2023 Halifax and Cape Breton District Election Candidates

Bio

Desiree Jones-Matthias (she/her) is an African Nova Scotian woman from the community of Upper Hammonds Plains. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Law and Society. She graduated from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in 2020 and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2022. She articled with Nova Scotia Legal Aid prior to joining the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute as Junior Legal Counsel in July 2022. Her practice focuses on criminal defence and social/racial justice policy reform.

During law school, she won the Sarah Jane Welch Prize for Criminal Law for her essay analyzing the role of anti-Black racism in miscarriages of justice. She completed a term at Dalhousie Legal Aid Clinic, an internship at Innocence Canada, served as Chair of the Dalhousie Student Union Judicial Board, and participated in Pro Bono Dalhousie projects. As a summer law student at NSBS, she contributed to the revamp of the cultural competency component of the Skills Course and the development of the Equity Lens Toolkit.

Desiree has been awarded for her high level of community commitment and service. Desiree gave birth to her son during her final year of law school, who continues to be her motivation for continuous learning, pursuing justice and social equity. In 2020, she received the Judge Corrine Sparks Award and the Nova Scotia Criminal Justice Association Student Award, both of which recognized her commitment to using her legal education for the benefit of community. She served as Vice President and Community Liaison for the Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association. She is a long-term member of the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Development Association and sits on the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists Hearing Committee. She was appointed to the NSBS Racial Equity Committee in January 2023.

Election Essay

As a law student, I was working at the Society during a pivotal time when it was shifting to the proactive, principled, and proportionate approach in regulating the profession. I identify strongly with the key issues and priorities of Council in the current time as stated in the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. I am passionate about increasing access to justice and ensuring that Nova Scotians are served by a legal profession that is diverse, inclusive and culturally competent. This passion and commitment is clearly demonstrated by my previous and current work. I bring a significant level of expertise in the area of social justice, cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion. I also bring my lived experience as an African Nova Scotian woman with varying intersecting identities, and my work experience advocating for African Nova Scotians as Junior Legal Counsel at the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI). ANSJI has emerged as a key leader in promoting racial equity in the justice system, for example, leading the implementation of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments and training forensic professionals, lawyers and judges on the same.

I entered the legal profession with the goal of increasing equity within it and within the justice system as a whole. I contributed significantly to the development of the Equity Lens Toolkit and the cultural competency Skills Course both of which continue to be utilized by the Society. I have supported the work of the Society’s equity committees and continue to do so with my recent appointment to the Racial Equity Committee. As we await the independent review on systemic discrimination, I seek to be a part of the solution and implementation of the recommendations. I believe that I have a unique perspective to offer on identifying key issues and priorities for the next Strategic Plan.

Bio

Rob Kennedy is a Senior Crown attorney with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service (PPS).  He graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Dalhousie Law School in 2008 with a Bachelor of Laws.  He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 2009.

After a brief time carrying on a general practice, Rob was appointed a per diem Crown attorney in December 2009, conducting prosecutions throughout the province.  In March 2011, he was appointed a Crown attorney in the Dartmouth office of the PPS.  In September 2020, he transitioned to his current role with the Appeals and Special Prosecutions Section, where he handles cybercrime offences and other major cases throughout the province.  Within the PPS, Rob presents to Crown colleagues at conferences and mentors new Crown attorneys and law students. 

Since September 2017, Rob has been an adjunct professor in the Criminology Department at Saint Mary’s University, teaching Criminal Law, as well as Sexualized Violence.  He previously taught Business Law at Acadia University from September 2012 to September 2017.  He regularly supervises and mentors law students through the Criminal Clinic Program and acts as a judge for law students preparing for the Gale Cup Moot.  Rob is a faculty member of the Halifax Regional Police Cadet Program where he presents on criminal law topics.  He is also an editor of textbook manuscripts for Oxford University Press.

Rob has been very involved in the local soccer community for many years.  He currently coaches youth soccer with Suburban FC.  He also refereed soccer for over 20 years, officiating many national tournaments throughout Canada, mentoring young officials, participating in governance locally, and presenting at symposiums to fellow officials. 

Rob is the father of two daughters, Elyse (10) and Farrah (8).

