waterloo region law association

2024-2025 COMMITTEES

If you wish to contact the Chair of a committee, please visit our Board of Trustees page for their contact information.

LIBRARY & FINANCE

Chair: Matthew Kelly, Treasurer

Members: Jennifer Bolduc, Matt Jantzi, Rebecca Little, Milena Protich, and Pia Williams

The members of the library committee are also members of the finance committee as the two co-exist in LIRN income and expenditures.  This committee reviews expenditures, library operations and staff policies and procedures and works to develop the Association’s annual budget for presentation to the Board.  Meetings are usually quarterly although there are additional meetings to address the budget process. Ideally, the Chair of the committee would be a trustee who is familiar with the library. LIRN provides an annual grant, in quarterly installments, for library related Collections, Operations and Staffing.  The WRLA submits quarterly financial reports (trial balance) to LIRN, via the Senior Financial Advisor of the Law Society of Upper Canada.  Expenditures outside of budgeted items for the library, for example new computers or software, are reviewed by the committee and submitted to the board (and LIRN) for approval. This committee also reviews income and expenditures of the Waterloo Region Law Association Business Account which consists of income from membership and expenses generated by CPD, Committees and Practice Groups, FOLA Fees and other operating expenses. 

MEMBERSHIP

Chair: Jennifer Roggemann 

Members: Emily Compton, Whitney Hall, and Pia Williams

The membership committee is a sub-committee of the Library and Finance committee. The committee monitors all aspects of membership, including retention and education—bringing in new members, teaching them about the and then ensuring that the member experience meets everyone’s expectations. The committee identifies the needs of members and recommends the development of services to meet those needs. The committee is responsible for increasing membership, keeping membership informed, welcoming new members, and identifying nonmember needs and perceptions. Gathering information on and analyzing non-members’ needs and perceptions of WRLA. Recommending ways in which to meet these needs to attract non-members to join WRLA.

BENCH & BAR

Superior Court of Justice: John Webster (Chair), Jennifer Bolduc, Eric Davis, Jeramie Gallichan, Whitney Hall, Gord Harris, Milena Protich, Inderdeep Toor, and Ali Victoros

This committee is chaired by the current president. Members are from various areas of practice representative of the bar. The committee has 2 to 3 meetings per year with the Local Administrative Justice on selected issues or at the LAJ’s request.  Sometimes, the chair will meet one on one with the LAJ at their request. The committee is responsible to report to the Board and communicate with members.  

Unified Family Court: Jennifer Bolduc (Chair), Simenpal Kainth, Matthew Kelly, and Val Ruoso

This committee is chaired by a member practicing in family law, or by the current president.  The committee has meetings with the local Unified Family Court Bench on selected issues or at the request of the judges. The committee reports to the Board and is responsible to communicate items of import to members practicing family law. 

  

Ontario Court of Justice & Criminal: Val Ruoso (Chair), Stephen Gehl, and Jennifer Roggemann

This committee is chaired by a member of the criminal bar or the current president. Members are from the criminal practice representative of the bar.  The committee has meetings with the bench on selected issues or at the request of the judges.  The committee reports to the Board and is responsible to communicate items of import to members practicing criminal law.

Small Claims: Whitney Hall (Chair), Emily Compton, Milena Protich, and John Webster

SOCIAL/NEW LAWYERS

Chair: Matthew Kelly

Members: Jeramie Gallichan, Gord Harris, Simenpal Kainth, Greg Murdoch, Kristen Price, Jennifer Roggemann, Inderdeep Toor, Pia Williams and Tyra Madeline

The social committee assists with the organization and running of the Association’s social events that do not otherwise have a separate committee. This committee is also responsible for the monthly Thirsty Thursday event aimed at providing new lawyers and articling students an opportunity to network with existing members. Thirsty Thursdays are held at a restaurant/bar and have an allocated budget to contribute to the cost of attendees. 

