News Release – Minister Kenney announces Citizenship Judge appointment and reappointments

Ottawa, January 23, 2009 — Alain Ayache has been appointed Citizenship Judge in Montreal for a three-year full-time term, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

The Minister also announced the reappointments of Kris Mohan in Mississauga for a three-year part-time term, and Sonia Bitar in Edmonton and Normand Allaire in Scarborough for three-year full-time terms.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Ayache was a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Concordia University and the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). He has been a speaker and moderator at conferences and academic seminars for universities and colleges as well as academic research centres and think tanks in Canada and the United States. He organized the first symposium on the Middle East at UQAM. He is involved in the World Lebanese Cultural Union.

Judge Mohan was appointed Citizenship Judge for Mississauga, Ontario, in November 2005. He is a registered professional engineer with 27 years of service in the nuclear energy industry, working in various technical and commercial capacities. He has a distinguished record settling immigrants in Canada over the past decade. Judge Mohan has been teaching English through “The Learning Centre” of Hamilton Public Library and has also supported the Child Haven Charity, which helps orphans in developing countries. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from McMaster University and a Master of Business Administration from McGill University.

Sonia Bitar was appointed Citizenship Judge for Edmonton, Alberta, in October 2005.

Judge Allaire was appointed Citizenship Judge for Toronto, Ontario, in November 2005. Judge Allaire served 21 years as President and CEO of the Runnymede Healthcare Centre. Prior to this, he was the Vice-President of the Scarborough General Hospital. He is actively involved in his community and recognized for his work as Director and Vice-Chairperson of the Toronto District Health Council, as a faculty member in the Department of Health Administration at the University of Toronto, and as a member of numerous health boards and Ontario Hospital Association committees. Judge Allaire received his Master of Health Science Administration from the University of Toronto.

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:

Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca