New members have been named to the Thunder Bay Police Services Independent Expert Panel.
Candice Metallic will be part of the panel. She is the Founder and Lead Counsel for Metallic Law and has served as former in-house legal counsel to the Assembly of First Nations, former legal counsel to Hon. Iacobucci in the “Independent Review of First Nations on Juries in Ontario,” and former legal counsel to the Hon. Sen. Sinclair in the investigation into the Thunder Bay Police Services Board in 2018.
The second newest member of the panel is Mi’Azhikwan (Janine Rachel Seymour). She received her call to the Bar in the Provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. Mi’Azhikwan centres her spiritual practice in law, and brings forth a wealth of lived knowledge and practical experience from her former governance roles. From Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, Mi’Azhikwan was a founding board member of Ahze-mino-gahbewewin/Reconciliation Kenora and a former political advisor for Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, the Grand Chief of Treaty No. 3.
Previous member, Kimberly Murray, left the panel when she was tapped to be the Special Interlocutor on Residential Schools Unmarked Burial Sites for the federal government.
The panel is going to be visiting Thunder Bay the week of July 11-15.
With a lot work set out for them, the mandate of the panel includes:
- Reviewing the board’s Strategic Plan and determining progress in its
- implementation
- Reviewing policies, procedures, training, and practices related to internal/public
- concerns regarding human rights and mental health issues
- Consulting with TBPSB, TBPS, and the community on barriers & effective actions
- Reviewing relevant past OCPC and OIPRD recommendations & their
- implementation
- Developing and presenting recommendations for action to the TBPSB & the community
Starting today, residents of Thunder Bay and North Western Ontario who are interested in having their voices heard can email tbexpertpanel@gmail.com to provide feedback and comments. Those who indicate an interest in speaking with the panel will be considered for in person or virtual consultations.
Public Consultations will be held at various locations across the city;
Monday, July 11, 2022 6:30-8:30pm – Location TBD
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 6:30-8:30pm – West Thunder Community Centre
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 6:30-8:30pm – Oliver Road Community Centre
Members of the Panel will be made available to the media during the consultation period.