Neil Campbell, B.A. (U.B.C.) 1975, LL.B. (UVic) 1979, M.L.S. (U.B.C.) 1984, called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1980.
Law Librarian, Associate Professor of Law and Associate University Librarian
University of Victoria

Professor Campbell joined the Faculty in 2001 as an Associate Professor and Law Librarian. Prior to that he was the University Librarian at the University of Northern British Columbia from 1998 to 2000, and Assistant Professor of Law and Librarian at the University of Manitoba from 1989 to 1998. His academic research and writing is in legal bibliography and computer applications. He teaches Advanced Legal Research & Writing.

Dr. Marguerite Cassin, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University; Director, Atlantic Metropolis Centre

The Metropolis Centre in Atlantic Canada is a consortium of academic researchers, government representatives, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to pursuing policy-relevant research related to immigration, population migrations, and cultural diversity. It pursues research agendas distinctive to the Atlantic region, as well as research programs addressing the national policy priorities of The Metropolis Project. The AMC is networked with four other Canadian Metropolis Centres of Excellence in Montreal, Toronto, the Prairies, and Vancouver, as well as with the international arm of the Metropolis Project, involving partnerships with researchers, policy makers and community organizations in over 20 countries.

Lee Cohen
Barrister & Solicitor

Lee Cohen’s legal practice is dedicated exclusively to matters related to immigration, refugees and human rights. He is a frequent commentator in local, national and international media on matters relating to immigration and human rights and a frequent lecturer at universities and to public interest groups on immigration issues, racism and human rights. The former chair of the Canadian Bar Association - Nova Scotia Branch Immigration Law Section, Mr. Cohen has appeared before Canadian parliamentary committees to comment upon proposed amendments to immigration legislation. Most recently, Lee Cohen founded the Halifax Refugee Clinic. The Halifax Refugee Clinic provides legal representation and settlement services for those seeking political asylum in Nova Scotia who cannot afford the services of private legal counsel. The Clinic ensures that they are given a fair opportunity to present their cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board, and that throughout the process, their rights and their dignity are fully respected.

Ron Dalton
Spokesperson for AIDWYC

In August of 1988 Ron Dalton was a thirty-two year old bank manager living in Gander, Newfoundland with his wife, Brenda, and their three young children. As Ron and Brenda watched the evening news on August 15th she choked on dry cereal and was rushed to the nearby hospital where an inexperienced student doctor mistakenly contributed to her untimely death. Within twenty-four hours an equally inexperienced hospital pathologist concluded Brenda Dalton had died of strangulation and Ron Dalton was immediately arrested and charged with her murder.
On the strength of that single opinion Ron Dalton was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on December 16, 1989. He was incarcerated in the maximum security penitentiary at Renous, New Brunswick where he spent the next eight and a half years fighting to have the appeal of his conviction heard. During those long years, Ron Dalton was repeatedly informed that his legal counsel was diligently working on his appeal. They were not. Mr. Dalton eventually was forced to file his own appeal before St. John’s lawyer Jerome Kennedy came to his assistance and was successful in having his 1989 conviction overturned in May, 1998.

The crown insisted on taking the matter back to trial despite strong forensic opinions from some nine world-class experts declaring the original pathologist to be wrong. Mr. Dalton was ultimately acquitted in June, 2000 and immediately began a fight for justice for his wrongful conviction which led to a Public Inquiry into his case and those of two other wrongly convicted Newfoundlanders. Commissioner Antonio Lamer, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, delivered his report in June, 2006 after more than three years of hearings. The main finding in relation to Mr. Dalton was “The criminal justice system did not “see” Mr. Dalton for almost eight years and, for that we are all responsible.” The full report is available on-line at: www.gov.nl.ca/just/lamer.

Since his acquittal in 2000 Mr. Dalton has continued to fight for justice in relation to his wrongful conviction and has been active in assisting AIDWYC and others in the general work of correcting wrongful convictions. He currently lives in St. John’s with his second wife and makes his living as a self employed accountant and bookkeeper while actively pursuing justice issues.

In the wake of the Lamer report the Newfoundland and Labrador government has officially apologized to him as did the Chief Justice of the province. Mr. Dalton recently received compensation for the horrific experiences he and his family have endured. In an encouraging twist Jerome Kennedy is now the Justice Minister and Attorney General for Newfoundland and Labrador. It is hoped his experience with Ron’s case and his association with AIDWYC will temper his efforts in that challenging role.

The unfortunate experiences of the past twenty years continue to take an emotional toll on his resources and those of his family. Speaking engagements afford a mixed blessing of an opportunity to educate about the dangers of wrongful convictions while reliving the consequences of such horrific mistakes.

Ryan Deschamps
e-Learning Manager, Halifax Public Libraries

Ryan is the e-Learning Manager at the Halifax Public Libraries, a position he acquired immediately after graduating with his combined MPA/MLIS at Dalhousie University. He maintains "The Other Librarian" blog which was named one of the top 25 librarian blogs by the Online Education Database. Articles on Library 2.0, Organizational Strategy and Meeting facilitation have appeared on such popular publications as the Palinet Leadership Network, and the Ohio Public Library Information Network podcast. He is a regular on the Uncontrolled Vocabulary podcast and an enthusiastic founding member of the Library Society of the World, a grass-roots library association and professional network. Locally, Ryan is involved is a volunteer facilitator for the Envision Halifax Leadership Institute, a Heritage Committee volunteer, the Halifax Regional CAP Association Board Chair, a founding organizer for the Fourth Thursday Technology Halifax 'Meet-ups,' and will be a host for the very first Podcamp in Atlantic Canada.

Jeanne Desveaux

Admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2002, Jeanne practices in the areas of Elder Law; Real Estate; Estate; Wills; Power of Attorney; Probate; and Family Law. She is the Past President of the CBA National Elder Law Section and current President of the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. In addition to her law degree, Jeanne has a Certificate in Gerontology and a Health Law and Policy Specialization Certificate. She has over 25 years of nursing experience working with persons with dementia.

Thomas P. Donovan, Q.C. (“Tom”)
Partner, Cox & Palmer
Nova Scotia

Thomas Donovan (“Tom”) received his Bachelor of Arts with honors from St. Francis Xavier in 1972. Prior to entering law school he taught school in India and served as Deputy Director of Canadian Crossroads International from 1972 – 1975. He received a Bachelor of Law from Dalhousie University in 1978. In 1979 Tom was a law clerk to Mr. Justice Ritchie of the Supreme Court of Canada. Since commencing practice in 1979 Tom has been involved in litigation touching on various aspects of the design and construction process. His retainers have involved matters with respect to the professional liability of architects and engineers, the standards of practice for design consultants in large civil engineering works, impact claim litigation regarding offshore production facilities, commercial litigation with respect to ownership of intra provincial and international pipelines, securities litigation, class action retainers for Plaintiffs and Defendants and mediation with respect to design and construction disputes regarding offshore production facilities. His retainers have resulted in the examination of experts in the field of architecture, engineering, oil and gas valuation, impact claims, civil engineering and various aspects of electrical engineering practices. In addition to his involvement in construction and design issues, his practice has also involved litigation with respect to mining, securities law issues and medical defence litigation. His current interests and speaking engagements included a focus on E-discovery and related issues.

Professor Jocelyn Downie B.A. (1984, Queen's); M.A. (1985, Queen's); M.Litt. (1990, Cambridge); LL.B. (1993, Toronto); LL.M. (1996, Michigan); S.J.D. (1999, Michigan).

Professor Downie is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and Professor, Faculties of Law and Medicine. She works at the intersection of law, ethics and health care. Her research interests include women's health, research involving humans, assisted death and organ transplantation. Her work is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and geared both to contributing to the academic literature and to affecting change in health law and policy at federal and provincial levels.

Rick Dykstra
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

Rick Dykstra was first elected to the House of Commons on January 23, 2006 as a member of the Conservative Party. In the 39th Parliament Rick quickly earned the reputation amongst his colleagues as a tireless worker and person focused on delivering results for his community. As a result, Rick was appointed as a government member to two senior parliamentary committees, the Standing Committees on Finance and Justice.

Thanks to his hard work, Rick was re-elected to the 40th Parliament on October 14, 2008 with a vastly increased margin of victory. On November 7th 2008 Rick had the honour of being appointed by the Prime Minister as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. His new role includes additional responsibilities including the overall coordination of the government members on the House Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Prior to being elected as the Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, Rick was partner in a successful public affairs business operating out of Niagara and Toronto. Previously, Rick spent five years working in a number of roles in the Ontario provincial government. Most notably, Rick was Director of Caucus relations for two Provincial Premiers and served as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Community and Social Services. From 2003 up until the time of his election, Rick also served as a member of the Niagara Parks Commission.

