Backgrounder - Appointments and Reappointment to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Christian Boissonneault

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Boissonneault was a senior immigration officer with the immigration section of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and had a private notarial law practice. During his time at the CBSA he held various positions, including deputy director, team leader and project manager. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal and from the Université de Sherbrooke. He also obtained a diploma in notarial law from the Université de Montréal. Mr. Boissonneault has been a member of the Chambre des notaires du Québec since 2008.

Tracey Ann Martineau

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Martineau was most recently an administrative officer with the United Nations Mission in Liberia. She also served with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor as a regional administrative officer, the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a press and information assistant, and the United Nations Protection Force in Croatia as senior personnel assistant. In addition, she held the position of public information assistant for the International Civil Aviation Organization. Ms. Martineau received a Bachelor of Integrated Studies from the University of New Brunswick.

Karyn Lesley Pellatt-Caron

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Pellatt-Caron was an associate general counsel with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. She has been a business consultant with KPC Consulting, Senior Counsel with Johnson & Johnson Inc., and has held various positions with Pfizer Canada Inc. In addition, she was Director of Business Affairs and Corporate Counsel for Family Channel Inc. and TELETOON Canada Inc. She received a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor. Ms. Pellatt-Caron was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995.

Marie-José Rivest

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Rivest was an assessor with the Human Rights Tribunal of the Quebec department of justice and executive advisor to the offices of the provost at the Université de Montréal. She also held various positions at the Universtié de Montréal, including ombudsman, director of academic and administrative services, faculty secretary, group director and law program official. She obtained a degree in law from the Université de Montréal as well as a Master’s in law from King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario. Ms. Rivest has been a member of the Québec Bar since 1981.

Diane E. Sokolyk

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Sokolyk was a partner and office manager with Marshall Sokolyk, Barristers and Solicitors. She has worked as an in-house legal counsel and manager of legal services for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. She has also been an associate with Bishop McKenzie, Barristers and Solicitors, and with Barr Wensel Nesbitt Reeson. She received a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from McGill University. Ms. Sokolyk was called to the Québec Bar in 1987 and to the Alberta Bar in 1989.

Mary Loretta Dobbelsteyn

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Dobbelsteyn was Director of the Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic. She has been Managing Director for health and wellness of the Ecosystem Intelligence Group Inc. She was also a manager of physical and alternative medicine at the Beijing United Family Hospital and manager of clinical services at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. Ms. Dobbelsteyn received a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and a Masters of Science in Community Health and Epidemiology from Dalhousie University.

Sukhbir (Barry) Dhillon

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Dhillon was a tribunal officer with the IRB. He has also held the position of Overpayment Recovery Officer with Human Resources Development Canada and articled with Webster Hudson & Akerly Law Firm in Vancouver. Mr. Dhillon received a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia.

Colleen Zuk

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Zuk was a Deputy Protection Coordinator in Sudan for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She has also held other positions with the ICRC, such as Deputy Protection Coordinator in the Philippines, and Field Delegate in the Philippines, Ivory Coast and Guinea-Conakry. Prior to working for the ICRC, she was a Naval Combat Systems Engineer in the Canadian Forces and became Head of Department onboard a Canadian frigate. She also held the position of Protocol Officer with the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt during her service. Ms. Zuk received a Bachelor of Science from Royal Military College and a Master of Arts from the University of Essex, in the United Kingdom.  

Paule Robitaille

Ms. Robitaille was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on January 5, 2004. She was reappointed on January 5, 2007. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Robitaille acquired over 15 years of experience in journalism while working at The Canadian Press, La Presse, Le Devoir, L’Actualité and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She won several awards during her career as a broadcast and print journalist. Ms. Robitaille received a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from McGill University and was called to the Québec Bar in 1987.