Election Essay

I am excited about the opportunity to give back to the profession by serving on Council.  If given this opportunity, I will do so with integrity, teamwork, and a strong voice.       

A central tenet of my role as Crown attorney is to act in the public interest.  I fulfill this role daily, making difficult decisions after weighing relevant factors and consulting with stakeholders.  This often requires creative and innovative solutions.  I have a track record of strong leadership, fairness, treating others with respect and dignity, and fostering healthy dialogue.  These are qualities that I would bring to Council.

Being on the front-line of the justice system, I am in the unique position of seeing first-hand how the system has contributed to the discrimination of various equity-seeking groups.  As a profession, it is critical that we hold ourselves accountable and advocate for the implementation of culturally competent legal services and strive to understand the issues that create barriers for these populations.  A lot more needs to be done. 

Access to justice is a pervasive issue impacting the legal profession.  Having litigated matters throughout the province, I have seen individuals struggling to navigate the justice system and access skilled and competent legal services.  With the recent increase of new lawyers and sole practitioners in this province, more needs to be done to proactively support members through accessible continuing education, mentorship, and succession planning.  I am also dedicated to working towards innovative solutions aimed at filling gaps in effective and affordable legal service delivery, particularly in under-serviced parts of the province.

The good reputation of the administration of justice and the legal profession, and support from our membership, requires strong governance that is transparent, inclusive, strives for excellence, and keeps the public interest in focus.  I am committed to these objectives.

Bio

• Graduated Dalhousie Law School 1985
• Articled and practiced in BC until 1989
• Returned to NS in 1989 and joined Stewart McKelvey
• Practiced in the commercial area with a current concentration in more complex commercial property matters.
• Prior instructor several years with the Bar Society articling program
• Previously co-instructed Corporate Finance at Dalhousie Law School.
• Past NS President of the CBA Real Estate Subsection for NS
• Past Chair of Feed Nova Scotia
• Past Board Member at Sacred Heart School Halifax

Election Essay

I am offering for reelection because I hope to have an opportunity to utilize the knowledge I have gained and training I have received since first joining Council in 2021 in advancing the interests of the Society.  I believe it is important to have strong voices from private practice represented on Council as it pursues its work. 

It is important for Council to have trust of its membership, but also the trust of the public and government.  Without this trust we will not be able to effectively do our jobs.  Maintaining and building this trust requires us to effectively address equity issues.

Council took the courageous step of commissioning a report from Mr. Ruck on issues relating to systemic racism.  We are eagerly awaiting this report.  This report has the potential to be an important milestone for the Society and to set the basis for actions to address issues which were reflected in our statement on systemic racism.

Council has already taken positive steps including specific anti-racism training.  While the Society cannot correct broader societal issues, we need to make sure that our own actions we not create issues for equity deserving groups. 

At the same time the Society has all of the usual obligations of a self-governing regulatory body.  I have heard the odd comment that Council is too tied up in this “equity stuff”. 

As we work to address equity issues within the profession we absolutely have a need to also maintain focus on the bread and butter issues that are part of our responsibilities as a self-governing organization.  But we cannot use those issues as an excuse for not taking action with respect to equity issues in the profession.

My view remains that concerns expressed by equity deserving groups are real and we need to be carefully attendant to them so we are successful in making what changes are within our power.

Integrating these themes is part of the strategic planning process that Council is currently engaged with. 

I would appreciate your support so that I can apply what I have learned during my first term and continue to work to advance the interests of the Society.

• Over 20 years at the bar
• Practice professional regulation
• Prior Mcinnes Cooper Board Member
• Member of Nova Scotia Elections Commission
• Regional Advisory Committee, The Advocates Society
• Student mentor

Election Essay

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society has had a difficult past few years and the confidence of and engagement with the profession is at a critical low. As a regulator, the Society has an obligation to act in the public interest which includes reflecting the daily reality of its members and the way its members serve the public. My experience as a partner in a large firm that is focused on growth, innovation, diversity and client-centred legal services will allow me to bring a perspective to the Society that is different from lawyers employed by government.

There is a role for the Society in improving and maintaining the wellness of the profession, as reflected in the Federation of Law Societies’ recent study, Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Practice of Law in Canada. While its broad and vague recommendations are useful, provincial regulators are the ones responsible for implementing real and practical solutions.

