Commission Staff
Sherri Walsh
Commission Counsel
Sherri Walsh (LL. B., University of Manitoba 1985) is a partner in the law firm of Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP
Ms. Walsh's practice has over the past 25 years, covered virtually all areas of civil litigation. She has appeared at all levels of court in Manitoba and before the Supreme Court of Canada. She has extensive experience in Administrative and regulatory proceedings as an advocate, nominee and hearing officer on matters ranging from Workers Compensation issues to employment and labour law matters. She is a part time Presiding Officer for the Appeal Commission, the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba and is an Adjudicator under The Human Rights Code (Manitoba).
In her practice Ms. Walsh is frequently retained to conduct investigations for institutions and corporations involving respectful workplace issues. She also participates in and has conducted mediations and arbitrations. Ms. Walsh is a member of the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Manitoba and the ADR Institute of Canada.
For many years, Ms. Walsh taught Civil Procedure to 2nd year students at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba. She is frequently asked by the Law Society of Manitoba to serve as a presenter on a variety of topics relating to Continuing Legal Education and is an instructor for the Bar Admission course. She has sat as a member of a variety of Committees of the Law Society of Manitoba including the Complaints Investigation Committee, the President’s Special Committee on the Independence of the Legal Profession and most recently, the President’s Committee on Emerging Issues for the Legal Profession. She serves as an advisor to the Board of the Legal Help Centre.
In 1999 Ms. Walsh was awarded the Manitoba Bar Association's Pro Bono Public Interest Award. In 2000 she was awarded the Human Rights Commitment Award jointly by the Manitoba and Canadian Human Rights Commissions.
Outside the practice of law Ms. Walsh has sat on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations, including LEAF (Women's Legal Education Action Fund) and most recently served from 2007-2011 as the President of Winnipeg Harvest - a non-profit food bank.
Derek M. Olson
Senior Associate Counsel
Derek Olson (B.A., University of Manitoba 1998, L.L. B., University of Manitoba 2001) is a partner in the law firm of Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP. He has a general civil litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial disputes, professional negligence, and personal injury. He acts for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Mr. Olson has appeared as lead counsel in all levels of court in Manitoba, and has appeared before, and provided legal opinions to, administrative boards and tribunals. He has taught civil procedure at the University of Manitoba and is an instructor in the Manitoba Bar Admission course.
Kathleen A. McCandless
Associate Counsel
Ms. McCandless obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg in 1999, and her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba in 2006, where she was the recipient of the University Gold Medal for achieving the highest overall standing in the Bachelor of Laws program.
Ms. McCandless presently practices civil litigation with the firm of Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP, which she joined in 2009 after completing her articles and practicing for two years with a large Winnipeg firm. Ms. McCandless’ practice includes commercial litigation, professional negligence claims, employment litigation, personal and property insurance litigation and professional discipline.
Ms. McCandless is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of The Laurel Centre Inc., a non-profit agency which provides counseling services to women who were sexually abused as children. Ms. McCandless is also a member of the Manitoba Bar Association Council, and a member of the fundraising committee for the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg Inc.
Elizabeth McCandless
Associate Counsel
Ms. McCandless was called to the bar in June 2008, where she received the A. Montague Israels Q.C. Prize. Since her call, Ms. McCandless has worked with the Public Interest Law Centre and Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). She joined Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP as an Associate in September, 2011.
Ms. McCandless’s practice covers civil and public interest litigation, with an emphasis on human rights, aboriginal law and Charter issues.
Ms. McCandless received her Law Degree from the University of Manitoba in 2007. In law school, she created and implemented the Pro Bono Residential Schools Project and was awarded the Yude M. Henteleff Award in Human Rights and Civil Liberties.
Ms. McCandless volunteers with the Legal Help Centre, Rossbrook House and Wi Wabigooni School and is a member of the Manitoba Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Manitoba.
Noah Globerman
Associate Counsel
Noah obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Winnipeg in 2006 and his Bachelor of Laws Degree from Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba in 2010. After completing Law School, Noah articled at Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP and has since focused his practice on commercial, personal injury and employment-related litigation.
Noah has appeared before the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, the Provincial Court of Manitoba, and various administrative tribunals, including appeals committees at Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Canada, disciplinary hearings at the Law Society of Manitoba and the Standing Committee at Winnipeg’s City Hall.
Noah was called to the Bar in Manitoba in 2011. He is a member of the Law Society of Manitoba, the Canadian Bar Association and the Manitoba Bar Association. Noah is also a member of the Law Day Committee of Manitoba.
Rohith Mascarenhas
Associate Counsel
Rohith Mascarenhas obtained both his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Manitoba in 2011. While in law school he was a junior editor for the Manitoba Law Journal. He was called to the bar in June 2012 and joined the firm of Hill Sokalski Walsh Trippier LLP.
Mr. Mascarenhas has appeared on matters before Small Claims Court and the Provincial Court of Manitoba, as well as administrative tribunals, including the License Suspension Appeal Board.
Mr. Mascarenhas is a member of the Law Society of Manitoba, the Canadian Bar Association and the Manitoba Bar Association. He has volunteered with organizations including Peak of the Market, the Manitoba Moose Yearling Foundation and St. Amant Centre.
Karen L. Dyck
Community Research Analyst
Karen Dyck (LL.B. (Manitoba) 1992, B.A. (Winnipeg) 1991) has practised law in Manitoba since her Call to the Bar in 1993.
Ms. Dyck is the Loss Prevention Coordinator for the Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association, and currently also serves as a Commissioner and Presiding Officer with The Appeal Commission (Worker’s Compensation) and as a Director of the Central Regional Health Authority.
Since leaving private practice, Ms. Dyck has worked with a number of non-governmental organizations including The Law Society of Manitoba, Community Legal Education Association and Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg. Most recently she worked as a Human Rights Officer/Investigator with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.
Ms. Dyck has been a volunteer with Osborne House, Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre and Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (Manitoba), and is a member of The Law Society of Manitoba, the Canadian Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Marcia Ewatski
Chief Administrative Officer
Ms. Ewatski has been employed by the Manitoba Government for the past 35 years and has extensive experience administering quasi-judicial tribunals. She has held the positions of Administrator of the Criminal Code Review Board and, most recently, the Manitoba Health Appeal Board.
Ms. Ewatski has also worked in administrative positions within the Prosecutions, Constitutional Law and Courts branches of Manitoba Justice and has also held the position of Magistrate of the Provincial Court.