Our leadership
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The Registrar
Chantal Carbonneau
“As mentioned by Chief Justice Wagner, ‘access to justice is not just a fundamental right, it is a basic human need crucial to our democracy and Rule of Law’. It is in this spirit that the Court’s staff works passionately to ensure and improve access to justice and judicial information for all Canadians.”
Chantal Carbonneau began her career in private practice, before moving into collective management and intellectual property. Director, Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for over 10 years, she continued her career with the Courts Administration Service. As Deputy Chief Administrator, Court and Registry Services, she acquired solid experience in various fields, including strategic planning and program management for court services.
The Office of the Registrar provides all necessary services and support for the Court to process, hear and decide cases, as well as serving as the interface between litigants and the Court.
Ms. Carbonneau’s responsibilities include the appointment and supervision of Court staff, management of resources and business, management of the Library and the Registry, and publication of the Canada Supreme Court Reports. She exercises the quasi-judicial powers conferred to her by the Supreme Court Act and the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, and administers the Judges Act in respect of the judges of the Court. The Registrar participates in selected outreach activities, including delegations who take part the initiatives of various international associations of supreme courts from numerous countries.
In her capacity as Registrar, Ms. Carbonneau is also a member of the Heads of Court Administration (HoCA), a national committee of lead government officials responsible for court services in all Canadian jurisdictions.
Education
- Bachelor of Laws, Université de Sherbrooke
- Master of Public Administration Program, École nationale d’administration publique
The leadership team
Cristina Damiani
Deputy Registrar
“It is a privilege to support the Supreme Court of Canada in its role as Canada’s final court of appeal so that it can be accessible to all Canadians.”
Cristina Damiani has extensive federal public service management experience in court and legal operations. Before joining the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada, she was Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel in the Legal Services Unit of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada, at the Department of Justice. Before occupying this role, she worked for many years at the Courts Administration Service as Executive Director and General Counsel, Judicial and Registry Services, supporting the Tax Court of Canada’s operations. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Senior Adviser and Senior Counsel in the office of the Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Tax Law Services Portfolio, at the Department of Justice. She also held the role of Chief of Staff and Counsel in the Quebec Regional Office of the Department of Justice, in Montréal, and started her career in government over 20 years ago, at the Competition Bureau.
As Deputy Registrar, Ms. Damiani supports the Registrar in her various roles and manages Communications and Outreach Services, who are responsible for increasing the public’s awareness of the Supreme Court of Canada and improving the Court’s internal communications. She also sits on various committees, including the Heads of Court Administration (HoCA), leads several projects and represents the Court in some of its external relations’ activities.
Education
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Montréal
Barbara Kincaid
General Counsel
Director General, Court Operations Sector
“I have been here 35 years, since I was a young lawyer (I’m still a young lawyer!). I have given a lot to the Court, happily so. And gotten a lot back too.”
Barbara Kincaid is the General Counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada and has extensive experience in Court administration. Ms. Kincaid is the Director-General of the Court Operations Sector, which includes the Registry, legal services and publications, and the Library. Ms. Kincaid obtained both her degrees from the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1981. She practiced law in Ottawa before joining the public service. Over the years, Ms. Kincaid has been active in various legal and judicial administration organizations. In 2012, she was awarded the Association of Canadian Court Administrators Award of Merit in recognition of her role in improving the administration of justice by providing outstanding leadership, innovation and distinguished service to the profession of court administration. She also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal which was awarded to Canadians who have made exceptional contributions to their fellow citizens and country.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Ottawa
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Ottawa
Catherine Laforce
Director General, Corporate Services Sector
“Supporting the delivery of the Supreme Court of Canada’s mandate as a pillar of Canadian democracy requires an approach that focuses on excellence. It means being an employer of choice that values its employees and their contributions, and providing a modern support framework that meets the specific needs of the Court to enable it to do its work for Canadians and their communities.”
Catherine Laforce has been a federal public servant for 25 years, and joined the Court in 2002 after starting her career at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. She has significant experience at the executive level. As CFO and CIO, she has played a key leadership role in implementing a robust technology program and planning and reporting frameworks reflective of the Court’s unique needs. She has also led several organizational transformation initiatives, fostering a workplace where employees can grow and contribute optimally to the Court’s program.
Education
- Bachelor of Social Science (Economics), Université de Sherbrooke
- Master’s in Demographics, Concordia University
Michel Gallant
Executive Director, Judicial Support and Protocol Services Sector
“I am happy to be part of an institution that is consistently named the top-rated federal department by its employees in the Public Service Employee Survey. Serving the Court and its judges is an exciting and rewarding experience.”
A proud Prince Edward Island native, Michel Gallant spent most of his pre-public service career working with non-profit organisations, including associations representing Acadians and Francophones at the provincial and national level. After moving to Ottawa as the world was embracing Y2K, Mr. Gallant started his federal public service career at what was then known as Human Resources Development Canada. In 2002, he joined the Supreme Court of Canada where he currently works as Executive Director of the Judicial Support and Protocol Services Sector and as the Court’s Chief of Protocol. Mr. Gallant ensures the delivery of judicial support and protocol services for the chief justice and judges of the Supreme Court, adopting the motto “You can never be too organized”.
Education
- Diploma in Accounting, Holland College
The registrars of the Supreme Court of Canada
- Robert Cassels, Q.C. 1875–1898
- Edward Robert Cameron, K.C. 1898–1930
- James F. Smellie, K.C. 1930–1940
- Paul Leduc, K.C. 1940–1958
- Alan Burnside-Harvey, Q.C. 1958
- Kenneth J. Matheson, Q.C. 1958–1972
- François Des Rivières, Q.C. 1972–1976
- Gérard Bertrand, Q.C. 1976–1978
- Bernard C. Hofley, Q.C. 1978–1985
- Guy Y. Goulard, Q.C. 1985–1990
- Anne Roland, 1990–2008
- Roger Bilodeau, Q.C. 2009–2020
- David Power (Acting registrar), 2020–2021
- Chantal Carbonneau, 2021–