The Honourable Mark L. Edwards, partner with the firm Beard Winter in Toronto, is appointed judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Newmarket), to replace Mr. Justice H. O'Connell, who was transferred to Durham effective March 21, 2010.
Mr. Justice Edwards received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Queen's University in 1975 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Dalhousie University in 1979. He was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1981.
Mr. Justice Edwards began practising with the firm Beard Winter in 1984 and, until the date of his appointment, was managing partner. He was an associate with Osler Hoskin & Harcourt from 1979 to 1984. His main areas of practice are civil litigation, tort and insurance law, criminal law, family law, corporate and commercial litigation.
Mr. Justice Edwards has been a guest speaker at various conferences offered by the Advocates Society and the Law Society of Upper Canada. He has coached both soccer and hockey teams in the Etobicoke community.
The Honourable Kevin W. Whitaker, Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, in Toronto, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Toronto) to replace Madam Justice A. Karakatsanis, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal on March 26, 2010.
Mr. Justice Whitaker received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Queen's University in 1979 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1984. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1986.
Mr. Justice Whitaker has been Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board since 2001. Since 2005, he has been Chair of the Ontario Colleges Relations Commission and the Ontario Education Relations Commission and, since 2008, Special Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Training Colleges and Universities on the implementation of the Ontario College of Trades. He was a founding and managing partner of Ryder Whitaker Wright and Chapman (1989-1995). His main areas of practice are adjudications, labour, employment and administrative law.
Mr. Justice Whitaker was a regular speaker for the Law Society of Upper Canada continuing education programs.
