DeGrandpre - Chait
1000 de LaGauchetiere Ouest, Suite 2900
Montreal, Quebec H3B 4W5
Téléphone:(514) 878-4311
Télécopieur/Fax:(514) 878-3273
Sweibel Novek, attorneys
3449 avenue du Musée
Montreal, Quebec H3G 2C8
Téléphone:(514) 849-1188
Télécopieur/Fax:(514) 849-1176
Institution/Enterprise:
TOM & ASSOCIATES
5898 Clanranald
Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3X 2T1
Tel: (514) 341-3929
FAX: (514) 733-6670
E-MAIL: wtomlex@yahoo.com walter@tomlex.ca justice@tomlex.ca
LANGUAGES:
Fluent in English, French, Chinese and Spanish.
EDUCATION:
1989- 1990:
Quebec Law Bar School
Quebec, Quebec
Producing a paper on constitutional and immigration law that was chosen for publication in the Cahiers de Droit and cited in the Annotated Immigration Act of Canada.
UNIVERSITY COURSES 1986- 1989
Bachelor of Civil Law
Laval University
Quebec, Quebec
Awarded "Prix Informatique et droit" for a user-oriented computer program entitled "The Nature of Administrative Discrimination";
Producing a paper on administrative law that was chosen for publication in the Revue juridique de l'Université Laval;
Finalist in the Concours de plaidoirie Rousseau de droit international public.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING 1985 - 1986:
Certificate in Development Education: Canada World Youth, Montreal, Quebec
Participant in an international exchange program based on community and international development, language learning and cross-cultural communication.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
TOM & ASSOCIES
5898 Clanranald
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1990- present
LAWYER, Principal partner of law firm specializing in Immigration and Business Law;
Member of Executive Committee of Immigration Section, Canadian Bar Association- Quebec Branch,
1998- present, involved in
Regional Coordinator for Continuing Legal Education seminars
Official liason for regional CIC consultative committee on service quality
Past- Regional Coordinator for Family Class Immigration
Co-author of several briefs on Changes to Quebec Immigration Law
Co-author of critique on Changes to Canadian Citizenship Law
Numerous interventions and consultations with Immigration Canada and Immigration Quebec;
Member of Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers, 1991- present, involved in :
Various commitees on permanent residence, refugees and legal aid
Numerous interventions and consultations with Immigration Canada and Immigration Quebec;
Member of Canadian Bar Association's Permanent Committee on Equality- Quebec Branch, 1996-present;
Member of Latin America Committee of Canadian Bar Association- Quebec Branch, 2000-present;
Member of Council of Canadian Bar Association- Quebec Branch, 1999-present;
Past - Executive Board Member of the American Association of Jurists, continental section, organization having official consultative status with the United Nations' Social and Economic Council, 1993-1996;
Legal advisor and Director of Montreal Chinese Community United Centre, the umbrella organization for Montreal Chinese community, 1995-1999;
Legal advisor and Director of Chinese Taishan Association of Montreal, Tom Tong Association of Montreal, family service organizations, 1994- present;
Legal advisor of Federation of Filipino-Canadian Association of Quebec, the umbrella organization for Montreal Filipino community, 1995-present;
Legal advisor and Director of Kateri Foundation for international development projects in South America, 1994-1999;
Legal advisor to Nigerian Association of Canada, 1992-1994.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:
Past- National Director and Vice- Chairperson of Chinese Canadian National Council, jointly-responsible for Immigration and Justice issues and Executive Board Member of National Redress Committee of CCNC for Chinese Headtax Issue;
Past- Member of Asian Canadian Caucus organizing Public Forum on Immigration and Public Security for the Asian Canadian Business Community;
Past-President of Chinese Neighbourhood Society of Montreal, an intercultural Chinese community service organization;
Past- Member of Comité aviseur sur les relations interculturelles de Montréal advising City of Montreal on:
Municipal policies on immigration, integration and participation of ethnocultural communities in Montreal's political, economic, social and cultural life
Head of Committees on Immigration and Economic Development
Co-author of briefs and critiques on Quebec and Canada immigration policies, Plan d'action institutionnel en matière d'affaires interculturelles, Programme d'accès à l'égalité en emploi pour les communautés culturelles;
Director and Executive Member of Mayor's Foundation for Youth, to encourage entrepreneurship, job creation and financial autonomy for young underprivileged Montrealers through financial, professional and technical assistance;
Past-President of Center for Research-Action on Race Relations working on:
Critiques to Canada and Quebec immigration laws, policies and practices
Diversity management and employment equity issues
Court challenges on racial discrimination and human rights law;
Member of Canadian Council for Refugees, a national immigrant and refugee advocacy organizaton.
Past- Resource person and organizer for Amnesty International.
Member of Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals, Chambre de Commerce du Quartier Chinois de Montréal, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Hong- Kong and Hong Kong- Canada Business Association.
Past- Executive Board Member and Past- President of Comité des jeunes Chinois of Chinese Association of Quebec City.
Past- producer for the radio program La Petite Chine, and Editor of the Chinese community bulletin Le Double Pont of Quebec City.
Member of Alpine Club of Canada, Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade, and other outdoor clubs involving rock and ice climbing, orienteering, hiking, etc.
REFERENCES: Available upon request.