In addition, my work with professional regulators has provided me with experience in self-governance and the challenges of implementing and maintaining professional standards. I also understand the privileges and demands of self-regulation and the importance of public confidence in that system

• Member of the Kings Council Advisory Committee
• Chair – Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Professional Standards Committee – Family Law
• Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society
• Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
• Past President – Canadian Bar Association Nova Scotia
• Member at Large – Canadian Bar Association Nova Scotia
• Member – Canadian Bar Association (Family Law Subsection)
• Member – Canadian Bar Association Membership and Member Services Committee
• Access to Justice and Law Reform Commission committee member on a new Parenting Act for Nova Scoria
• Nova Scotia government committee on changes to the Vital Statistics Act, January 2022.
• Member – Parent Information Program Project Advisory Committee – Department of Justice
• Member – Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and Department of Justice Joint Committee to implement amendments
to the Children and Family Services Act regarding adoptions
• Member – Parent Information Program Development Working Group
• Trainer for the Parent Information Program at the Family Division
• Volunteer Facilitator- Parent Information Program, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
• Member – Self-Represented Litigants Bench & Bar Committee of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family
Division )
• Appointed amicus curiae in child protection matters for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
• Appointed amicus curiae in child protection matters in the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal
• Volunteer Mock Chambers Justice – Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bar Admissions Course
• Volunteer Moot Justice – 2nd Year Moot Court at Dalhousie Law School
• Volunteer Coordinator – joint project of the Dal Pro Bono Student Association and the Canadian Mental Health Association on Human Rights issues
• Former Chair of the Motor Vehicle Appeal Board (2013 – 2018)
• Former Board member of the Adoption Appeal Board for the Province of Nova Scotia (March 2007 – March 2010)
Presentations include:
• LIANS Solo and Small Firm Conference, “Pitfalls of Practising Family Law Outside Halifax and Cape Breton.”
November 24, 2021.
• Pride Week – ‘Family Law and the 2SLGBTQ+ Community’, August 19, 2021
• Osgood Hall Professional Development Program — Complex Issues in Fertility Law, February 4, 2020.
• Emerging Trends in Fertility Law – Joint Session of Solo/Small Firms and Family Law Section, November 2018
• Emerging Trends in Fertility Law – Schulich School of Law, Law Hour Presentation, March 2018
• The New Birds & Bees: Fertility Law 101 – [email protected], March 2015
• Overlapping Driving Suspensions and Prohibitions – NS Criminal Lawyers Association Conference, February 2013
• Preparing and Arguing Cases Involving Contested Shared Custody (Parenting and Child Support Issues) – Nova Scotia
Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, January 2011
• Tax Principles for Family Law – Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists, June 2009
• Lecture on Surrogacy – Regina Branch of the Saskatchewan Canadian Bar Association, March 2008
• Uncontested Divorce – NSCC, April 2008
• Lecture on Surrogacy – Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, December 2007
• Human Rights Act – Work Bridge, March 2004
• Child Protection Proceedings – MISA, October 2002

Election Essay

I see being elected to Council as a very meaningful way to be involved and make a difference in the legal profession. In my career, I have always been actively involved. I have volunteered on a number of committees (Family Law Standards, various committees to improve the Parent Information Program) and paid board positions (Adoption Appeal Board, first Chair of the Motor Vehicle Appeal Board). I have held numerous leadership roles including the Canadian Bar Association — Nova Scotia Branch where I am currently immediate Past President. I strongly support the Society’s core value of Diversity. Being diverse and representative of society is a challenge for any organization, but it is crucial for the Society to actively promote and encourage diversity at every opportunity. I have grown up in culturally diverse neighbourhoods from Whitney Pier in Sydney to the North End of Halifax where I currently live. Through my Fertility Law practice, I have done what I can to champion the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community to create their own families. For example, I have advocated for meaningful change by travelling to Ottawa three times to meet with Members of Parliament and Senators to promote changes to outdated legislation that creates unnecessary barriers. One of my passions throughout my career, particularly in the last decade, has been to promote mental health. I have volunteered with a number of community groups (New Start, Work Bridge, Reachability, etc.) who have core clientele with various abilities and often struggle with mental health. The legal profession is not immune to these issues and a great deal more can be done to support members. I bring 24 years of experience in diverse organizations such as small firms, Legal Aid, and large regional firms.