Rick also had a distinguished political career at the municipal level. At the age of 25, Rick was elected as a representative for his community. From 1991-1997, Rick served two terms on St. Catharines city council representing St. Patrick’s Ward. During that time, Rick sat as chair of the Finance Committee that froze taxes for two consecutive years, a feat that has not been accomplished since.
Rick has a degree in Political Science from Brock University, and a Master's Certificate in Project Management from York University. He also served for twelve years as president of Dykstra Landscaping, a family owned and operated business.
Rick and his wife Kathy are lifelong residents of St. Catharines and are the proud parents of three children, Zachary, Jessica and Lauren.

Joshua Fireman
Vice-President and General Counsel, ii3 Inc.

Joshua has extensive experience consulting in legal and other professional services sectors. He is regarded as a leader in knowledge management, noted for achieving the field's ultimate goal: active contributions to an institutional knowledge base. Prior to joining ii3, Joshua led the development of McCarthy Tétrault's knowledge management system and was in-house counsel with Canadian Pacific Limited. Joshua has created and implemented law firm knowledge management operations and deployment strategies, included creating firm-wide business consensus, building organizational structures, setting business-based goals and establishing measures of success. Joshua and ii3 are currently applying their KM and initiative management best practices to matter-centric DM, enterprise search and portals.

Pascale Fournier
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa

Pascale Fournier (Pascale.Fournier@uottawa.ca) is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa and a Research Associate at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre. She obtained an LL.B from Laval University, an LL.M. from the University of Toronto and an S.J.D. from Harvard Law School, and served as Law Clerk to Madame Justice Claire L’Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada. She teaches and writes on comparative family law, law and religion, legal regulation of culture, and Islam in Europe and North America. She has recently published articles in these areas with the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, Cambridge University Press, Palgrame MacMillan, UBC Press and Les éditions des Archives contemporaines. She has also completed policy reports for the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and more recently the United Nations Development Fund, for which she served in 2008 as an expert consultant on issues of gender and Islamic law. Her current project, funded by the Quebec Bar Foundation and Bordner Ladner Gervais, investigates the migration of two forms of religious divorces (the Jewish Get and the Islamic Talaq) in Western Europe and North America and the effects of such migration on Jewish and Muslim women. Pascale has lectured at the State University of Haiti, McGill University, the University for Peace in Costa Rica and the Institute for Women’s Studies and Research in Iran. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Canada World Youth, la Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie and the National Network on Environments and Women’s Health.

Jane Gourley-Davis
Associate, Patterson Law

Jane Gourley-Davis grew up in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and moved to Nova Scotia when she attended Acadia University for a Psychology undergrad, followed by an education degree. Jane left teaching to pursue law at Dalhousie University, where she graduated in 2007. Jane articled with Patterson Law, in Truro Nova Scotia, where she now practices as an associate in the property department. Jane co-chairs the Patterson Law “Green Team” with another associate, Derek Simon.

 

Jennifer Gray
Technology Integration Specialist
McInnes Cooper

Jennifer holds a B.A., LL.B. and Master of Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University.  She was called to the bar in Nova Scotia in 2001 and practiced with McInnes Cooper (and its predecessor firms) as a corporate lawyer in the Technology and Intellectual Property practice until 2006.  In 2006, Jennifer she joined the firm's administration group in the position of Technology Integration Specialist.

In her current capacity, Jennifer works with lawyers and support staff to understand technology, information and training needs and to develop training programs and information management systems to address these needs.  She has served as a key resource on a number of enterprise wide firm projects, including development of the firm intranet (using Microsoft Sharepoint) and the implementation of a regional document management system, Interwoven WorkSite.

Jennifer is a non-practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society.  She is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the International Institute of Business Analysis and the International Legal Technology Association.  She serves as Regional Vice-Chair for North America for Lex Mundi’s Law Firm Technology Committee.

Suzan A. Hebditch

Suzan A. Hebditch had a long and varied career as a law librarian from 1985 to 2007. She worked in academic libraries in California and Alberta; in public legal education; as a Sessional lecturer in both the Faculties of Library and Information Studies and Law at the University of Alberta; in government libraries for Justice Canada and as the first Executive Director of the not for profit LibraryCo overseeing the 48 county and district courthouse law libraries in Ontario.

