MANITOBA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, October 5, 1995 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

Freda M. Steel of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg. She replaces Mr. Justice M. Monnin, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Madame Justice Steel graduated in law from the University of Manitoba in 1975, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1976. She obtained a master's degree from Harvard Law School in 1978. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1980. Since 1992, she has been a professor of law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba. From 1989 to 1992, she was Director of Professional Education at the Law Society of Manitoba. From 1982 to 1989, she was Associate Professor of Law at the University of Manitoba, where she was also Associate Dean of Law from 1983 to 1984. From 1978 to 1982, she was Assistant Professor of Law, Common Law Section, at the University of Ottawa. From 1975 to 1977, she practised law with Richardson and Company in Winnipeg. Madame Justice Steel has taught family law, clinical family law, ethics and professional responsibility, as well as torts.

Since 1992, Madam Justice Steel has been appointed as arbitrator pursuant to collective agreements on a variety of disputes, acting either as sole arbitrator or as chair of an arbitration panel. Since 1993, she has acted as counsel to the Office of the Children's Advocate. Madame Justice Steel is author or co-author of various publications and articles on family law and torts.

Brenda L. Keyser of Winnipeg is appointed a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg. She replaces Mr. Justice A.A. Hirschfield, who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Madame Justice Keyser graduated in law from the University of Manitoba in 1978, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1979. From 1978 to 1986, she practised mainly criminal, labour and civil litigation with the firm Pollock and Company. After practising exclusively criminal law with the firm Gindin, Soronow, she became a founding partner, in 1987, of the firm Keyser, Baragar, Harris & Sadana, known today as Keyser, Harris.

Madame Justice Keyser practises mainly criminal law, but has also been involved in child welfare and aboriginal law cases. She has been a Bencher of the Law Society since 1994. Madame Justice Keyser is bilingual.

These appointments are effective immediately.

Ref.: Johanne Senécal
      Minister's Office
      (613) 992-4621