2025 Highlights from the Family Law and Mediation Services Team
As the Family Law and Mediation Services (FLMS) pilot nears the end of its sixth month and with the holiday season upon us, the staff in the pilot have much to celebrate.
In July 2025 the FLMS Pilot was privileged to partner in delivering The Advanced Child Protection Externship (“ACPE”) pilot, a 3L course made possible by the MOU between the FSIN and the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. Much like the Criminal Law Intensive Externship and Rural Externship, the ACPE 3L course is an experiential opportunity for students to both learn in place and remain in Saskatoon. This 3L course builds on commitments between FSIN and the College of Law as articulated in the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for dedicated research and education surrounding child protection. The ACPE delivery model fosters a symbiotic relationship between upper year law students and LAS staff lawyers in Family Service Matters (FSM).
In September 2025, 3L student Janice Dutchak joined the FLMS team for the ACPE pilot’s first semester and hit the ground running. Janice attended the Loving Justice Conference at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon with Samantha Neill, Acting Director Family Law and Mediation Services, and Jody Oakes, Gladue Services Coordinator. LAS was invited to set up an exhibitor booth, which enabled Janice, Samantha and Jody to connect and network with First Nations representatives, politicians, social workers, criminal justice representatives, lawyers and others. On day one of the conference, Jody presented and led a discussion on the potential use of Gladue-type factors in child apprehension matters involving First Nations, Inuit and Metis children and youth. The balance of the conference featured presentations from Dr. Cindy Blackstock, the Honourable Judge Gerald Morin, and many others from across the country.
For the FLMS team it felt like Janice’s term ended far too soon. Janice accompanied staff lawyers to chambers and pretrials, and developed some amazing tools to assist lawyers working on family service matters. The team was thankful to have Janice join a seasonal celebration featuring a ceramics painting session led by Legal Assistant Mary Lou Rheindel.
By early December, Samantha had completed the cosmetic updates to the FLMS pilot’s satellite office, where conflicts counsel and admin supports would soon be situated. On December 15, Mediation Coordinator, Tammy Vallevand, was the first team member to settle in. The next day, Andre Memauri joined the FLMS team as conflicts counsel, also situated in the satellite office. That same day, the primary FLMS team operating at the Sturdy Stone Centre welcomed Staff Lawyer Ainsley Chiverton.
With new team members, and new developments on the horizon, the FLMS pilot team is looking forward to 2026. Come January, Amy Constant will be the second ACPE student to join the team. Amy’s arrival aligns well with the decision to follow the lead of Legal Aid’s Regina Area Offices by establishing a consistent FSM Duty Counsel role in Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench.
