Experience
Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP
Associate, 2001 - present. Practises in the area of taxation which involves corporate and personal tax planning, corporate reorganizations, advice and assistance to income trusts and REITs as well as small business and farm business, estate planning, wills and tax litigation. Provides services to non-profit organizations and charities, including applications for charitable status. Also works to resolve disputes with Canada Revenue Agency including Notices of Objections to Reassessment and appeals to Tax Court of Canada.
Education
- University of Manitoba, LL.B., 2000
- Brandon University, B.A., 1997
Call to the Bar
Awards
- University Gold Medal, 2000
- Honourable Alexander Morris Exhibition Prize, 2000
- Archie Micay, Q.C. Award in Law, 2000
- Dean's Honour List, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Pauline & Samuel Zinman Prize, 2000
- Law Society Prize, 2000
- Cecil Black Memorial Prize, 2000
- Max Kaplan Prize, 2000
- Maritime Law Book Prize, 2000
- Manitoba Law School Foundation Prize, 2000
- Samuel Hyman Memorial Prize, 2000
- Carswell Company Limited Prize, 1998, 1999
- Isbister Scholarship, 1998, 1999
- Jane Evans, Q.C. Prize, 1999
- David and Myrna Bowman Prize, 1999
- Archie Micay, Q.C. Prize, 1999
- Lieutenant M. M. Soronow Scholarship, 1998
- UMSU Scholarship, 1998
- Mr. Justice and Mrs. I. Nitikman Prize, 1998
- D. A. Thompson, Q.C. Prize, 1998
Presentations
- “Share Rights and the Presumption of Equality”, to the Canadian tax subgroup of World Services Group (jointly with Scott A. McCamis), 2010
- “Challenges for Boards of Directors who are Managing Endowments in Difficult Times”, about fiduciary duties and tax obligations in relation to endowments, to the Charity Symposium, jointly sponsored by the University of Manitoba and The Winnipeg Foundation, 2009
- "Managing Intergenerational Transfers", about farm succession planning, for the Keystone Agricultural Producers, 2008
- "SIFT Rules", about the SIFT rules and the REIT exception, to the Canadian tax subgroup of World Services Group (jointly with Carmele N. Peter), 2007
- "Easy Money", about benefits of charitable giving, for the Manitoba Jewish Federation, 2007
- "Wills and Estate Planning" Lunch and Learn, to employees of The United Way, 2007
- "Estate Planning Tips", for the Tomorrow Fund of The United Way of Manitoba, 2007 and 2008
- "Estate Planning for the Family Cottage", to representatives and clients of Scotia McLeod, 2005.
- “Individual Pension Plans, Deferred Profit Sharing Plans, Private Health Services Plans”, to the Manitoba Estate Planning Conference presented by Advocis Financial Advisors Association of Canada and the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg, 2005.
- “Individual Pension Plans”, to the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg, 2005.
- “Tools for Retirement Planning for Owner-Managers,” to the Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, 2004 (jointly with Adam L. Levene).
- “Wills and Estate Planning” Lunch and Learn, to employees of The North West Company, 2004.
- “Tax Laws and Charities - What’s New in Charity Fundraising?”, to the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Manitoba at National Philanthropy Day, 2003.
Legal Writing
- Author of "RESPs and Estate Planning", published in Estates Trusts & Pensions Journal, Canada Law Book, March 2008
- Contributor on Tax Matters to E-Law Business Update, produced periodically by The Law Society of Manitoba, 2006 - present
- Author of "Estate Planning for the Family Cottage", published in Taxation of Executive Compensation, Federated Press, 2005.
- Co-Author (with Adam L. Levene) of “Tools for Retirement Planning for Owner-Managers,” presented at the Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, 2004.
- Assisted Joel A. Weinstein in preparation of paper titled “Impact of Recent Supreme Court of Canada and Other Decisions on Real Estate Transactions”, presented at the Canadian Tax Foundation Conference, 2002.
- Assisted in preparation of materials for the Tax Subsection of the Law Society of Manitoba Bar Admission Course, 2000 - 2002.
- Co-Author (with Robert C. Lee) of “Not a Pretty Picture - the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency’s Reassessments of the ‘Art Flips’ ”, published in Taxation of Executive Compensation, Federated Press, 2002.
- Co-Author (with Joel A. Weinstein and Robert G. Sly) of "Compensating an Executive for Housing Costs Incurred on Relocation", published in Taxation of Executive Compensation, Federated Press, 2001.
- Assisted Steven J. Kohn in preparation of paper titled "Tax Planning During the 'Life-Cycle' of a Business – Practical Tips and Traps", presented at the Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, 2001.
- Assisted Joel A. Weinstein in preparation of paper titled "Damages, Fines and Penalties, An Update", presented at the Canadian Tax Foundation Conference, 2000.
Legal Teaching
- Sessional Instructor, Corporate Tax Course offered by the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba (2006 and 2007)
Professional Associations
- Canadian Tax Foundation
- The Law Society of Manitoba
- Manitoba Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
- Member of Executive Committee, National Charity and Not for Profit Law Subsection
- Canadian Association of Farm Advisors
Miscellaneous Affiliations
- Member of Advisory Committee, Tomorrow Fund, the endowment fund of The United Way Winnipeg
- Former Director, Chair and Secretary, Versatech Industries Inc. (a charitable organization), 2004 - 2010
- Former Chair of Management Committee, Winnipeg Chapter of Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (2007 - 2008)
- Former Director and Vice-President, PLATFORM: Centre for Photographic & Digital Arts (2002 - 2004)
