News Release - Appointments and reappointment to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, April 14, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced six full-time appointments and one reappointment to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

In the Toronto office, Roslyn Ahara, Susan S. Kular, Donald Virtue Macdougall, Rose Andrachuk, John Michael Badowski and Cathryn Laurie Forbes were each appointed to three-year terms and Lawrence L. Band was reappointed for a five-year term. The appointments were made in accordance with the IRB’s merit-based appointment process.

Prior to her present appointment to the Board, Ms. Ahara was an IRB member from 1989 to 1994 and a member of the Immigration Appeal Board from 1987 to 1989. A former licensed real estate agent, she was also Vice-Chair and member of the Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board from 1995 to 2005. Ms. Ahara attended John Abbott College.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Kular managed operations, research and infrastructure projects for large private and public corporations, the most recent being Analytics, Spectra and Investors Group & Manifold Data Mining. Ms. Kular received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters degrees from the Punjab University in India and her Doctorate degree (Geography) from the University of Western Ontario.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Macdougall was Assistant Crown Attorney for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. He was also an instructor for the Skills and Professional Responsibility Program of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Mr. Macdougall is the author of many publications. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Economics) from the University of Toronto, Victoria College, his Bachelor of Law from Queen’s University in Kingston and his Masters of Law from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Mr. Macdougall was called to the Ontario bar in 1975.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Andrachuk was a consultant with Andra Consulting. She also worked in the area of legal and mediation practice and was Chair and Trustee of the Board of the Toronto District Catholic School Board. Ms. Andrachuk received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Master of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Toronto. She received her Master of Laws from the University of Ottawa.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Badowski was a member of the Toronto Police Service for more than 26 years, in both supervisory and senior management positions. Mr. Badowski received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and has studied at the University of Western Ontario, the Toronto Police College and the Canadian Police College.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Forbes, an IRB member from 2003 to 2006, was a member/adjudicator of the Landlord and Tenant Board. She was also a member of the Ontario Board of Parole. Ms. Forbes attended Sheridan College and Mohawk College.

Prior to his initial appointment in May 2006, Mr. Band was a sole practitioner specializing in immigration and refugee law. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He was called to the Ontario bar in 1964 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1980.

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:

Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064