Interns

Our current roster of interns

Richard Teicher received his Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Hons.) from York University with a major in psychology and went on to obtain a Masters in Social Work (M.S.W.) at the University of Toronto.  Thereafter, Richard studied law at the University of Windsor where he received his Bachelor of Law (LL.B.).  After completing law school, Richard went on to the Graduate Studies of Law program at the University of Ottawa and earned his Masters of Law (LL.M.).

Richard was called to the Ontario bar in 2000 and has worked exclusively in the field of family law since that time.  Richard’s experience in the family law field is quite extensive.  Richard has held positions with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General Family Justice Division, has practiced family law at a well-respected boutique family law firm, a large Bay Street law firm and in the last few years has opened his own family law practice.  In addition, Richard is also a qualified collaborative family law lawyer.  Richard looks forward to using his educational background and work experience to the benefit of individuals who seek to mediate their disputes.

Nicole Stewart-Kamanga graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000.  She has practiced family law both in private practice and as a Staff Lawyer for the Family Law Office in Toronto.

Prior to her legal career, Nicole worked as a Children’s Advocate in a women’s shelter for 5 years where she provided individual and group counseling to the children and their mothers residing at the shelter.   Nicole has authored/co-authored 3 articles on her work in this area.

Nicole took some time off from paid work to raise her own children and has now re-entered the work force.  She is very much looking forward to interning at Riverdale.  Nicole has recently been accepted into the LLM Programme at Osgoode Hall Law School where her focus of study is Alternative Dispute Resolution.  To contact Nicole directly, please write her at nicolestewartkamanga@bell.net

Heather MacInnis completed her MSW at Wilfrid Laurier, then began her social work career at The Peel Children’s Aid Society, beginning as a front-line staff in an intake capacity and then as a family service worker dealing with long term case planning. She then moved on to a management position and supervised a staff team responsible for implementing comprehensive case plans for the protection of children. Heather developed skills and experience in clinical and case management and was exposed to the court process with a high conflict and diverse population.  More recently, Heather has completed all the requisite mediation training and is now looking forward to the internship program at Riverdale to learn more about the mediation process and parenting coordination.

Over the last 28 years, Dorete Sivkin has dedicated her professional life to providing Child and Family Counselling services. Since earning both Bachelor of Social Work (Haifa University) and Master of Social Work (Fordham University) degrees, she has continuously upgraded her skills as an Individual and Family Counsellor, and in the last several years as a Family Mediator, Collaborative Family Specialist and Parent Coordinator.

Separation, divorce and co-parenting are some of the difficult issues that many families may be experiencing, and she feels honoured to be able to help them deal with and overcome these difficult issues.

“I look forward to my continued Mediation training with the tremendous team of Mediators at Riverdale Mediation!”

Robyn Hurley, B.A., LL.B. is a family lawyer with a collaborative focus.  She is currently in the process of becoming an accredited member of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. Robyn’s professional background also includes public interest work in the fields of municipal law, planning and social housing.

 

 

Kate Waters’ interest in mediation is what motivated her to go into law in the first place, and she is thrilled to be working towards accreditation as a mediator in Riverdale Mediation’s internship program. Kate completed her B.A. at Bishop’s University and her LL.B at the University of Victoria. She articled at the Toronto District School Board and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2005. Kate practiced education law on behalf of school boards until 2010, including labour law, human rights, student discipline, special education, child protection and family law matters, privacy and governance. Prior to attending law school, she also managed university student residences, which is where she was first introduced to the concept of peer mediation. Kate has training from the Justice Institute of BC in conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation, and from Riverdale Mediation in screening for power imbalances. She has taken Kay Pranis’ workshop on peacemaking circles, and attended the International Institute for Restorative Practices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for training in restorative practices, including facilitating circles, restorative conferences and family group decision-making. While completing the internship, Kate is also practicing family law, real estate and administrative law on a part-time basis with Robert G. Waters, Barrister & Solicitor, in Strathroy, a town much bigger than nearby Parkhill, where Kate got her start. She is a member of the Ontario Association of Family Mediators, and the Ontario Bar Association’s ADR and Education Law Executives. To contact Kate directly please write her at katewaters@gmail.com

Lisa Johnson Lisa A. Johnson was called to the bar in 1994 after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. For two years after her call to the bar, Lisa was a Judges Law Clerk  for the then Ontario Court(General Division) working with judges in the area of family law and commercial litigation. After a brief stint in commercial litigation, Lisa took a position as counsel for the Hamilton-Wentworth Children’s Aid Society and then the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, before taking a position with a family law boutique firm in Toronto. In 2001 Lisa struck out on her own and has been a sole practitioner in family and child protection law since that time. She has been a panel member for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer since 2000. Lisa is a member of the AFCC and she also a board member for the Family Lawyer’s Association. She also volunteers as a presenter for Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Survivors Teaching Students Program and Listen to the Whispers educational program. To contact Lisa directly please write her at lisa@lisaajohnson.ca.

 

 

Some of our former interns who are now accredited family mediators are:

Joel Skapinker, Skapinker and Shapiro LL.P
divorcelawyer@bellnet.ca

Elizabeth Hyde, Riverdale Mediation, elizabeth@riverdalemediation.com

Victoria Starr, Family Lawyer- Mediator, victoriastarr@starrfamilylaw.com

Michelle Roy, Family Lawyer – Mediator – Arbitrator, Solace Settlement Services, memr368@yahoo.ca

Regina Thompson, Mediator, Certified Adjudicator, Strategic Intervention Services Associates (SIS Associates), http://www.sisadr.org, sisa@rogers.com

Andrea Himel, Lawyer-Mediator-Arbitrator, Himel Mediation Services, andrea.himel@rogers.com

Kathryn Wright, Lawyer-Mediator, wrightlegalservices@hotmail.com

Susan Jack, Riverdale Mediation Associate, susan@riverdalemediation.com

Paul Brown, Mediator, Marvel Mediation, paul@marvelmediation.com

Kim James

Monika Curyk,Family Law Lawyer and Mediator.