The BSWG Mandate

The Provincial Learning and Action Committee (PLAC) established the Board Supports Working Group (BSWG) to develop and implement a sustainable learning program that will strengthen the capacity of legal clinic board members to fulfill their governance role. While maintaining overall responsibility for the initiative, PLAC has delegated to the BSWG the authority to plan, develop and implement a range of programming that will reflect the diverse needs of clinic board members across Ontario.

 

PLAC has identified investing in programs that strengthen clinic board capacity as a provincial priority.  THE BSWG serves as an arm of PLAC in addressing this priority.  The BSWG considers a full range of learning needs of present and future clinic board members across the province and will determine how all stakeholders can contribute to a sustainable board learning program.


The BSWG operates following established internal processes for planning, consulting, managing funds, implementing, evaluating and reporting on activities, and is responsible for consulting and communicating with clinic board members across the province. The group is responsible for establishing operating procedures such as appointing a chairperson, ensuring minutes of meetings are kept and keeping records of expenditures.  However, ultimate responsibility for the initiative will remain with PLAC, as the sponsoring and funding body. 

The BSWG Team

  • Brenda deBruyne - Board Member, Algoma Community Legal Clinic, Sault Ste. Marie
  • Stephen Bird - Board Member, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Legal Clinic, Perth
  • Dina Biro - Board Member, Dundurn Community Legal Services
  • Saleem Hall - Board Member, Neighbourhood Legal Services, Greater Toronto (BSWG Chair)
  • Marnie Hayes - Manager of Clinic Learning and Development, Legal Aid Ontario
  • Chris Killoran - Office Manager, South Ottawa Community Legal Services
  • Abdul Majeed - Board Member, North Peel & Dufferin Community Legal Services, Brampton
  • Linda Rochon - Board Member, Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic, Windsor
  • Carene Smith - Quality Service Office, Legal Aid Ontario
  • Ben Torres - Board Member, Willowdale Community Legal Services, Toronto
  • Barbara Watson - Board Member, Community Advocacy & Legal Clinic, Belleville

 

Technical support and program administration provided by Daphne FitzGerald and Terrie Russell of BOARDrx Inc.
The BSWG would like to recognize those individuals who previously served on the BSWG:

Sandi Bell, ARCH & Hamilton Mountain

Beth Bellaire, Northumberland Community Legal Clinic

Tracey Blanchet, West Scarborough Community Legal Services

Nancy Daley, Rainy River District Community Legal Clinic

Susanne Hunter, Legal Aid Ontario

Denise Ireland, Chatham-Kent

Jawad Kassab, Legal Aid Ontario

Ann Martindale, ARCH Disability Law Centre

Kim Morris, Sudbury

Mary Pacuzzi, ED, Algoma

Gary Premo, Algoma

Luc Rivet, Elliott Lake

Susan Shaw, York Region

Evelyn Shore, ACTO

Hugh Tye, ED, Hamilton Mountain

Steve Webster, Ottawa South

Larry Woolley, Algoma