Agency Members Biographies

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW TRIBUNAL

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GOTTHEIL, MICHAEL
Michael Gottheil is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 1987. After working as In-House Counsel for two national trade unions, in 1991, Mr. Gottheil co-founded Engelmann, Gottheil law firm in Ottawa, where he practiced labour, employment and human rights law. He was a Professor at Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa Law School. Mr. Gottheil is a member of the Canadian Association of Visually Impaired Lawyers and, over a twelve-year period, served on the Board of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind as member, Vice-Chair and Chair at the Ottawa local and provincial levels.

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VIGOD, TOBY ELAINE
Toby Vigod is a lawyer with over 30 years experience in the field of environmental law and policy. She was Chair of the British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeals Commission (1996-2000). Ms. Vigod is also a former Assistant Deputy Minister, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (1994-1996). From 2000-2004, she was on an Executive Interchange with the Climate Change Secretariat, Government of Canada. Ms. Vigod served as a Commissioner with the Commission on Planning and Development Reform in Ontario and is a former Counsel and Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. She has taught environmental law at Queen's University, University of Toronto, and Osgoode Hall Law School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen's University.

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VANDERBENT, DIRK
Dirk VanderBent, of Hamilton, has extensive experience in mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution. Prior to joining the Environmental Review Tribunal, Mr. VanderBent held positions as Senior Manager of Judicial Support, Office of the Chief Justice, Ontario Court (2000-2006), Plan Representative, Walkerton Compensation Plan, Ministry of the Attorney General (2000-2002) and Arbitrator, Dispute Resolution Group, Financial Services Commission of Ontario (1998-1999). Mr. VanderBent has conducted presentations on mediation practices for the Mediation 1 Course, Dispute Resolution Certificate Program, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. He has also presented on mediation & arbitration practices and procedures before the Financial Service Commission, in a joint presentation with the Financial Services Commission and the Continuing Legal Education Department of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

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WRIGHT, ROBERT
Robert V. Wright has extensive experience in both private and public interest litigation. He was in private practice until 2000 when he joined the Sierra Legal Defence Fund as senior counsel in the Ontario office. Mr. Wright has appeared as counsel at all levels of the federal and Ontario courts in commercial and environmental cases. He holds a Master of Laws degree from University of Cambridge, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto.

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DEMARCO, JERRY
Jerry V. DeMarco is a lawyer and a professional planner (R.P.P./MCIP). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor, Master's degrees in Science (University of Toronto), Management (McGill University), and Environmental Studies (York University), and a law degree from the University of Toronto. In his practice at the Sierra Legal Defence Fund (1996-2004), he appeared before tribunals, Ontario and federal courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada. His publications have appeared in a wide variety of books and journals. Mr. DeMarco was the first recipient of the City of Toronto's Green Toronto Award for environmental leadership.

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MULDOON, PAUL
Paul Muldoon is an Environmental Lawyer. Mr. Muldoon worked for the Canadian Environmental Law Association holding such positions as Counsel (1994-1998) and Executive Director (1998-2006). He is currently an instructor at the Centre for the Environment at the University Toronto and a member of York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies where he teaches environmental law. Mr. Muldoon has written several articles and books on such topics as environmental rights, toxic water pollution, biotechnology and international environmental law. He holds a Master of Arts degree from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Laws degree from McGill University.

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LEVY, ALAN DAVID
Alan D. Levy commenced practising law in the field of litigation in 1972. For the past several years his practice has been focussed on dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation and arbitration) and environmental law. Mr. Levy is a roster mediator with the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program, an arbitrator with Tarion, and director of the Environmental Law Practicum, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. Previously, he served as a Vice-Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and the Environmental Assessment Board, and was also a member of the Environmental Appeal Board.

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VALIANTE, MARCIA
Marcia Valiante is a Professor with the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, and a member of the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission. Previously, Ms. Valiante was a lawyer in private practice and worked with the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy. She holds a Master of Laws from Queen's University, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.

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GIBBS, HEATHER
Heather Gibbs is a lawyer and part-time member of both the Environmental Review Tribunal and the Child and Family Services Review Board/Custody Review Board. Ms. Gibbs was a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada from 1998 to 2006. Prior to her tribunal work, Ms. Gibbs practiced law and held various positions at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa.

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PARDY, BRUCE
Bruce Pardy, of Kingston, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen's University where he teaches environmental law, torts, property, and civil procedure. He has taught at law schools in New Zealand and the United States, and written extensively in the areas of environmental law and torts. Before becoming an academic, he was a lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where he practiced environmental, products liability and personal injury litigation.

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