Mediator and arbitrator rosters

Overview

The rosters of private sector mediators, arbitrators and mediation-arbitration/arbitration-mediation (med-arb/arb-med) practitioners provide municipalities with a list of professionals who have relevant training and experience and who have expressed an interest in intermunicipal mediation or arbitration or both. Roster members are selected through an application and evaluation process.

Municipalities select and contract directly with roster members for the services required. Municipalities may be eligible to apply for Alberta Community Partnership grant funding to assist with the costs of hiring a dispute resolution professional.

The roster was developed by the Alberta Municipal Affairs Municipal Collaboration team, in collaboration with an advisory committee that includes representatives from:

• Alberta Municipalities
• Rural Municipalities of Alberta
• Local Government Administration Association
• Alberta Rural Municipal Administrators' Association
• ADR Institute of Alberta
• Canadian Bar Association – Municipal Law Section
• Society of Local Government Managers
• Association of Summer Villages of Alberta

The roster is not a certification of competency or a credentialing process. It is designed to provide municipalities with a list of mediators and arbitrators who have relevant training and experience and who have expressed an interest in intermunicipal mediation or arbitration or both.

Mediator roster

In mediation, a mediator facilitates a discussion between two or more parties who need to resolve an issue. The mediator helps the parties communicate and negotiate more efficiently, and as a result, resolve their issue or come to a mutually agreeable solution. The mediation process seeks to develop solutions that satisfy the interests of all parties.

Members (listed alphabetically):

• Andrew Fulton
• Barbara McNeil
• Bill Diepeveen
• Chinwe P. Okelu
• Churyl Elgart
• Clint G. Docken
• David Dmytryshyn
• Erika Deines
• Gayle Desmeules
• Heather Stewart
• Lauren Bartlette
• Megan McKay
• Michael Scheidl
• Michael Solowan
• Michelle M. Simpson
• Paula Drouin
• Pete Desrochers
• Sharon Wilson
• Tamara Bews
• Tammy Borowiecki

Arbitrator roster

Arbitration is a quasi-judicial process in which a third party renders a decision after hearing evidence from all involved. The decision is binding on all parties.

Members (listed alphabetically):

• Carol Zukiwski
• Churyl Elgart
• Michelle M. Simpson
• Pete Desrochers
• Shannon Belvedere
• Shauna Finlay

Med-Arb/Arb-Med roster

Mediation-Arbitration (Med-Arb) is a process in which a third party starts the dispute resolution process using mediation to facilitate a discussion between 2 or more parties who need to resolve an issue. If the issue is not resolved through mediation, the same third-party switches to an arbitration process to hear evidence and make a binding decision.

Arbitration-Mediation (Arb-Med) is when an arbitration process is started first and mediation is used as needed to resolve the dispute.

Members (listed alphabetically):

• Andrew Fulton
• Churyl Elgart
• Michelle M. Simpson
• Pete Desrochers
• Shannon Belvedere

Roster criteria

Mediators, arbitrators and med-arb/arb-med practitioners on the rosters are required to have:

• subscribed to a code of ethics or conduct of a relevant professional association or society
• completed the Mediation, Arbitration or Med-arb Certificate course of the ADR Institute of Alberta, and have a working knowledge of interest-based negotiation
• documented mediation, arbitration or med-arb ability
• documented knowledge of the Municipal Government Act
• 3 references

On a case-by-case basis, provisions will be made to grandfather individuals who, by their past history within Alberta, have demonstrated an ability to assist local governments in resolving disputes.

The advisory committee evaluates applications to ensure mediators meet the above criteria. Practitioners who are selected for the roster(s) are required to submit a short profile to be featured on this page.

Roster mediators and arbitrators are expected to provide mentorship without additional renumeration.

How to apply

Roster applications are currently closed.

Mentoree program

The Intermunicipal Dispute Resolution Initiative is committed to fostering the development and use of mediation in Alberta’s municipalities.

Given the complexity of issues and the number of individuals involved in the process, the Municipal Collaboration team strongly encourages 2-member mediation teams. Members from the Municipal Coordination team coordinates a program to provide mediators who have completed relevant dispute resolution training but may have limited local government experience with opportunities to assist roster mediators and serve as part of the mediation team.

Mentoring assignments will be made in consultation with the municipalities and roster mediators involved.

Contact

Connect with the Municipal Collaboration Team:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Municipal Collaboration Team
Alberta Municipal Affairs
17th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 4L4