The new heads stepped into their new roles on September 1
The Canadian Bar Association has announced Sarah Vincella Coderre, Robert Pellizzaro, Megan Reynolds, Angela Stolz, and James Profit as presidents of the provincial branches.
The new presidents took on their new roles on September 1, joined by their respective executive committees.
Sarah Vincella Coderre – Alberta
Coderre is the first Black president of CBA’s Alberta branch. She succeeds Christopher Samuel and will hold the role for a year.
Coderre was the vice-chair of the labour and employment law section at CBA Alberta, vice-chair of the Inns of Court (South) Committee, and a member of the Agenda for justice and advocacy committee. In 2020-2022, she was the young lawyer (South) director on the CBA Alberta Board of Directors; she was appointed secretary to CBA Alberta’s executive committee in 2023.
Coderre co-founded Bow River Law LLP, at which she is a partner. She focuses on employment law, labour law, and human rights. She has worked across Calgary and Edmonton.
She will lead an executive committee consisting of past president Samuel and the following:
- Kathy M. Briere (vice-president)
- Tracey D. Stock (treasurer)
- Jillian Gamez (secretary)
- Yoko Azumaya (director)
- R. Travis Bissett (director)
- Maddison Croden (director)
- Patricia Gonzalez (director)
- Jonathan Griffith (director)
- Raphael Jacob (director)
- Tiffany Primmer (director)
- Marc Yu (director)
Robert Pellizzaro – Manitoba
Pellizzaro will be president of the Manitoba branch for 2026-2027. The Mayer Dearman & Pellizzaro founding partner succeeds Stacey Soldier.
He joined the MBA executive committee in 2024 as director of membership; subsequently, he became vice-president. He was on a number of Law Society of Manitoba committees.
Pellizzaro concentrates on family law. He has acted for clients on matters involving separation and divorce, child custody and access, child and spousal support, adoptions, guardianship applications, and the division of family property.
He leads an executive committee consisting of past president Soldier and the following:
- Wendy Martin White (vice-president, formerly director of advocacy and public relations)
- Michael Badejo (secretary/treasurer)
- Jennifer Sokal (director of advocacy and public relations)
- Bryton Moen (director of membership)
- Chidera Anadi-Mbanefo (equity member-at-large)
- Ian Scarth (CBA board representative)
Jessica Schofield, outgoing past president, departed the committee this year.
Megan Reynolds - Newfoundland and Labrador
Reynolds will preside over the CBA Newfoundland & Labrador branch for 2026-2027, succeeding Eugene Chao. Reynolds chaired the Newfoundland and Labrador Mineral Rights Adjudication Board over 2019-2025.
The Curtis Dawe Lawyers partner concentrates on litigation and advisory, tackling corporate and commercial litigation, construction disputes, shareholder and oppression proceedings, insurance and disability matters, administrative law, and judicial reviews. Lexpert ranked her as a leading lawyer to watch in the category of corporate-commercial litigation.
Reynolds leads an executive committee consisting of past president Chao and the following:
- Jessica Dellow (vice-president)
- Travis Payne (treasurer)
- Tanya O'Neil (secretary)
- Morgan Chafe (professional development chair)
- Claire Dowden (young lawyers chair)
- Joe Thorne (advocacy chair)
- Derrick White (Labrador representative)
- Adam Foote (Central representative)
- Melissa May (Western representative)
Lynn Sullivan, outgoing past president, departed the committee this year.
Angela Stolz - Saskatchewan
Stolz will lead the Saskatchewan branch for 2026-2027, succeeding Jessie Buydens.
Stolz was appointed vice-chair of the environment and resources law section in 2016 and then became chair. She served as the section’s legislation and law reform representative. The McDougall Gauley LLP partner is a civil litigator focusing on construction litigation and environmental law.
She leads an executive committee consisting of past president Buydens and the following:
- Evan Olson (vice-president)
- Leah Howie (treasurer)
- Darlene Wingerak (education director)
- Allison Graham (LLR director)
- Carleen Ready (outreach director)
Mark Dolan, outgoing past president, departed the committee this year.
James Profit - Prince Edward Island
Profit leads the Prince Edward Island branch for 2026-2027, succeeding Sean Seviour. Profit is national chair of the CBA's real property section and is part of the construction law section.
He concentrates on matters involving real estate law, corporate commercial, and estate planning and litigation. He has handled commercial transactions and financing arrangements.
Profit leads an executive committee consisting of past president Seviour and the following:
- Hilary Newman – vice-president
- Sean Kelly - secretary-treasurer
- Kate Profit - young lawyers chair
- Amber Wilson - member at large
Tom Keeler, outgoing past president, departed the committee this year.
