I came to Canada in 1968 at the age of 18 as a landed immigrant. I attended high school in Guelph, Ontario, where I completed my grade 13. I completed my bachelor's degree from the University of Guelph and I worked as a correctional officer with the Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services. I was promoted to various positions, gaining experience in human and financial resources management, including experience in supervisory positions.
In March 1988 I was appointed executive vice-chair of the Ontario Board of Parole, which was an order in council appointment. In March 1995 I was appointed chair of the Ontario Board of Parole, a position I held until September 2001. Until my appointment to the Immigration and Refugee Board as a member in June of 2004, I held various executive positions with the Government of Ontario.
I have been a full-time member of the Immigration and Refugee Board for the past three years. I applied for the deputy chairperson position in the fall of 2006 in response to an advertisement that was put forward by the minister's office and I was interviewed and appointed in March 2007.
I have been completing some of the unfinished business in Toronto with respect to the hearings, and at the same time I have been attending to my responsibilities as a deputy chairperson. Essentially I have been shuttling between Toronto and Ottawa. My position is in Ottawa, and I will be moving to Ottawa in the near future.
With respect to my educational background, I completed my master's degree from York University and went on to work on my PhD, but I did not complete it. Only the thesis was left to be completed.
I have belonged to several professional voluntary organizations and have received a few awards in my life. I have a level 1 coaching certificate from the Ontario Baseball Association, and I coached minor league baseball teams for several years and girls' soccer teams.
I'm married, I have three children, and today is my 32nd wedding anniversary.