Biographies of newly appointed Social Security Tribunal members

Catherine Shaw – Fredericton, New Brunswick

Catherine Shaw is a property assessment officer in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She conducts property inspections and interviews homeowners to obtain data used in the evaluation of real property. She also prepares documents and provides testimony for property appeal hearings at the Assessment and Planning Appeal Board. Ms. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Psychology Double Major degree from the University of New Brunswick, Saint John and also has credit hours earned towards a Bachelor of Law degree and Real Estate AACI accreditation.

Ms. Shaw has been appointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term of three years, effective January 15, 2018.

Candace R. Salmon – Moncton, New Brunswick

Candace Salmon is a vice-chairperson of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick. She hears and decides appeals rendered under the Workplace, Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act and Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal Act, the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Firefighters’ Compensation Act. Ms. Salmon has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2011 and called to the Bar of New Brunswick in 2014.

Ms. Salmon has been appointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term of three years, effective January 15, 2018.

Valerie Hazlett Parker – Ottawa, Ontario

Valerie Hazlett Parker has been a full-time member of the Tribunal’s Appeal Division since 2013. She previously held the position of Chairperson of the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal and was a practicing lawyer who has authored numerous law articles and papers. She is also a Chartered Mediator and Arbitrator. Ms. Hazlett Parker holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada, ADR Ontario, Mediators Beyond Borders and Christian Legal Fellowship.

Ms. Hazlett Parker has been reappointed as a full-time member of the Appeal Division for a term of five years, effective March 11, 2018.

Teresa Day – Toronto, Ontario

Teresa Day has been a full-time time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal’s General Division since 2015. She has over 20 years as a lawyer practising in the areas of insolvency and commercial litigation. Ms. Day has received the Tribunal’s specialized Charter training and handles a caseload that includes constitutional appeals and complex group appeals. Ms. Day holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Queen's University and was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1993.

Ms. Day has been reappointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term of three years, effective April 13, 2018.

Glen Johnson – Kelowna, British Columbia

Glen Johnson has been a full-time time member of the Tribunal’s General Division gaining experience in the Income Security and Employment Insurance sections since 2014. Formerly, he practiced as a lawyer where he acquired extensive experience managing trials and appeals at the superior and provincial court levels in all three western provinces. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. He also devotes time to his community by being a legal counsel for Access Pro Bono and volunteering at a local Gospel Mission for impoverished persons.

Mr. Johnson has been reappointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term of three years, effective March 1, 2018.

Gary Conrad – Sherwood Park, Alberta

Gary Conrad has been a part-time member of the Employment Insurance section of the Tribunal’s General Division since May 2017. He previously sat as a board member for the Human Services Appeal Panel and for the Strathcona County Assessment Review Board. He has knowledge of a quasi-judicial board's responsibilities and processes, and is experienced in conflict resolution, interpreting and applying legislation, and analyzing appeal hearing documentation. M. Conrad studied at the University of Athabasca and completed a decisions writing course through the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals.

Mr. Conrad has been appointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term ending May 28, 2020, effective December 18, 2017.

Raelene Thomas – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Raelene Thomas has been working for approximately 20 years for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, more recently as the Director of Appeals for the Public Service Commission’s Investigation and Corporate Services where she oversaw the operation of the Classification Appeal Board. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland and earned the Qualified Arbitrator designation from the Alternate Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada in 2015.

Ms. Thomas has been appointed as a full-time member of the Employment Insurance section for a term of three years, effective January 15, 2018.

Konrad von Finckenstein – Ottawa, Ontario

Konrad von Finckenstein is an arbitrator of business disputes in both institutional and ad hoc settings. He has been in public service for nearly 40 years, and has been extensively involved in the negotiation and settlement of a wide variety of high profile disputes. He holds a Bachelors of Laws from Queen’s University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and various internal law organizations.

Mr. von Finckenstein has been appointed as a part-time member of the Appeal Division for a term of two years, effective December 14, 2017.