In her first career she proudly served the membership of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries on the Executive from 1991 through 2001, being President from 1997 to 1999. In 2002 she co-hosted, CALL/ACBD’s first Joint Study Institute: Canadian Focus – Global View in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2003 Suzan was honoured when awarded the Denis Marshall Memorial Award For Excellence in Law Librarianship.

Following a long-held dream of becoming an Innkeeper, in 2007, Suzan moved half way across the country to the beautiful shores of the Annapolis Basin, where she began her second career. Today she lives on that scenic salt water shore, in the well-storied, 239 year old Bailey House in historic Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.

Bernard J. Hibbitts
Professor of Law
University of Pittsburgh

Originally trained as a legal historian whose early work focused on the relationship between law, technology and the senses, he wrote a series of controversial articles in the mid-1990s on the future of law reviews and scholarly publishing in the then-just-emerging age of the Internet. A longtime exponent of legal “neteracy”, he is best known today as the founder and publisher of JURIST, the Webby award-winning online legal news service powered by some 40 law students that draws over 100,000 readers a week worldwide. He is now Chairman of the Board of Directors of JURIST Legal News and Research Services, Inc., a non-profit educational corporation. A Rhodes Scholar and former law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada for the late Justice Gerald Le Dain, Hibbitts is a graduate in law of Oxford University, Dalhousie University, the University of Toronto and Harvard Law School. In 1995 he received the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award, the University of Pittsburgh's highest teaching honor. Born and brought up in Halifax, he was a member of the 1975 Nova Scotia team from Queen Elizabeth High School that won the CBC-TV “Reach for the Top” national championship. He remains a proud member of the Nova Scotia Bar.

Leah Hutt

Admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1998, Nova Scotia, Leah received her LL.M. from Dalhousie University in 2004. The focus of her graduate studies was on research ethics, in particular the ethics of paying subjects for participating in medical research. She is currently a research associate with Dalhousie's Health Law Institute working with the Nova Scotia Department of Health. She sat on the working group that drafted Nova Scotia’s new Personal Directives legislation.

 

Kathy Johnston
Waste Reduction Educator for HRM's Solid Waste Resources

Kathy Johnston proudly originates from Prince Edward Island where she developed her passion for the environment. She studied at the University of Prince Edward Island, and Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario. She now calls Nova Scotia home and is the Waste Reduction Educator for HRM's Solid Waste Resources. In this role, Kathy primarily works with businesses, institutions, apartment buildings, and schools to enhance waste diversion.

 

Thomas Kuttner, Q.C.
Professor, University of New Brunswick

Thoman Kuttner,Q.C. is a professor on the Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick, where he has taught and engaged in research in the fields of Administrative, Constitutional and Labour Law since 1979.  He is an active mediator and arbitrator and has been a member of the Labour Boards of Ontario, New Brunswick and the federal public sector.

Prior to his law studies Professor Kuttner undertook graduate training both in Jewish and in Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Chicago.  In 2001 he introduced a course in Jewish Law into the curriculum of the Law Faculty at the University of New Brunswick.

 

Gayle Lynn-Nelson
Senior Librarian Relations Consultant
LexisNexis Librarian Relations Group

Gayle is a Senior Librarian Relations Consultant.  She serves librarians in New York and New Jersey.

Gayle has nineteen years of professional experience in law firm and court libraries. She is active at the national, regional and local level in professional library associations. Gayle is a past president of the New Jersey Law Librarian Association (NJLLA), as well as a faculty member of the Technology Committee for the Law Librarians Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY).  She has also chaired and served on various AALL and SLA committees.  In addition to her professional affiliations, Gayle has written various articles which have appeared in NJLLA In Brief, PLL Perspectives, SLA Chapter News, Information Outlook and Trends in Law Library Management and Technology. She has been a featured speaker at national, regional and local library association conferences.

Gayle received her J.D. from Western State University College of Law and her M.L.S. from Rutgers University School of Library Information Studies.

Recently, Gayle has participated, as a member of the Board for the Institute of Museum & Library Services, (http://www.imls.gov/) who commissioned a study on the Future of Librarians and Information Professionals in the workforce. The Institute established a grant and set up a National Advisory Board. This was a two-year study with the purpose to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current and projected future workforce needs for librarians, other library workers, and other information professionals in relation to anticipated retirements over the next decade.  Additionally the study will address the capacity and capabilities of current and needed sources of supply for librarians and other information professionals, and strategies for recruitment, education and retention of information professionals.