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Chair: Kelsy Gill

Members: Rebecca Little, Greg Murdoch, Jennifer Roggemann, Najla Nureddin, and Pia Williams

This committee is chaired by a trustee member and includes lawyers and paralegals from various areas of practice representative of the local bar. The committee assess and interpret the needs and expectations of Association members regarding CPD, coordinates the various CPD programming put together by the various practice groups and assists with accreditation, identifies gaps in the programming provided by the practice groups to ensure ample local programming, and develops Continuing Professional Development programs, conferences and events for the Association with the assistance of Association members. This committee also manages, develops and coordinates Continuing Professional Development activities with other groups offering same such as the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Bar Association.  

LAW DAY

Chair: Ali Victoros

Members: Jeramie Gallichan, Whitney Hall, Gord Harris, Simenpal Kainth, Inderdeep Toor, Najla Nureddin, Pia Williams and Tyra Madeline

This committee arranges for the annual Law Day each year with local students and supported by the Ontario Justice Education Network. Usually held in March or May. Law Day is a mock trial program organized by the committee to inform students about the important role that lawyers, and the judiciary serve in guaranteeing an open, independent and unbiased system

GOVERNANCE

Chair: Milena Protich

Members: Eric Davis, Ryan De Vries, Matt Jantzi, Rebecca Little and Pia Williams

This committee is responsible for the development of Association policies and procedures and monitoring and amending of the Waterloo Region Law Association by-law as required. The committee is also involved with implementing the AGM voting procedures.  

HUMAN RESOURCES

Chair: Jennifer Bolduc

Members: Emily Compton, Whitney Hall, Matthew Kelly, Milena Protich, Inderdeep Toor, John Webster, Ali Victoros, and Pia Williams

This committee, chaired by the vice-president, oversees library staff, including performance of job descriptions, performance reviews, staffing issues and concerns and hiring of staff when necessary.

GOLF TOURNAMENT 2024 & 2025

Chair: Matthew Kelly

Members: Kelsy Gill, Jeramie Gallichan, Pia Williams and Tyra Madeline

This committee is responsible to organize the Association’s golf tournament which is held annually.

LEGISLATIVE / LEGAL

Chair: Ryan De Vries

Members: Whitney Hall, Rebecca Little and Pia Williams

This committee is responsible for promoting consideration of legal and policy issues which are of interest or concern to the Waterloo Region legal community or which the Association can provide input. Requests for input from third party stakeholders are directed to the committee which decides whether to make a submission on behalf of the Association and if so, prepares the submission.

COULTER A. OSBORNE AWARD

Chair: Gord Harris

Members: Eric Davis, Matthew Jantzi, Whitney Hall, Jennifer Roggemann, Val Ruoso, Inderdeep Toor, David Dyer, Stephen Grant, Lee Fitzpatrick, Rob Bickle and Pia Williams

This committee does the majority of its work from January to March. After nomination forms are sent out the membership, the committee meets to vet nominees, then makes a submission to the board for their input and approval. Committee members organize speakers for the recipient, are responsible for getting the award engraved and various and sundry other tasks associated with the evening.

MENTAL HEALTH

Chair: Whitney Hall

Members: Ryan De Vries, Stephen Gehl, Matt Jantzi, Siraj Syed, John Webster, and Pia Williams

This Committee focuses on identifying and informing members of relevant and available Mental Health and Awareness (MH&A) resources, and identifies ways to advocate for the importance of MH&A programs for legal professionals. 

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (EDI)

Chair: Kelsy Gill

Members: Caitlin McIntyre, Greg Murdoch, Val Ruoso, Siraj Syed, Ali Victoros, and Pia Williams

The WRLA is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion that respects and embraces the unique backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of the WRLA. The EDI committee is responsible for developing and coordinating the WRLA’s inclusion initiatives and make recommendations directly to the Board regarding policies, procedures, CPD and any other initiatives.