Bio
• I have been the Managing Lawyer of the Sydney Legal Aid Conflict Office since 2014. I have extensive practice experience in both family and criminal law, with a current concentration in child protection.

• In July, 2022, I was awarded the designation of Senior Staff Counsel with Legal Aid. This designation carries a responsibility to act as a mentor to other lawyers, assume a high volume of work without compromising standards, and exhibit superior independent judgment and decision making.

• I have been a member of Bar Council since 2021. I also sit on the Complaints Investigation Committee and the Family Law Standards Committee.

• I am a member of the Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia branch).

• I am the Chair of Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s Children and Family Services Act Best Practices Committee.

• I am a past President of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society.

• I have been an active board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton for 10 years. We advocate for restorative alternatives to incarceration for women and girls involved in the criminal justice system.

• I am a volunteer with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s annual Under One Umbrella event, providing information and services to the homeless, or those at risk of homelessness, in our local community. • I have represented Legal Aid in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s Pride Parade.

• I have provided outreach services to the local Indigenous communities of Eskasoni and Wagmatcook. Many of my clients are Indigenous parents involved in matters with Mi’Kmaq Family and Children’s Services. My work in this area is aimed at finding restorative and community-based approaches to helping children and families. • I sit on the Supreme Court (Family Division) Liaison Committee, the Court Administration Collaboration Committee, and the Cape Breton Law Library Committee.

• I have mentored articling students and junior associates.

Election Essay

Serving on Council for the past two years has been a rewarding and sometimes challenging experience.  It is no secret that Council has faced difficulties over the past few years.  However, Council remains committed to its’ mission and values, and to forging ahead with the difficult work that follows the acknowledgement of systemic discrimination made by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in 2021.  I want to continue be a part of this work.  To be a member of Council, representing my home district of Cape Breton, is a privilege.  Council has a responsibility to protect the public interest by ensuring that lawyers are ethical and competent.  In doing so, Council helps to foster public confidence in the justice system.  Confidence in the justice system is particularly important when considering marginalized and racialized individuals; individuals whom our justice system has historically done a poor job of protecting.  Council’s ongoing work in tackling systemic discrimination in the justice system is reflective of this reality and is a key priority. 

Ensuring meaningful access to justice for all Nova Scotians is a related priority.  I have been a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Bar for over 18 years.  17 of those years have been spent with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, representing some of the most vulnerable individuals in our Province.  My years of practice have allowed me to develop extensive litigation experience in the areas of family law and criminal law, along with a keen understanding of the societal challenges facing those that find themselves before our courts.       

My career and volunteer opportunities noted above have provided me with valuable leadership experience, and an enhanced ability to work collaboratively with others towards a common goal.

In terms of personal characteristics, I am hard-working, pragmatic, level-headed and conscientious.  I approach decision making in a way that is measured and thoughtful.  I believe that these qualities will serve Council well.

Serving on Council for the past two years has been a rewarding and sometimes challenging experience.  It is no secret that Council has faced difficulties over the past few years.  However, Council remains committed to its’ mission and values, and to forging ahead with the difficult work that follows the acknowledgement of systemic discrimination made by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in 2021.  I want to continue be a part of this work.  To be a member of Council, representing my home district of Cape Breton, is a privilege.  Council has a responsibility to protect the public interest by ensuring that lawyers are ethical and competent.  In doing so, Council helps to foster public confidence in the justice system.  Confidence in the justice system is particularly important when considering marginalized and racialized individuals; individuals whom our justice system has historically done a poor job of protecting.  Council’s ongoing work in tackling systemic discrimination in the justice system is reflective of this reality and is a key priority. 

Ensuring meaningful access to justice for all Nova Scotians is a related priority.  I have been a practicing member of the Nova Scotia Bar for over 18 years.  17 of those years have been spent with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, representing some of the most vulnerable individuals in our Province.  My years of practice have allowed me to develop extensive litigation experience in the areas of family law and criminal law, along with a keen understanding of the societal challenges facing those that find themselves before our courts.       

My career and volunteer opportunities noted above have provided me with valuable leadership experience, and an enhanced ability to work collaboratively with others towards a common goal.

