Backgrounders - Appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

James Railton

James Railton (Toronto) was an IRB member from 2003 to 2006. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Railton worked as a hearing officer with the Canadian Border Service Agency. Mr. Railton also worked as the area director for Legal Aid Ontario in Welland. He served as Deputy Judge in the Small Claims Branch of the Superior Court of Ontario, was a member of the Niagara Dispute Resolution Group and taught mediation at Niagara College. Mr. Railton also served as Head of the English Department at Lyamungu Secondary School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and his Bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He completed his Bar Admission Course with the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1976.

Michael Somers

Michael Somers (Toronto) was an IRB member from 2003 to 2006. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Somers was a member of the Ontario Municipal Board. Mr. Somers, a barrister, has worked as a lecturer in law-related courses at Ryerson and York universities. Mr. Somers was also a duty counsel with the Criminal Law Duty Counsel of Legal Aid Ontario and the Board of Inquiry of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Mr. Somers received his Bachelor of Arts and his Master of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University, his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario and his Master of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1988.

Nina Stanwick

Nina Stanwick (Toronto) was an IRB member from 1997 to 2007. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Stanwick was a member of the Landlord and Tenant Board. She also served as Chairperson of the Advisory Hearings Board of the Ontario Insurance Commission. Ms. Stanwick received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, her Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor.

George Wang

George Wang (Toronto) was an IRB member from 2003 to 2006. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Wang was a risk and assurance consultant in the Internal Audit Division of the Government of Ontario. He also worked as a tax auditor in the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Ontario. Mr. Wang received his Bachelor of Arts in English from the Shanghai Teachers University in China. He also completed the Certified General Accountants program at the Ontario CGA Association and received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario.

Richard W. Jackson

Richard W. Jackson (Vancouver) was an IRB member from 1997 to 2005. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Jackson returned to private practice as an executive coach and leadership development consultant. He was also appointed the Executive Director of the Haven Foundation, a post which he held while continuing his consulting work. He has also held the position of Director in International Affairs at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). He also worked as an international representative of the CLC and as a communications specialist with the Department of External Affairs. He received his Master of Therapeutic Counselling from the Open University.