Gayle was awarded the H.W. Wilson award for her article titled, “The Millennial Invasion: Are you Ready?” in Information Outlook, November 2004 at the SLA Annual Conference 2005 held in Toronto, Canada.

Sam MacKenzie

Sam McKenzie is an Executive Learning Consultant with Carswell, a Thomson Reuters Business and has been with various Thomson companies for over 18 years. During her time there she was a product development manager and had various training roles. Her current role is to provide training in Atlantic Canada to Universities, the judiciary across Canada, government users, legal and accounting firms. She also trains users in the Carribean at Universities and firms.

Sam loves to travel and has been to 6 continents looking for fish to snorkel with.

Nancy McCormack

Nancy McCormack is the Law Library Head and Assistant Professor at Queen's University Faculty of Law where she teaches upper year and graduate courses in legal research and writing.   She is currently the Features Editor of Canadian Law Library Review.

Jim Millard
Retired Pension Plan Administrator

Jim is a Commerce graduate of the University of Alberta, is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Banks, and holds several certificates in Pension Administration.
Jim has worked with Public Pension Administration for over 25 years in senior roles involving operations, policy, and board activity.
As a father of 4 grown children, Jim and his wife Beth enjoy the company of their 7 grandchildren, whether hiking mountain trails, watching whales on the west coast, or skiing the Rockies.
Retirement is grand – so Jim is here to encourage others to explore how they can better prepare for their exciting future!

Louis Mirando
Chief Law Librarian, Osgoode Hall, York University

Louis Mirando is Chief Law Librarian of Osgoode Hall Law at York University. He has a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Toronto and has also done post-graduate studies at the Universität zu Köln (University of Cologne) in Germany as a Fellow of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), and doctoral studies at the University of Toronto. Prior to his appointment at Osgoode, Louis has held a variety of law library-related positions, including Director, Library Services at Torys LLP, Acting Library Manager at Aird & Berlis LLP, Reference Librarian at the University of Toronto’s Bora Laskin Law Library, and Special Collections Librarian and Instructor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Western Ontario. He has also worked at LexisNexis Canada and Carswell Legal Publications. In the course of his career, Louis has been involved in six library renovations, two of them in academic environments and the others in private law libraries. In his spare time, Louis is an avid reader of history and mystery fiction and is also taking piano lessons.

John Murchie

A graduate of  the University of Colorado, John Murchie  received an MLS from Dalhousie University. He worked for five years in the Dalhousie University Library system and then for almost twenty years was Director of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design's Library. Since 1990 he has owned a farm;  was a research fellow at the National Gallery of Canada;  has curated
and written about art exhibitions;  is a practicing visual artist , President of a national media arts alliance, and Coordinator of an artist-run centre, Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre; and he has been a cook and a baker but he has not been a candlestick maker.

Karen Neves
Reference & Instruction Librarian

Karen Neves has been a reference and instruction librarian at the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library at Dalhousie University in Halifax since 1997. With graduate degrees in library & Information studies and forensic osteology, her interests range from the information seeking behaviours of forensic professionals to using web 2.0 technologies to reach and teach health sciences students and practitioners. Her career and experience have also led her to practice librarianship other countries and cultures, including 3 years as Director of the National Medical Library of the United Arab Emirates.

Rhonda O'Neill
Assistant Director, Alberta Law Libraries

Rhonda received her Master of Library and Information Studies degree from Dalhousie University (1998). From March 1999 - July 2001 she was the Court Librarian for the then newly formed territory of Nunavut. In July 2001, she joined Alberta Justice as a member of the Alberta Court Libraries team in Calgary. Between 2004 and September 2007 she was involved in planning and coordinating the move of four separate judicial libraries into one consolidated judicial library located in the Calgary Courts Centre. The Alberta Court Libraries and Alberta Law Society Libraries have since been restructured and are now known as the Alberta Law Libraries.