In terms of personal characteristics, I am hard-working, pragmatic, level-headed and conscientious.  I approach decision making in a way that is measured and thoughtful.  I believe that these qualities will serve Council well.

Bio
Jennifer C. MacDonald is a Partner at Portside Law LLP in Sydney, with a practice focused largely on family and children’s law. Jenn was admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 2009 and the Nova Scotia Bar as a transfer in early 2011. She has worked extensively in child protection, both doing Agency work and representing Respondents. Jenn spent three years working in Eskasoni First Nation representing Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia in Indigenous child protection. She has also worked for Nova Scotia Legal Aid in family, child protection and social justice law and in private practice in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the areas of general litigation and family law. She has appeared at all levels of court in Nova Scotia and has served on a number of Bench and Bar committees through the courts.

Jenn is a passionate advocate for access to justice and has served on a number of access to justice initiatives. She acts as a per diem Summary Advice Counsel, has been a volunteer Parent Information Program facilitator at the courts since 2014 and served on Legal Aid’s CFSA and Equity Committees. She has served on the Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors since 2017 and presently Chair of the Board of Directors. She is a past Board Member for Junior Achievement New Brunswick and was a committee member for Nova Scotia’ chapter of Health Providers Against Poverty.

Jenn has a LLB from University of New Brunswick (2008) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Memorial University (2005). She founded and ran a small business consulting firm as a law student and in 2007 was named the Student Entrepreneur of the Year for New Brunswick by Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship and CIBC Small Business. Jenn is also a self-professed adrenaline junkie, marathoner, downhill skier, hiker and world traveller. She lives in Sydney, Cape Breton with her husband, 8-year-old daughter and rescue pup.

Election Essay

I’m proud to have served on Bar Council as a Cape Breton District Representative over the past two years and I am excited to offer for a further term. My key priorities as a Council member are ensuring Cape Breton is represented effectively and that our unique needs and interests are heard at the Council table, helping to advance access to justice and advocating to improve equity and diversity within the profession and the people we serve.

I am an active member of the Cape Breton Barrister’s Society and on the Nominating Committee for the Cape Breton Barrister’s Society, a member of the NSBS Governance Committee and I am a Partner at Portside Law, a small firm in Sydney. I am also an active volunteer within the community, I serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia, I do per diem Summary Advice files and I am a volunteer with the Parent Information Program through the Supreme Court (Family Division). As a lawyer in private practice, I understand the unique challenges faced by small firms outside Halifax, especially in a challenging economy as we emerge from a pandemic. Access to Justice has also become an increasingly serious issue, particularly in our district, as the cost of living escalates and average families in Cape Breton are struggling. I look forward to advocating for our district while working to address these issues on Council.

Bio
June, 2004 – To Present
Lawyer, Sheldon Nathanson Barristers & Solicitors
2003
Research Assistant, Dalhousie Law School  
2002 Assistant to In-house Counsel, United Brotherhood of Carpenters

2001-2004
BACHELOR OF LAWS, DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY

1997-2001
BACHELOR OF ARTS (HON), ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY
Graduated with Honours, with a double major in English and Political Science and double minor in History and Philosophy

Secretary, New Waterford Rotary Club
VP, Cape Breton Barristers’ Society
Member, YMCA of CB
Coach, Girls Basketball and Soccer
Facilitator, Parent Information Program, Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Family Division)
Volunteer lawyer, CB Pro Bono Society
Member, Family Law Section, Canadian Bar Association      

Election Essay

I have been practising in private practice for nearly twenty years, and I have identified some concerns that I have with our legal system.  I would be pleased to have an opportunity to affect change in those areas, including in the areas of access to justice, increased opportunities and supports for women in practice, and alternative dispute resolution.  I am also interested in gaining more knowledge of how our professional regulatory body works.

I consider myself to be very organized and knowledgeable in my areas of practice.  I feel that I would be a strong representative for my district, given my long-standing connection to this area.  I am currently the Vice President of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society and look forward to expanding my experience with the NSBS.

I am a mother of two children, and as such, my volunteerism has been limited mostly to assisting with children’s activities.  However, as my children are getting older, I feel that I have more time to give to my profession in a volunteer capacity.  I look forward to having the opportunity to serve on Council if elected.