Annual Report 2014/2015

  • July 31, 2015

Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Olga Volpe

Summary of Meetings

Number of Meetings Held: 5

September 24, 2014
Guest Speaker: Phil Riddell, Criminal Defense Counsel and Bencher
Meeting Title/Topic: Intersection of Criminal Law & Family Law
Synopsis: Discussion of issues that arise when there are family law and criminal issues intersecting in one's case and the various strategies and needs to address them.

October 15, 2014
Guest Speaker: Ian Karp, Actuary
Meeting Title/Topic: Pension Valuations under the Family Law Act
Synopsis: Issues arising and aspects of Pension Valuations under the FLA and how they differ from the FRA.

November 26, 2014
Guest Speakers: The Honourable Madam Justice Donna Martinson, Q.C.
Meeting Title/Topic: Coordination of Family, child Protection & Criminal Proceedings in Cases Involving Family Violence
Synopsis: How multiple proceedings in silos or different jurisdictions create poor or unjust results and the need and benefit to coordinate efforts to hear these cases in the same court or in different courts but in a coordinated way will further the administration of justice and access to justice.

March 18, 2015
Guest Speaker: G.C. (Scottie) Scott, Barrister & Solicitor, Family Law Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer
Meeting Title/Topic: A.D.R. Potpourri and Updates
Synopsis: Addressing the benefits, issues, approaches to alternate dispute resolution in family law, and in particular under the FLA.

May 27, 2015
Guest Speakers: Debbie LeSurf, Local Manager, Family Justice Report Service, Ministry of Justice, Abbotsford
Meeting Title/Topic: s.211 Reports - from Order to completion and everything in between
Synopsis: A detailed description and discussion of the process of conducting the inquiries and report writing of s.211 Reports by the Ministry of Justice report writers, aspects of how counsel can assist their clients and what to expect as well as legal requirements for such report writers to appear in court.

Reports and/or Resolutions Prepared by the Section

No formal reports other than the reports by the various members on activities reported in the Minutes of each meeting.


Comments and Observations of the Chair

Westminster FLS enjoyed coordinating some efforts with Vancouver FLS to have members attend each others' meeting to enrich the overall experience of Family Law Section membership.