Additional Temporary Vice Chair Appointments

As you know, the Board was involved in an extensive Treasury Board submission process earlier this year as a result of which it has access to an additional $3M. These funds are intended to address the increased caseload it has experienced, particularly since the 2022 Code amendment. For this fiscal year, some of those funds have been earmarked to bring on former Board appointees and staff on temporary appointments under Section 6 of the Administrative Tribunals Act to help chip away at the existing backlog.

I am thrilled to advice that five former Board appointees and staff have agreed to accept temporary, six-month appointments as Vice Chairs of the Board. These five appointments were approved by the Attorney General under Section 6 of the Administrative Tribunals Act and take effect as described below.

Arbitrator Jitesh Mistry

Jitesh Mistry served as a Vice Chair of the Board between 2013 and 2016, after which he acted as General Counsel to the BCGEU. He transitioned his practice to arbitration and mediation in 2023. As anyone who has tried to book hearing time with him will know, Arbitrator Mistry’s dispute resolution services are in high demand. Despite this, and because of his deep respect for the labour relations community and the Board, Arbitrator Mistry has kindly offered to take on Board files, to the extent that his arbitration practice permits. His appointment is effective immediately. 

Carmela Allevato

Carmela is a longstanding member of the BC labour relations bar. She sat as a Board Member between 1996 and 2000, and is a former Vice Chair and Chair of the Passenger Transportation Board. Much to the surprise (not!) of everyone who attended her retirement party in 2021, Carmela has remained actively engaged as a labour relations advocate as part of Allevato Quail, the firm she co-founded. She has stepped away from the firm to take on this temporary appointment. Carmela will be assisting the Board both as an adjudicator and as a collective bargaining mediator. Her appointment is effective immediately. 

Bruce Wilkins

Bruce was appointed as a Vice Chair of the Board in 2007 and acted as the Board’s Associate Chair between 2012 and 2018. Since then, he has acted as legal counsel to Health Sciences Association of BC. We are extremely lucky to benefit from Bruce’s extensive experience as a Board adjudicator. His appointment takes effect October 1, 2025.

Arbitrator Ritu Mahil

Ritu Mahil served as a Vice Chair of the Board between 2007 and 2013 before becoming a partner at Lawson Lundell LLP. In 2024, she moved to a neutral role, serving as the first Ethics Commissioner for the Hospital Employees’ Union as well as commencing her practice as an arbitrator, mediator, and investigator. Arbitrator Mahil has kindly agreed to take Board files, as her thriving neutral practice permits. Her appointment takes effect October 15, 2025.

Elena Miller

Elena was the Board’s longtime Senior Staff Lawyer until her retirement in April 2024. During her 25-year career, she was seconded to a total of five temporary appointments as a Vice Chair under the Administrative Tribunals Act. Elena has kindly agreed to allow us to intrude on her retirement by agreeing to take on Board files. Her appointment takes effect October 15, 2025.

Jennifer Glougie
Chair, Labour Relations Board