(IRC)

Alisha Cater earned her Honours B.A. with a major in Law and Society from York University. She then continued her studies by completing a post-graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College and most recently has also completed her Certificate in Family Mediation at York University. Alisha has over ten years of experience working with vulnerable youth residing in at-risk communities in Toronto. She is passionate about empowering youth with conflict resolution skills, critical thinking, self-awareness and reflection. Alisha is a member of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario and the ADR Institute of Ontario. Alisha is a Mediator in Training (MIT) with Riverdale Mediation and is actively pursuing her Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation.

(IRC)

Roland has recently completed Humber College’s Alternative Dispute Resolution post-graduate certificate program. He has over 10 years experience mentoring children, adults and families in nature, teaching a variety of skills including friction fire, wildlife tracking, shelter-building and bird language. He started to develop an interest in mediation and hone his conflict resolution skills while working on outdoor education programs, supporting participants as they navigated conflict. It is his experience working with children and families, in addition to being a child of divorce, that has led Roland to pursue a career in family mediation. He hopes to support families, and their children, as they navigate the challenging transition of separation in an effort to mitigate its impact and help focus the conversation on the best interests of the children involved. He is currently in the process of becoming an accredited family mediator.

(IRC)

Preeti is an experienced social worker and an accredited family mediator. She has worked in social development programs for women and children. As an outreach coordinator, Preeti was involved  in creating awareness of the family mediation program in the ethno-specific communities through information sessions, developed outreach strategies to promote awareness of family law sessions and parent education services Preeti has partnered and collaborated with a range of social services agencies to execute community initiatives, conferences and workshops. She has also delivered targeted information and parent education sessions on a regular basis in English and Hindi. In the past, Preeti has worked in the capacity of a monitoring and evaluation specialist with a funding agency and developed programs on issues such as child labour, orphanage, destitute girls and women empowerment.

(Mediator)

Raheena is a family law, community, and civil mediator, with experience as a family and child protection lawyer. She is certified by the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO) as a family law mediator. She is also a School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology accredited civil mediator, St. Stephen’s Community House qualified community mediator, and a Harvard Law School (PON) certified advanced mediator in complex disputes.

Before Toronto became her home, Raheena studied and worked internationally, including in England, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, resulting in her keen understanding of intercultural dynamics, and enabling her to serve families with pluralistic perspectives and experiences.

Raheena takes on a variety of voluntary roles within the community. At present, she is serving as the Family Violence Chair for the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Ontario Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

(Mediator)

Brian is an Accredited Family Mediator and an experienced lawyer practising family and child protection law. He holds degrees in both psychology and law. Brian has experience working with families to find solutions to many issues including finances, parenting disagreements, and visitation schedules with children.  During his career, Brian has worked passionately with families as they try to resolve their differences through the use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, at their most challenging and difficult moments.

(Mediator)

Akbar Ebrahim is an Accredited Mediator and a Master Trainer certified by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London, England in 2013 and accredited Family Mediator certified by the OAFM Ontario in 2014. Akbar was appointed by the His Highness Aga Khan on the Regional Conciliation and Arbitration Board (RCAB) for Ontario as Mediator in 1999. He served as Mediator for 6 years and in 2005 he was appointed Chairperson of the Board for 7 years until 2012. Akbar has mediated over 150 matrimonial, commercial and Wills/Estate related disputes and during his term as Chairperson of the Ontario RCAB, he managed over 400 cases. Akbar has travelled to India, Tanzania, Madagascar, U.S.A., Caribbean Island and within Canada with other international trainers faculty members and trained over 300 Mediators. Akbar also worked with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for over 30 years as an Internal Auditor and Manager, Fraud Awareness and Management.

(Mediator)

Hayley is an Accredited Family Mediator and holds a Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics, and Public Life from Northwestern University (Chicago). She mediates parenting and custody disputes with mediate393, both off- and on-site. She is the principal at Hayley Glaholt Mediation, and her private practice focuses on conflicts brought about by cultural or religious difference. Hayley is a member of the Ontario Association of Family Mediation (OAFM) and the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) in good standing. Hayley is also the co-founder and Executive Director of Link Toronto, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about the link between domestic violence, child abuse, animal abuse, and elder abuse.

(Mediator)

Lindsay is an Accredited Family Mediator with degrees from the University of London, King’s College (LL.M), University of Leeds (LL.B) and University of Western Ontario (BA). She lived in Montreal, Vancouver, the UK, and Asia before making Toronto her home. Prior to her mediation career, Lindsay’s diverse professional background included the investment business, intellectual property law and the not-for-profit sector. Lindsay has also undertaken many volunteer roles within her children’s schools and community associations. Together, this has culminated in a broad, open and unique perspective in her role as a mediator. She encourages self-determination, honours being heard, and facilitates participation and dialogue through non-judgment.

(Mediator)

Zahra is an Accredited Mediator (certified by the OAFM Ontario in 2015), a graduate of Kabul University, with a B.A. Degree in Law, and a graduate of McGill University, with a Degree in Civil and Common Law. In May 2006, Zahra was called to the Ontario Bar, where she practiced family law and immigration and refugee law as an associate with Kerr and Associates, and since 2011, as a sole practitioner. Zahra served as member and mediator with the Aga Khan Conciliation & Arbitration Board for Ontario from 2009 to 2015. Currently, Zahra is a member of the Aga Khan National Conciliation and Arbitration Board (2015-2018).

