became the Business Manager of Local 50. Mr. Baxter brings years of relevant experience to the Board, he has been involved in negotiating Provincial Collective Agreements, organizing, grievances and served on numerous Labour Management Committees.

Alan Haward

Mr. Haward came to the OLRB from the Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Local 95. Mr. Haward served a four-year apprenticeship, followed by just over fourteen years as a Journeyman Insulator. During his almost nineteen years with the Insulators, he held many offices with his Local Union, such as Steward, Health and Safety Representative, Recording Secretary, Executive Board, Treasurer, and also as an Apprentice Instructor. For the four-and-a-half years prior to joining the OLRB in April of 1998, Mr. Haward worked as a full-time Business Representative and Organizer.

Paul LeMay

Paul LeMay was appointed a full-time Board Member representing management in 2005. A graduate of the University of Toronto, he has more than 30 years' experience in human resources management, in both the private and public sectors.

Shannon R. B. McManus

Ms McManus has been a member of the Board representing workers since 2005. She was leader of the largest union at the Toronto Star and later worked as a staff representative with the Canadian Union of Educational Workers, a campaigns officer with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and a communications officer, researcher, and executive assistant to the National Secretary-Treasurer with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. She is a graduate of Concordia University.

Richard O'Connor

Richard O'Connor has been appointed employer representative - industrial. Mr. O'Connor has extensive experience in the auto and marine power manufacturing sector, most recently as Vice President, Human Resources and Administration with Outboard Marine Corporation of Canada. Mr. O'Connor also has served for many years as an employer nominee to boards of arbitration both rights and interests.

David A. Patterson

Mr. Patterson was appointed a full-time Board Member representing labour in April, 1986. A member of the United Steelworkers of America for many years, a miner by trade, he advanced through the ranks of his Union to become President of Local 6500, USWA from 1976 to 1981, and Director, District 6, USWA in Ontario from 1981 to 1986. He was elected Vice-President-at-large of the Canadian Labour Congress from 1982-1986 and was a member of the Board of Directors of the M.A.P.A.D. Mr. Patterson also served on the Premier’s Advisory Committee, the Ontario Labour-Management Study Group.

Carol Phillips

Carol Phillips was appointed a union-side board Member in January 2009. Carol began her labour career as an elected CAW leader in the 1980’s then moved through the ranks of CAW staff from a negotiator in various sectors to the Director of three departments to the Assistant to three CAW Presidents. She has served on the Executive of the CLC and OFL. Carol has also been on staff with the CLC, first as Head of the Women’s Bureau, later as assistant to CLC President Bob White. Carol served as a senior advisor to Ontario Premier Bob Rae, with special responsibility for ABCs.

Barry Roberts

Barry Roberts was appointed a full time Board Member in May 2007. He has an extensive background in Labour Relations attained through working in supervisory roles at Chrysler Canada and 14 years of labour relations experience at Ontario Hydro and Ontario Power Generation. Prior to his appointment to the Board, he held the position of General Manager for the Electrical Power Systems Construction Association.

Judith Rundle

Ms. Rundle has been a full-time Board Member representing management since July 1986. Prior to joining the Board, Ms. Rundle worked in the health care field in the area of human resources management.

John Tomlinson

John Tomlinson has been appointed to the construction panel. Mr. Tomlinson was with Ontario Hydro for almost 30 years in a variety of labour relations and human resources capacities. Most recently he held the position of Labour Relations Manager with Ontario Power Generation at the Pickering Plant.

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