Current members of the Financial Services Tribunal are listed below, and are also listed on the website of the Crown Agencies and Boards Resourcing Office (CABRO).
The tribunal consists of members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for terms of up to five years. One member of the tribunal may also be designated as Chair and another as Vice Chair. Members may be recommended for reappointment after their initial term.
Members are appointed, after a merit-based process, from across the province based on their knowledge and experience in administrative law, and in the regulation of various financial services including real estate, mortgages, pensions, and banking. All members must meet a high standard of conduct consistent with the General Conduct Principles for Public Appointees.
To learn more about how members are recruited, please see the Career Opportunities page.
To learn about how members are paid, please see the page for Annual Reports and Board Remuneration.
Tribunal Member Biographies
Tribunal member biographies are updated annually, in conjunction with the publication of the tribunal’s annual report.
Stacy Robertson (Chair)
Stacy Robertson is a leader in the financial services industry and currently is the General Counsel of Harbourfront Wealth Management Inc. He previously was the VP Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth after spending approximately 10 years as Senior Enforcement Counsel at the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (previously the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada). He has experience in securities enforcement and compliance including member registration, complaints, internal audits, regulatory audits and inquiries and anti-money laundering and terrorist financing surveillance. Previously he worked as an associate and partner at several Vancouver based firms practicing in the areas of insurance, construction, employment, labour, and administrative law. Mr. Robertson has appeared before all levels of court in B.C., before the B.C. Labour Relations Board, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, and the B.C. Securities Commission. He has extensive experience in administrative law and regulation and is currently the Chair of British Columbia’s Hospital Appeal Board and Financial Services Tribunal. Previously, Mr. Robertson served as a member on the Employment Assistance Appeal Tribunal and the Eligibility Appeals Committee for B.C. School Sport. He has completed the Partners, Directors and Officers course through the Canadian Securities Institute. Mr. Robertson holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of New Brunswick, a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University, and a diploma from Moscow State University in Political History of Russia and the U.S.S.R.
Dr. Cristie Ford (Vice Chair)
Cristie Ford is professor of law at the University of British Columbia’s Peter A. Allard School of Law. Previously, Professor Ford held various teaching and research positions at Columbia University’s School of Law, was a senior associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (New York) and worked as a barrister and solicitor at Guild Yule LLP (Vancouver). She is a member of the Investor Advisory Panels of both the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA IAP) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO IAP), the Counter Illicit Finance Alliance of B.C.’s Strategic Advisory Board, the Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C.’s Board of Directors, and Access to Justice B.C.’s Leadership Group. Professor Ford has been admitted to the Law Society of British Columbia, and the Bars of the (federal) Southern District of New York and the State of New York. She holds a Doctor of Juridical Science and a Masters of Law from Columbia University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Alberta.
James (Jim) Carwana
James Carwana is a Mediator and Arbitrator in addition to being a Member of the Financial Services Tribunal. Previously, Mr. Carwana was Vice Chair at British Columbia Labour Relations Board, and Senior Counsel at Coutts, Weiler and Pulver. He has appeared before Committees of the House of Commons and Senate and acted as legal counsel in matters before all levels of court and various administrative bodies. Active in his community, he is Director at Surrey Police Board and with the Beach House Theatre Society. Mr. Carwana’s work has earned him a peer review legal rating of “Distinguished for High Professional Achievement with High Ethical Standing”. He was previously a Lawyer with the Salvation Army Pro Bono Legal Clinic. Mr. Carwana holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.
Jonathan Chaplan
Jonathan Chaplan has had a diverse career as a lawyer in private practice, a mediator, a conflict resolution trainer, and a senior leader in the Federal Department of Justice. He began his career as a sole practitioner in Ottawa, Ontario, before joining the Government of Canada to establish and lead a dispute resolution program at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. He later became a Director of the Agency, overseeing six regional offices across Canada.
Mr. Chaplan spent more than 20 years with the Department of Justice, including four years as Regional Director General and Senior General Counsel for the British Columbia Regional Office of the National Litigation Section. Earlier in his DOJ career, he served for eight years as legal counsel and later, as an Executive Director at the Competition Bureau of Canada, where he provided advice to the Commissioner of Competition and oversaw litigation before the Competition Tribunal, the Federal Court, as well as provincial superior courts. His work included managing complex litigation requiring economic and business expert evidence, as well as negotiating merger-related consent agreements, and litigating before the Competition Tribunal and Federal Court.
Mr. Chaplan holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) from the University of Toronto and a Master of Law (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School. He presently President of the High Spirits Choral Society, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Playback Theatre Society. He lives in Vancouver, where he sings in choirs and is attempting to become competent playing blues harmonica. He speaks English, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and is presently learning Japanese.
Sharleen Dumont
Sharleen Dumont is retired from her role as Staff Lawyer with the Law Society of British Columbia. Previously Ms. Dumont was Senior Legal Counsel at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Partner with Alexander, Holburn, Beaudin & Lang. She is a Vice Chair of the Complaints Investigation Committee of the Law Society of Yukon and the Vice Chair of the BC Hospital Appeal Board.
She obtained her law degree from the University of Victoria and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary. She lives in Vancouver with her partner and enjoys the variety of recreational and cultural activities the city has to offer.
Catherine McCreary
Catherine McCreary was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1986 and the disability is often not apparent, although ever-present. She is a Member of the Financial Services Tribunal. Previously, she was a Member of the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and was a Lawyer, Mediator, Arbitrator and Investigator at Catherine McCreary Law Practice. Active in her community, Ms. McCreary is a Board Member with the British Columbia Council of Administrative Tribunals and was the Interim President at British Columbia Industrial Relations Association, and Board Member for Central1 Credit Union, VanCity Credit Union, and First Calgary Financial Credit Union. She holds the designation of Chartered Director from McMaster University. Ms. McCreary holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary.
Richard (Mike) Tourigny
Mike Tourigny is a Member of the Environmental Appeal Board, Forest Appeals Commission and the Oil & Gas Appeal Tribunal, and a Member of the Financial Services Tribunal. Previously, Mr. Tourigny practiced law for over 30 years as a Commercial Litigation Partner with Lawrence & Shaw, Lang Michener and McMillan LLP. Active in his community, Mr. Tourigny was a Governor with Vancouver Community College and a volunteer lawyer for the BC Law Society Pro Bono Advice Program. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia.