About CCIAWJ

About CCIAWJ

THE CCIAWJ

President’s Message

Mara Headshot 1

Justice Mara Greene

President CCIAWJ, Ontario Court of Justice

I am honoured to serve as the president for The Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) and excited for all that our chapter is going to do over the next two years. 

Our association works closely with The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), which is a non-profit, non-government organization whose members represent all level of the judiciary worldwide.   The IAWJ has over 6000 members in 100 countries. The CCIAWJ and the IAWJ are committed to advancing gender equality and an inclusive legal system which enhances human rights for all.  

The CCIAWJ engages in a number of programs that serve to advance our goals of equality and inclusion.  For example, in June 2024 the CCIAWJ partnered with NJI to run a three-day program on equality in the legal system.  The CCIAWJ also partnered with law societies across the country to conduct roundtables addressing the retention of women in the practice of law.  Subcommittees focusing on national mentorship and methods of combating discrimination have been developed as a result of these roundtables.

The CCIAWJ is also involved in supporting women law students through our “Evening with Women Judges” program and providing scholarships for law students identifying as female.  Past scholarships include a scholarship to the Law School at the University of Victoria and the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.  We presently have a scholarship for three years at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

Over the next year, the CCIAWJ plans to continue assisting our sister judges from Afghanistan, supporting women law students and developing additional programs to advance equality in the legal system. 

In April 2025, the IAWJ biannual conference is in Cape Town, South Africa.  As members of the CCIAWJ, you are also members of the IAWJ and can register for what will be an incredible conference.  The education is exceptional and there is nothing like being in a room with 900 judges from all over the world. 

The CCIAWJ has many volunteer opportunities including working on content for our webpage, assisting in membership communication and outreach, attending our student events or joining our projects committee.    I encourage all members to reach out to me or other members of our board to become more involved with the CCIAWJ.  Our work is meaningful and rewarding.  It is also a great way to connect with colleagues across the country.    I am grateful for the friendships I have made through the CCIAWJ and feel privileged to have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with so many incredible women.

THE CCIAWJ

President’s Message

Justice Mara Greene

President CCIAWJ, Ontario Court of Justice

Mara Headshot 1

 

 

I am honoured to serve as the president for The Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (CCIAWJ) and excited for all that our chapter is going to do over the next two years. 

Our association works closely with The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), which is a non-profit, non-government organization whose members represent all level of the judiciary worldwide.   The IAWJ has over 6000 members in 100 countries. The CCIAWJ and the IAWJ are committed to advancing gender equality and an inclusive legal system which enhances human rights for all.

The CCIAWJ engages in a number of programs that serve to advance our goals of equality and inclusion.  For example, in June 2024 the CCIAWJ partnered with NJI to run a three-day program on equality in the legal system.  The CCIAWJ also partnered with law societies across the country to conduct roundtables addressing the retention of women in the practice of law.  Subcommittees focusing on national mentorship and methods of combating discrimination have been developed as a result of these roundtables.

The CCIAWJ is also involved in supporting women law students through our “Evening with Women Judges” program and providing scholarships for law students identifying as female.  Past scholarships include a scholarship to the Law School at the University of Victoria and the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.  We presently have a scholarship for three years at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

Over the next year, the CCIAWJ plans to continue assisting our sister judges from Afghanistan, supporting women law students and developing additional programs to advance equality in the legal system. 

In April 2025, the IAWJ biannual conference is in Cape Town, South Africa.  As members of the CCIAWJ, you are also members of the IAWJ and can register for what will be an incredible conference.  The education is exceptional and there is nothing like being in a room with 900 judges from all over the world. 

The CCIAWJ has many volunteer opportunities including working on content for our webpage, assisting in membership communication and outreach, attending our student events or joining our projects committee.    I encourage all members to reach out to me or other members of our board to become more involved with the CCIAWJ.  Our work is meaningful and rewarding.  It is also a great way to connect with colleagues across the country.    I am grateful for the friendships I have made through the CCIAWJ and feel privileged to have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with so many incredible women.

