Linda Bonnell

Linda Bonnell is both a Certified Comprehensive Mediator and a Certified Family Relations Mediator (FMC) in private practice. She brings to this work more than two decades of experience in helping children and their families cope with crisis and sensitive issues. Prior to her opening a family mediation practice, Linda worked as a Family Justice Counsellor mediating both Provincial and Supreme Court issues. Her practice specializes in all child-related issues, property and asset division, and assisting families in high conflict. She is a passionate educator. Prior to becoming the Program Director of Family Mediation Practicum Project, Linda was a Mentor with the FMPP providing leadership and coaching for new family mediators. Linda is also a Child Protection Mediator. She is a Contract Facilitator with the Parenting After Separation Program and has recently co-authored “Separated with Children – Dealing with the Finances” for Law Courts Education Society. She is on the B.C. Parenting Coordinator Roster and she is currently President for Family Mediation Canada.

Betty Ife

Betty holds a M.Ed (Special Education and Educational Psychology) and spent 17 years working as a teacher with children, adolescents and young adults in both special education and public school settings. As a court-based case worker Betty was a child specialist, providing support to child victims of crime, including family violence, and their families. For the past 9 years Betty has worked with the Ministry of Attorney General as a Family Justice Counsellor. Betty is an accredited B.C. Family Mediator and a Certified Comprehensive Family Mediator. In addition to training in dealing with child-related issues and spousal support Betty has specialized training in property and asset division, parent-teen mediation, interviewing children, and as a Parent Coordinator. Betty is committed to developing parent and professional resources on separation and divorce, and has authored or co-authored some 46 publications to date. Betty is a Facilitator contracted by the Law Courts Education Society to teach Separated With Children -- Dealing With The Finances. Along with Linda Bonnell, Betty authored and edited the Facilitator’s Manual and Parent Handbook for this course. Betty sits on the Executive Committee of Family Mediation Canada as it’s Treasurer. Betty is also the Editor of FMC’s newsletters, Resolve and Resolve Express.

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Pierre Imlay

Pierre completed a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from Western in 1992. Since then Pierre had the opportunity of working in a variety of settings with various client populations. Pierre’s early experiences were in the social services area where he worked as a family support worker and a crisis response worker for a contracted agency with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). In 1999, Pierre joined MCFD and worked in different areas including child protection and child and youth mental health. Pierre currently works for the Ministry of Attorney General where Pierre offers dispute resolution to families and for the past 2 years, Pierre has been doing custody reports (Section 15s) for the same Ministry. Pierre’s public work has also been augmented by private endeavors, specifically in the EAP field where Pierre has been working as a contractor for several programs over the years. Pierre is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, certified as a Family Relation Mediator with Family Mediation Canada, and is an affiliate member with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

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Vivian Kerenyi

Vivian has been mediating since 1987. Vivian mediates all components of family law disputes as well as construction, creditor - debtor, community, wrongful dismissal, and work place matters. She received her Family Mediation Canada certification in 1998 and is a comprehensive family law mediator. Vivian also mediates in the area of relationship building assisting family members with reunification after periods of estrangement or alienation. Vivian has coached, trained, and lectured law students in dispute resolution. Vivian’s combined background in social work and law allows her to bring a wide and varied mix of experience to her mediation practice.

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Kerry Palmer

Kerry has been part of the Justice Institute’s instructional team in the Conflict Resolution program and the Aboriginal Leadership Program for the past 7years. Kerry has certificates in Conflict Resolution, Family Mediation and a Restorative Practices Specialization from the Justice Institute of BC. Kerry is also a trainer with The International Institute of Restorative Practices / Real Justice in Family Group Conferencing. Kerry is a certified mediator with Family Mediation of Canada and is on the B.C. Mediator Roster in both the Family and Child Protection rosters. For the past 3 years Kerry has worked for the Dispute Resolution office as a Child Protection mediator and is now working with the Ministry of Education as a mediator. During the past 7 years, Kerry has operated his own mediation consulting business working as a mediator in workplace settings, with couples in transitions, as a workplace consultant in the area of conflict resolution training and facilitation. As well, Kerry is a Restorative Practices educator and practitioner.

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Richard Singer

Richard Singer is an experienced and skilled mediator, facilitator, consultant, and trainer in private practice with over a decade of experience working in the field of dispute resolution, Respectful Workplace programs, and skills based training and mentoring. In his mediation practice Richard specializes in the areas of workplace, commercial, child protection, and family mediation. Richard holds a Masters' Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the Justice Institute of British Columbia's Centre for Conflict Resolution. As well, Richard has received certification as a Family Relations Mediator through Family Mediation Canada.

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