News Release - Four Appointments to the IRB

Ottawa, May 15, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced four full-time appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada.

Gilles Éthier was appointed to a three-year term and Michael J. Hamelin was appointed to a one‑year term in Montreal. Irvin H. Sherman and Laurie Weinroth were appointed to three‑year terms in Toronto.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Éthier, a former member of the IRB, practised general law with various law firms, specializing in damage insurance, business law and civil litigation. He also worked as an administrative director for the Government of Quebec in departments associated with the Charter of the French Language, technological development and Francophone international affairs. Mr. Éthier was Vice‑President of Bio Trans Tech Inc. He received his Bachelor of Arts and his Licentiate in Laws from the Université de Montréal, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1972.

Prior to joining the IRB, Mr. Hamelin owned a private practice specializing in corporate, commercial, family and immigration law and general litigation. He also served as President of Alliance Quebec. Mr. Hamelin received his diploma in Social Sciences from Vanier College, his Bachelor of Civil Law and Bachelor of Laws from McGill University and his Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1987.

Prior to his appointment to the IRB, Mr. Sherman most recently practised law as an immigration counsellor with Martinello & Associates and with Rekai & Johnson. Mr. Sherman, a former member of the IRB, received his Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University and his Bachelor and Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1968.

Mr. Weinroth was a real estate agent for several agencies in the Toronto area, including Summerhill Prestige Realty. He was a refugee hearing officer with the IRB. He received his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto and his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Windsor.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The Board has three divisions: the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Philippe Mailhot
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650