The Ontario government has appointed two new judges, Justice Lynn Ann Grzela and Justice Graham Jenner, to the Ontario Court of Justice. Their appointments take effect on Nov. 30, 2023.
Justice Grzela
Justice Lynn Ann Grzela, who has been a member of the Ontario bar since 1999, brings a wealth of legal experience to her new role.
Her career trajectory includes a partnership at Perras and Associates, where she represented clients in a variety of legal matters across family, civil, and criminal law in both the Ontario and Superior Court of Justice. Her tenure as an assistant Crown attorney in Kapuskasing, from 2001 to 2015, saw her managing legal affairs in the District of Cochrane and in remote Indigenous communities.
Since 2015, she has served as the Crown attorney in Kapuskasing, leading several high-profile trials, including homicide cases and issues concerning missing Indigenous women.
Apart from her legal career, Justice Grzela has been actively involved in community service. Since 2010, she has held several leadership roles in the Kapuskasing Figure Skating Club, currently serving as the president of the board of directors.
Her contributions have been focused on removing barriers that prevent children from participating in sports, addressing both geographic and socio-economic challenges. Furthermore, her community involvement extends to her roles on the board of directors for Sensenbrenner Hospital, Kapuskasing and Area Family Health Team, and Kiddies Korner Daycare, as well as her membership in the Kapuskasing 100 Committee. Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Grzela to Cochrane.
Justice Jenner
Justice Graham Jenner, another esteemed addition to the bench, has been practicing law since his call to the Ontario bar in 2012.
His early career involved working at Heller, Rubel Barristers in Toronto, where he represented clients in criminal matters. His journey continued at Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP in Timmins and later as a founding partner at VanBridger Jenner LLP.
His expertise includes representing both youth and adult clients in criminal trials and appeals, notably in Northeastern Ontario and fly-in Indigenous communities. In 2021, he took on the role of assistant Crown attorney in Timmins and played a vital part in the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Working Group as its Northeastern Ontario representative.
Justice Jenner’s commitment to education and community service is evident from his tenure as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School from 2012 to 2023 and his involvement in various community organizations. Since 2020, he has been the vice-chair of the Timmins and District Hospital board of directors, contributing to several committees.
Additionally, he is a board member of the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, a primary service provider for urban Indigenous peoples in the community. Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Jenner to Sudbury.
These appointments reflect the Ontario government’s commitment to enhancing the judiciary with experienced and community-engaged legal professionals, poised to contribute significantly to the province’s justice system.
