waterloo region law association

2025-2026 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: Matthew Jantzi, Inderdeep Toor, 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: Gio Giuga, Jeramie Gallichan, Ryan De Vries, Gord Harris, Ali Victoros, Whitney Hall, 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: Jennifer Bolduc (Chair), Gord Harris, Milena Protich, Graham Bennett, John Webster

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: Simenpal Kainth (Chair), Glenda McLeod, Jennifer Bolduc

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: Stephen Gehl (hair) and Simenpal Kainth

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), Milena Protich, and John Webster

SOCIAL/NEW LAWYERS

Chair: Matthew Kelly

Members: Jeramie Gallichan, Simenpal Kainth, Inderdeep Toor, Pia Williams 

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: Alison Gilmour

Members: Gio Giuga, Jennifer Roggeemann, Rebecca Little, Kelsy Gill, 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: Inderdeep Toor, Jeramie Gallichan, Simenpal Kainth, Gord Harris, Pia Williams

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: John Webster

Members: Milena Protich, Matthew Jantzi, Ryan De Vries, 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: Alison Victoros

Members: Whitney Hall, Milena Protich, Jennifer Roggemann, Inderdeep Toor, John Webster, 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 2026 & 2027

Chair: Jeramie Gallichan

Members: Greg Murdoch, Alison Gilmour, Matthew Kelly, Pia Williams

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

LEGISLATIVE / LEGAL

Chair: Milena Protich

Members: Alison Gilmour, Graham Bennett, Glenda McLeod, Ryan De Vries, Whitney Hall, 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: Matthew Jantzi, Whitney Hall, David Dyer, Stephen Grant, Lee Fitzpatrick, Rob Bickle, 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: Stephen Gehl, Matthew Jantzi, John Webster, 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: Greg Murdoch 

Members: Rebecca Little, Kelsy Gill, Caitlyn McIntyre, 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.