News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

January 23, 2018

Province Announces New Appointments to Cooperative Housing Appeal Tribunal



Manitoba Finance advises that five new members have been appointed to the Cooperative Housing Appeal Tribunal.

Paul Simms, Kevin Toyne, Todd Thomson, Gary Gilmour and Norman Sims have all been appointed to the appeal tribunal, while existing members Allison Fenske, Karen Poetker and Patrick Sullivan have all been reappointed.  All members have been given three-year terms.

Simms is an experienced civil litigator who has appeared on behalf of clients at small claims hearings, in provincial court and the Court of Queen’s Bench.  In addition to his work in the courts, Simms is experienced in both negotiation and mediation processes.

Toyne is an associate at Hill Sokalski Walsh Olson LLP.  He is a member of the Manitoba Bar Association and the Advocates Society, and serves on the boards of directors for Special Olympics Manitoba and the Winnipeg Humane Society.

Thomson is a partner at MLT Aikins, where he advises corporations and investment funds in connection with public and private offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, takeover bids, purchase and sales of businesses, secured transactions, corporate governance and compliance matters.  Thomson has been involved in various community organizations including previously serving as director of the Misericordia Health Foundation Board.

Gilmour is a lawyer at Gilmour and Braul Law Office, a firm with offices in Altona and Winkler.  Gilmour has a long tradition of being involved in the community and was recognized as the Winkler Citizen of the Year in 2013.  He taught legal courses at Red River College in Winkler for many years and has co-ordinated blood donor clinics in Altona and Winkler for the past 20 years.  He is also involved with the Winkler Community Foundation and is active in the national governing body for the Lutheran Church of Canada.

Sims is a lawyer with Sims and Company, a law firm with offices in Minnedosa, Shoal Lake, Birtle, Russell, Rossburn and Strathclair.  In 1992, Sims was appointed a life bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba and currently sits as a permanent member of the Law Society Discipline Committee.  He has been active in the Western Manitoba Bar Association since 1981, and has also been a member of both the Manitoba and Canadian Bar Associations since 1981.

The Cooperative Housing Appeal Tribunal presides over hearings to ensure decisions incorporate legal expertise when membership in a housing co-operative is terminated.  The Cooperative Housing Appeal Tribunal operates under The Cooperatives Act, which includes oversight of 60 housing co-operatives in Manitoba including 39 in Winnipeg, five in Brandon and 16 in rural Manitoba.

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