PILC Advisory Committee Members
Jessica Saunders, Chair
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Jessica was called to the Bar in 2011. She represents Metis Nation and First Nation communities, organizations and child and family services agencies. Jessica practices primarily in the areas of Indigenous law and Child Protection law. Jessica grew up in Cranberry Portage, MB. Her maternal family is from the Metis Nation and Cumberland House Cree Nation and her paternal family is from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Jessica has appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Phoenix Sinclair, the Public Utilities Board, the Clean Environment Commission and all levels of Court in Manitoba. Jessica was appointed to the Law Society of Manitoba’s Social Equity Committee in 2016 and held that position until being appointed to the Law Society of Manitoba’s Complaints Investigation Committee in 2018.
Jessica is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 3 years effective December 20, 2018.
Dr. Annette Trimbee, Vice-Chair
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Annette has been President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Winnipeg since August 1, 2014. Previously, Dr. Trimbee served as Deputy Minister of several departments in the Alberta government, including Finance and Treasury Board, Service Alberta and Advanced Education and Technology. Key accomplishments include Alberta Budget 2012 and 2013, the redesign of Alberta’s innovation system and creation of the Alberta Innovates Corporations, bringing Alberta post-secondary institutions together
to plan and collaborate through Campus Alberta, and development of Alberta’s Health Policy Framework and Integrated Resource Management Policy Framework.
Annette is of Métis heritage. She holds a BSc from the University of Winnipeg, an MSc from the University of Manitoba and a PhD from McMaster University in Ecology. She was also a Post-Doc Fellow in aquatic ecology at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Trimbee is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 2 years effective December 20, 2018.
Harvey Secter
Robson Hall Appointee
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Harvey has had distinguished careers in business (Ricki’s Stores), law and academics. Harvey served as Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1998 – 2002 and is currently in his third term as Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg (2008 – 2019). Harvey currently serves on the boards of Richardson’s and FP Newspapers Income Fund.
Harvey holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba in 1992 and a Masters of Law from Harvard Law School in 1994. Harvey has served as President of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and as a member of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council and the Board of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.
Harvey is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 3 years effective December 20, 2018.
Louise Simbandumwe
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Louise works in the field of community economic development with SEED Winnipeg and has two decades of experience working on community development initiatives in Winnipeg’s inner-city. Louise played a lead role in working with partner organizations to develop SEED’s financial empowerment programs. These programs have been replicated by other community-based organizations in Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia.
Louise was born in the Central African country of Burundi. A former refugee, Louise has a Bachelor in Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters in Comparative Social Research from Oxford University. Louise also developed and taught innovative courses on financial empowerment, community economic development, and human rights advocacy at the University of Winnipeg.
Louise is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 3 years effective December 20, 2018.
Richard J. Scott
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Dick received his Call to the Bar in 1963 and practiced with the firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, as it is now called, until his appointment to the Court of
King’s Bench on June 28, 1985, quickly rising to the position of Associate Chief Justice on October 4, 1985.
On July 31, 1990, Dick was appointed Chief Justice of Manitoba (Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal), a position he held until his retirement in 2013, earning the
distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Justice of Manitoba. He served for many years on the board of Winnipeg Harvest.
Dick is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 3 years effective December 20, 2018.
Darcia Senft
Law Society of Manitoba Appointee
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Darcia serves as General Counsel, Director of Policy and Ethics for the Law Society of Manitoba and has represented the LSM on national access to justice
committees. She has served in various positions with the Law Society for over 22 years and been the go-to person for PILC for ethical advice for many years.
A Life Council Member of the Manitoba Bar Association, Darcia also is Past President of the Manitoba Writers’ Guild. She has taught the ethics course at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba.
Darcia is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 3 years effective December 20, 2018
Richard Cloutier
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Richard co-hosts the News on 680 CJOB and is a senior reporter with Global News. Between 1992 and 2016, Richard also served as news director and a host on CJOB.
Richard grew up in St. Norbert.
He holds a Masters of Journalism from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba. He served for many years on the board of Winnipeg Harvest.
Richard is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 2 years effective December 20, 2018.
Charles Loewen
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Charles is the former CEO and now board chair of Loewen Windows. He is a member and former co-chair of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, a member of the Province of Manitoba’s All Aboard Committee on Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion, and a member of the board of the Canada West Foundation, University of Winnipeg Foundation, and Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice. Charles was a member of the task group that established EHW, has served on the boards of many community and professional organizations, and has chaired a number of boards including the Mennonite Economic Development Associates and the Business Council of Manitoba. Charles has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and two Bachelor of Arts degrees.
Charles is appointed a member of the Public Interest Law Centre Advisory Committee for a term of 2 years effective May 28, 2019