Adjudication, Dispute Resolution, and Investigations

Services offered in adjudication, dispute resolution, and investigations

In addition to offering legal services, Sonya is available to adjudicate disputes and conduct appeals for First Nations, both in person and virtually. She will also act as an independent workplace investigator and/or mediator for all businesses and service providers with regard to issues of bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Areas where Sonya can assist First Nations in developing their own dispute resolution processes, and conduct private adjudication for them, include:

• Election appeals under a Custom Election Code

• Removal or discipline of a Chief or Councillor under a Custom Election Code

• Membership appeals under First Nation Membership Laws / Rules

• Appeals of administrative decisions made under First Nation Education Laws

• Appeals of administrative decisions made under First Nation Child Welfare Laws

• Disputes under a First Nation Land Code or other First Nation land law

• Appeals of administrative decisions under First Nation Land Codes and First Nation land laws

Experienced in hearing / investigations management and decision-making

From 2021 to 2025, Sonya was an administrative law judge with the BC Human Rights Tribunal where she conducted all aspects of hearings for discrimination complaints made under the Human Rights Code. Her work included:

• Making decisions about applications to dismiss a complaint without a hearing based on grounds set out in the Code;

• Pre-hearing case management to ensure all parties understood the hearing process and how to prepare for a hearing;

• Making decisions about procedural matters, including orders about the disclosure of documents and sharing of details about a complaint, witness attendance, publication bans, complaint deferrals, timeline extensions, and hearing adjournments;

• Managing a fair hearing for all parties involved;

• Making evidence-based findings of fact based on credibility and reliability principles; and

• Writing final and binding decisions about whether discrimination occurred, and the appropriate remedy to order.

If you would like to view samples of Sonya’s decisions regarding discrimination complaints, CLICK HERE.

Currently, Sonya is a member of the Law Society of BC Tribunal. In this role, she is on a roster of adjudicators who hear and decide cases about disciplinary matters and professional licensing for legal professionals. In addition, she is Chair of the Splatsin Election Appeals Board, established under the Splatsin Custom Election Code. In this role, she leads the Board in making decisions about election appeals, and the removal of a Chief or Councillor under the Splatsin Governance Policy.

When it comes to investigations, Sonya is a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC’s Investigations Committee, which adjudicates complaints about physicians, surgeons, and other professionals regulated under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (BC). She is also on the roster of investigators at the University of Victoria, and has conducted workplace investigations for several regional (BC wide) Indigenous political / service entities.

Trained to conduct fair hearings and investigations, and write reasoned decisions

Sonya is thoroughly trained to conduct fair hearings and investigations, to work effectively with people who are self-represented or have diverse needs, and to make and write decisions that are impartial and well-reasoned. Her training includes:

BC Council of Administrative Tribunals

• Decision-Writers Workshop (2026 & 2020)

• Introduction to Foundations of Administrative Justice: Everything you need to know to make and write defensible decisions (2026)

• Annual Education Conference (2024)

• Managing Tribunal Processes and Running Fair Hearings: Trials, Tribulations and Tips (2022)

• Essential Practice Points for Tribunals (2022)

• Hearing Skills Workshop (2021)

• Administrative Justice for Decision Makers: Administrative Law and Principles of Procedural Fairness (2020)

• Annual Education Conference (2018)

Canadian Council of Administrative Tribunals

• 3-Part Learning Series: Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canadian Courts and Tribunals (2024)

• Writing Matters - Write Better Reasons / How to Write Concise Decisions (2024)

• Adjudication Skills for the 21st Century - An Online Primer - Interactive Adjudication (2023)

• Reconciling Indigenous Legal Systems in Administrative Law (2023)

• Administrative Law Update (2022)

Justice Institute of British Columbia

• Enhanced Investigative Interviewing (2026)

• De-Escalating Hostility (2026)

• Introduction to Investigations and Processes (2025)

• Report Writing for Investigators (2025)

• Investigative File Management (2025)

• Foundations of Collaborative Conflict Resolution (2021)

• Mediation Skills - Level 1 (2021)

BC Human Rights Tribunal

• Effective Hearing Management (2024)

• Procedural Fairness Refresher  - Evidence in Tribunal Proceedings (2024)

• Working Effectively with Self-Represented Litigants (2023)

• Evidentiary Objections (2021)

• Hearing Preparation (2021)

• Decision-Making and Decision Writing (2021)

• The Four Elements of a Trauma-Informed Tribunal (2020)