News Release - Minister Finley announces Citizenship Judge appointments

Ottawa, September 5, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the appointment of George Springate as Canada’s Senior Citizenship Judge for a five-year term. The Minister also announced the appointment of Joan May Way as citizenship judge in Calgary for a three-year term.

Judge Springate was Citizenship Judge in Montréal from December 1999 to March 2005 and was reappointed in November 2006. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Law from McGill University. He was subsequently awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University College of Cape Breton. Judge Springate served three terms in office as a member of the Quebec National Assembly. While fulfilling his electoral responsibilities, he became a founding member of the Police Technology Department at John Abbott College, where he is a tenured professor in civil and criminal law.

Joan May Way is active in her community and has held numerous positions of leadership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most recently, she was President of the Relief Society Organization and President of the Children’s Primary Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics from the University of Calgary and a Masters in Library and Information Services from Brigham Young University.

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