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Who We Are

The Office of the Representative for Children and Youth is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, all of whom are focused on ensuring children and youth who receive government services in B.C. are protected and safe.

Staff

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond,
Representative for Children and Youth, Province of British Columbia

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond was appointed B.C.’s first Representative for Children and Youth in November 2006. She is on leave from the Saskatchewan Provincial Court, where she was appointed to the bench in 1998. She has worked as a criminal law judge in youth and adult courts, which led her to help develop partnerships to better serve the needs of young people in the justice system.

Ms Turpel-Lafond holds a doctorate of law from Harvard Law School, a master's degree in international law from Cambridge University, a law degree from Osgoode Hall, and a bachelor of arts degree from Carleton University. The Representative was also awarded an honourary doctorate degree from B.C.'s Thompson Rivers University in 2009.

Time Magazine has twice bestowed honours upon Ms Turpel-Lafond, naming her one of the “100 Global Leaders of Tomorrow” in 1994, and in 1999 as one of the “Top 20 Canadian Leaders for the 21st Century”.

Ms Turpel-Lafond, a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, is active in her First Nations community and in the Canadian justice and academic community. In 2005, she published a book on the history of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation that was short-listed for a Saskatchewan Book Award. She actively supports healthy families and seeking greater respect and recognition of the unique situation for children in society, particularly vulnerable children.

Ms Turpel-Lafond, her husband George Lafond, their son and three daughters, (including twins), reside in Victoria, B.C.

For Ms Turpel-Lafond’s complete biography, please see click here.

Jeremy Berland,
Deputy Representative

For Mr. Berland's complete biography, please click here.

John Greschner,
Chief Investigator and Associate Deputy Representative for Children and Youth

For Mr. Greschner's complete biography, please click here.

Andrew Robinson,
Associate Deputy Representative for Advocacy, Aboriginal and Community Relations

For Mr. Robinson's complete biography, please click here.

Wilma Clarke,
Directory of Advocacy, Aboriginal and Community Relations

For Ms. Clarke's complete biography, please click here.

Cory Heavener,
Director, Critical Injury and Death Reviews and Investigations

For Ms. Heavener's complete biography, please click here.

Janice Chow,
Director of Knowledge Translation and Transfer

For Ms. Chow's complete biography, please click here.

Marg LeGuilloux,
Director of Communications

For Ms. LeGuilloux's complete biography, please click here.

Michelle Wong,
Director of Evaluation and Strategic Direction

For Ms. Wong's complete biography, please click here.