THE CCIAWJ

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is composed of at least 12 and up to 24 members, representing regions/courts in Canada. At minimum, that representation is as follows:
Every region, except the Territories and the Federal Courts shall have a least one federally appointed representative and one provincially appointed representative. Where two or more Directors represent any one province, at least one is federally appointed and one is provincially appointed, unless candidates from each court cannot be found. In this event, a province may have both representatives from the same level of court, provided the regional representation has at least one member who is federally appointed and one who is provincially appointed.
THE CCIAWJ

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is composed of at least 12 and up to 24 members, representing regions/courts in Canada. At minimum, that representation is as follows:
Every region, except the Territories and the Federal Courts shall have a least one federally appointed representative and one provincially appointed representative. Where two or more Directors represent any one province, at least one is federally appointed and one is provincially appointed, unless candidates from each court cannot be found. In this event, a province may have both representatives from the same level of court, provided the regional representation has at least one member who is federally appointed and one who is provincially appointed.

CCIAWJ Current Board of Directors

Executive:

Justice Mara Greene

President
Ontario

Justice Diana Cameron

Past President
Manitoba

Justice Mona Lynch

International Director
Nova Scotia

Justice Gisele Miller

Vice-President
Ontario

Justice Siobhan Monaghan

Secretary
Federal Court of Appeal

Justice Michelle Christopher

Treasurer
Alberta

Justice Sheri Donegan

Director at Large
British Columbia
Board:

Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin

Supreme Court of Canada

Justice Avvy Yao-Yao Go

Federal Court of Canada

Justice Jo’Anne Strekaf

Alberta

Justice Indra Maharaj

Alberta

Judge Nina Purewall

British Columbia

Justice Veronica Jackson

British Columbia

Justice Ann Smith

Nova Scotia

Judge Margaret Wiebe

Manitoba

Justice Jodie-Lynn Waddilove

Ontario

Judge Brigitte Volpe

New Brunswick

Justice Kathleen Erin Cullin

Ontario

Justice Sandra Chaytor

Newfoundland & Labrador

Justice Tracy Engelking

Ontario

Justice Edith Campbell

Yukon

Judge Krista MacKay

Prince Edward Island

Justice Alicia Soldevila

Quebec

Judge Alexandra Marcil

Quebec

Justice Geeta Narang

Quebec

Justice Lana Krogan

Saskatchewan

Justice Charlene Richmond

Saskatchewan

CCIAWJ Current Board of Directors

Executive:

Justice Mara Greene

President
Ontario

Justice Diana Cameron

Past President
Manitoba

Justice Mona Lynch

International Director
Nova Scotia

Justice Gisele Miller

Vice-President
Ontario

Justice Siobhan Monaghan

Secretary
Federal Court of Appeal

Justice Michelle Christopher

Treasurer
Alberta

Justice Sheri Donegan

Director at Large
British Columbia
Board:

Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin

Supreme Court of Canada

Justice Avvy Yao-Yao Go

Federal Court of Canada

Judge Jo-Anne Strekaf

Alberta

Justice Indra Maharaj

Alberta

Judge Nina Purewall

British Columbia

Justice Veronica Jackson

British Columbia

Judge Margaret Wiebe

Manitoba

Judge Brigitte Volpe

New Brunswick

Justice Sandra Chaytor

Newfoundland & Labrador

Justice Ann Smith

Nova Scotia

Justice Jodie-Lynn Waddilove

Ontario

Justice Kathleen Erin Cullin

Ontario

Justice Tracy Engelking

Ontario

Judge Krista MacKay

Prince Edward Island

Justice Alicia Soldevila

Quebec

Justice Alexandra Marcil

Quebec

Justice Geeta Narang

Quebec

Justice Lana Krogan

Saskatchewan

Justice Charlene Richmond

Saskatchewan

Justice Edith Campbell

Yukon