(Mediator)

Ali is a mental health practitioner and a college professor teaching social work, child development and parenting. He does research in cognitive mediation to inform his mediation practice.

Since 2002 he has been a Registered Social Worker, R.S.W.’ in Ontario. He does have more than 25 years professional experience in Canada. Ali also holds a Master of Arts in Education specialized in adult education and distance learning.

Ali’s specialities include mediation, relocation, trauma and recovery, multilingual and multicultural issues, addictions, and post-traumatic stress. Ali is also conducting training sessions in stress management, assertiveness, mental health, and wellness.

(Mediator)

Angela is an Accredited Family Mediator, registered Social Worker, and Researcher. She is the Principal Mediator at Reach Mediation Inc. Angela is pursuing a doctoral program in Public Health specializing in Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Toronto. She focuses her practice and research on parents who struggle with conflict during and after separation/divorce, the impact of mental health on well-being, and experience of mediation services.

(Mediator)

Leena is an Accredited Family Mediator with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation and trained with Riverdale Mediation and Mediate393. She received a Certificate in Family Mediation from York University. Leena also practices Family Law and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2013.

Mediation saves time and resources by finding solutions and building trust. Leena’s method of mediation is compassionate and resolution-focused.

In addition to English, Leena speaks Hindi and Tamil.

(Mediator)

Avagene is a family law lawyer, certified family mediator and notary public.

She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005 and has practised exclusively in family law for the last 16 years.

Avagene holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French (Honours) as well as a French Business Certificate issued by the Chambre of Commerce and Industry of Paris.

Avagene is the founder of Skervin Law, a family law firm in Mississauga, Ontario. She promotes the resolution of family law issues including decision-making responsibility, parenting time, support and property, through a variety of alternate dispute resolution processes. She is also a member of the Ontario Family Law Limited Scope Services Project and a Dispute Resolution Officer with the Superior Court of Justice, Kitchener.

Avagene serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO).

(IRC)

Kayla Stephenson is an Adjudicator, Qualified Mediator and Arbitrator with a specialty in Family Law. Kayla is the owner of Kaye Legal & Mediation Services that has been in operation since 2016. Kayla has a Paralegal educational background and has Certificates from Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, as well as Judicial and Administrative Tribunal Competencies from the Ontario Bar Association.

Kayla is a part-time Adjudicator appointed to boards, Municipalities and Tribunals in the Government of Ontario. Kayla has over 17 years of experience in the legal field, and of those years, 9 of them Kayla was employed by the Ministry of Attorney General, in various roles.

Kayla`s volunteer work includes being a board member of FDRIO and sitting on a Youth Justice Committee panel for the Boys & Girls Club of Durham. Kayla also chairs the board of a legal clinic in the GTA. Kayla is an Executive Member of the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario (ACLCO). Kayla is also Co-Chair of the Race Equity and Advisory Committee of the ACLCO. Kayla is a member of ADRIO, FDRIO, OAFM, FMC, Ontario Bar Association and SOAR. Kayla has a passion for equity, social justice, advocacy, and access to justice.

(Mediator)

Borzou graduated from York University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, is a family lawyer, Accredited Family Mediator and founder of B. Tabrizi Law P.C. in Toronto. Borzou mediates a variety of family-related issues and is committed to helping families resolve financial and parenting issues out of court in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Borzou is a natural problem solver and his approach encourages parties to discuss issues safely, with a forward-looking view that is always child-centric. Borzou is an onsite mediator with mediate393 and is a member of the Ontario Association of Family Mediators and the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.

(Mediator)

Julie K. A. Quirt  is a family law lawyer with experience successfully litigating before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. Julie was called to the Bar in 2010 and obtained her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School (2009) and her Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Julie received her Certificate in Family Mediation in 2018 from York University School of Continuing Studies.

(Mediator)

Natalia Crowe is a family lawyer and child protection lawyer, who was called to the Ontario Bar in 2015. She has extensive experience litigating and negotiating on behalf of clients at Case Conferences, Settlements Conferences, Trial Management Conferences and Motions. Natalia currently sits on the 311 Jarvis Courthouse Indigenous Child Working Committee and has represented clients at mediation circles at Aboriginal Legal Services.

In law school, Natalia interned at the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto as well as interned at the Indian Law Resource Center in Washington, DC, during her semester in the Osgoode Indigenous Intensive Program in Lands, Resources and Governments.

Natalia is Aztec-Pipil/Mayan Indigenous from Kuskatan/El Salvador on her mother’s side and Scot/Irish Canadian on her father’s side. As someone who identities as both Indigenous and settler, she is grateful to be living and working on the traditional and ancestral territories of the Mississaugas, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat. Natalia is fluent in English and has intermediate fluency in Spanish and in French.

(IRC)

Kayla Viau earned her Honours B.A. with a major in Aboriginal Studies and a minor in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Kayla received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Ottawa in 2015. Following her call to the Bar of Ontario in June 2016, she completed a Master of Education at the University of Toronto. Most recently, Kayla completed her post-graduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College.

Kayla is a member of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario and a family mediation intern with Riverdale Mediation. As a student-at-law, Kayla worked primarily in the areas of family and child protection law.

Kayla is Cree and is a member of Taykwa Tagamou Nation, located in Treaty 9 territory.