Colin Piercey
Partner, StewartMcKelvey

A partner in the law firm of Stewart McKelvey in Halifax, Colin graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. (Honours) degree with a major in biology and minor in chemistry and from Osgoode Hall Law Scholl with his law degree. Following his admission to the Ontario Bar in 1998, he practiced in Toronto for several years before returning to Nova Scotia. A litigator, Colin’s practice includes environmental law. He is Past Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. Currently, Colin is the Leader of the Business Disputes Practice Group at Stewart McKelvey. He is also a member of the Halifax office’s Sustainability Committee. Colin also volunteers as a properties committee member for the Nova Scotia Nature trust.

Gail Rawlings
Chief, Technical Services, Library Supreme Court of Canada

Gail Rawlings is the Chief of Technical Services at the Supreme Court of Canada Library. In addition to an MLS from McGill University, she holds a Certificate in Information Management from the University of Toronto. Since starting her professional career at Concordia University, she has worked in cataloguing, reference, systems and technical services positions in the Federal Government. She worked at the Translation Bureau of the Secretary of State and the Office of the Auditor General of Canada before joining the Supreme Court in 2005. Over the past few years, Gail has been involved in metadata and controlled vocabularies projects and working groups and has brought this knowledge and experience in information management to the SharePoint project at the Court.

Kim Rempel
Librarian, William Head Prison

You could say that I've just spent the last 20 years in prison, but that might require a little explanation. You could add that I graduated from high school on PEI and then attended UNB for a couple years but then that wouldn't' exactly explain why I was in prison. I did continue my education at the University of Victoria in B.C. where I eventually graduated. I spread this out so long that I thought going to school, was my job! I did some work with the DND in their Esquimalt Fleet School library, and then went on and worked at Royal Roads Military College Library for 10 years. Royal Roads was a great working opportunity for me, and as it turned out, something of a segue to working in prison, as I soon discovered, cadets share many of the same challenges that inmates do. Over the last 20 years I have worked in Corrections Services Canada, William Head Institution Prison Library. For years I have felt that it was necessary to connect with the outside library community in order to assist us, who are working inside, to develop the prison library system. A couple years ago I engaged part of that community and set out to establish a Special Interest Group within CALL, The Prison Library SIG, to hear our story and hopefully pledge their support. That is something at least I am willing to go to prison for and I am hoping you will too.

Judith Siess,
Information Bridges International, Inc.

Editor and Publisher of The One-Person Library: A Newsletter for Librarians and Management, as well as numerous books on the topics of management, marketing and time management for librarians.

Derek Simon
Associate, Patterson Law


Derek has a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a graduate of the Law School at the University of Victoria. He is an Associate with Patterson Law, a mid-sized Nova Scotia-based firm. He is the Co-Chair of the firm’s Green Team.

Derek practices in the areas of corporate/commercial and social enterprise law, and environmental and Aboriginal law. He advises a range of clients including businesses, co-operatives, not-for-profits, charities, and Aboriginal governments on issues including governance and corporate sustainability, contracts and leases, borrowing and lending, incorporation and re-structuring, buying and selling shares and assets, and bankruptcy and insolvency. He has also done work on renewable energy, climate change and community economic development. Derek is also active in the community and serves on a number of volunteer boards, including the Nova Scotia Environmental Network, Fusion Halifax and Chebucto Windfield Inc.

Derek has been a presented to various groups on workplace sustainability, and various topics in business law. He has also published a number of articles relating to business and environmental sustainability.

Maggie Weaver

Maggie Weaver has worked with business information for 30 years, undertaking competitive & market research for the chemical industry, management consulting firms and small businesses.  For 6 years she managed the Canadian office of Dialog, the world’s largest online business service before the advent of the Internet, and she established IntelliSearch, the fee-based research service of the Toronto Reference Library. Currently she is the Secretariat of the Canada-Ontario Export Forum, an alliance of federal, provincial and municipal partners who offer export services to Canadian companies, and she also provides information services on behalf of I.E.Canada the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters. She helps these organizations identify research and outreach projects, and solicit funds to support those projects.

Kirsten Wurmann

Kirsten Wurmann graduated from the University of Alberta and joined the Legal Resource Centre (LRC) in 2003. Kirsten is responsible for the Access to Justice Network (ACJNet), is web librarian on several other law-related projects and initiatives, and provides leadership for numerous projects. Kirsten provides training sessions and presentations to a variety of intermediary groups related to finding legal resources on the Internet. She has presented to the Library Association of Alberta, Internet Librarian International, teachers’ conventions, public libraries, and the University of Alberta’s School of Library and Information Studies and Faculty of Education.