News Release - Minister Finley announces citizenship judge appointment

Ottawa, August 19, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the interim appointment of Barbara Seal as the acting senior citizenship judge, for a period not to exceed three months.

The appointment is temporary pending the naming of a successor to Judge Michel C. Simard following the end of his term.

Barbara Seal was appointed a Citizenship Judge for Montréal in October 1997. She was a City Councillor for the Town of Hampstead and President of Hampstead Municipal Recreational Association. Judge Seal is a former Member of the Conseil des arts de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal and the Board of Directors of Place des Arts. Her charitable and community efforts have earned her many awards including the Golda Meir Woman of the Year Award, the Canadian Cancer Society Merit Award and the Canada 125th Anniversary Medal, as well as special recognition for being one of the 125 outstanding Canadian volunteers in 1992.

In 2002 and 2007, Judge Seal was honoured by the University of Tel Aviv. She received the prestigious President’s Medal and an honorary doctorate of philosophy. She is a recipient of the Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Award for outstanding work and exceptional service, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and was awarded the Medal of Excellence from the Quebec Cultural Communities. Judge Seal is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions with regard to citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.

For further information (media only), please contact:

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