Assistance for Lawyers

Since 1989, the CBA Wellness Forum (formerly the Legal Profession Assistance Conference) has recognized the unique needs of our profession and worked to find solutions that allow our members to lead healthy, balanced lives.

The CBA Wellness Forum exists to help legal professionals manage personal, emotional, health and wellness challenges. CBA Wellness works with the provincial and territorial Lawyer Assistance Programs, providing expertise and guidance to their staff and volunteers. Our professional development programs and research resources on mental health and wellness give insights into the very real issues facing our profession.

Visit CBA Wellness

In 2001, the Law Society of Manitoba introduced the Health and Wellness Program, a professional counselling service for lawyers who need help. The program is a free and confidential service for practising lawyers and articling students in Manitoba and their families, operated by Manitoba Blue Cross. It offers crisis-intervention and assistance and short-term counselling services.

In Winnipeg call 204-786-8880. Outside Winnipeg call toll-free 1-800-590-5553.

This service is in addition to the referral service provided by CBA Wellness. Lawyers Helping Lawyers, a Committee of the Manitoba Bar Association, strongly believes in and supports the Lawyers at Risk service offered by The Law Society of Manitoba. If you are not enjoying your practice of law or life to the fullest, we urge you to contact one of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers listed below:

• Colleen McDuff
  Cell: 204-955-1315; Home: 204-219-6680
• Therese Koturbash
  Work: 204-622-7002 Home: 204-648-5720
• Dirk Blevins
  Home: 204-261-7539
• Walter Thiessen
  Work: 204-925-5375; Home: 204-661-5700
• Norman Yusim
  Work: 204-957-8309; Home: 204-334-2227
• Marcelin Murray
  Work: 204-957-8334; home: 204-253-1554
• Jon van der Krabben
  Work: 204-254-3511; Home: 204-256-1124

The Equity Ombudsperson can, free of charge:

• Help to resolve individual discrimination and harassment concerns
• Act as a sounding board in dealing with internal office concerns or complaints
• Provide educational seminars and speaking engagements about respectful workplace issues for legal offices
• Assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures

All contacts are confidential.

About the Equity Ombusdperson.

This Committee provides an informal, confidential forum in which Queen’s Bench Justices, Masters, Registry Staff* and lawyers can discuss, one on one, problems that do not warrant a more serious intervention.  Chaired by Justice Michael Thomson, the committee was created by the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench and the Manitoba Bar Association.

* As the Committee has no supervisory role over Registry staff, we only deal with concerns raised by the Registry staff vis-à-vis lawyers, but not vice versa.

Contacts:

• Justice Michael Thomson
  Tel.: 204-945-2050
• Colin MacArthur, Q.C.
  Tel.: 204-957-4627
• Patricia Fraser (Brandon)
  Tel.: 204-727-8461
• Rekha Malaviya
  Tel.: 204-945-6120
• Justice Marilyn Goldberg
  Tel.: 204-945-2050
• Senior Master Rick Lee
  Tel.: 204-945-8232
• Justice Deborah McCawley
  Tel.: 204-945-2050
• Justice Freda Steel
  Tel.: 204-945-2050

The Provincial Court Informal Concerns Committee provides an informal, confidential forum in which Provincial Court Judges and lawyers can discuss, one on one, problems that do not warrant a more serious intervention. This Committee was created by the Provincial Court of Manitoba and the Manitoba Bar Association and is chaired by Judge Timothy Killeen.

Judges and lawyers who wish to speak with a Committee member may call any of:

• Alan Semchuk (Dauphin)
  Tel.: 204-638-3211
• Joe Aiello
  Tel.: 204-949-7708
• Richard Wolson, Q.C.
  Tel.: 204-985-8184
• Judge Tim Preston
  Tel.: 204-945-3461
• Associate Chief Judge John Guy
  Tel.: 204-945-3461
• Judge Timothy Killeen
  Tel.: 204-945-3461