President & Vice President

The president is the face of the CBA. As its spokesperson and members’ advocate, the president is responsible for key relationships with the branches, the CBA Board of Directors, the CBA Executive Officers, legal groups in Canada and internationally, the public and the media. The vice president supports the president and chairs the Governance and Equality Committee.

Meet the 2023-2024 President and Vice President.

JOHN D.STEFANIUK K.C.

JOHN D.STEFANIUK K.C.

President | Manitoba

John Stefaniuk K.C. is a partner with the Winnipeg-based law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. He has more than 30 years' experience in the areas of environmental law, Indigenous law, natural resources and energy law, commercial law, property development, and municipal law. He earned his law degree at the University of Manitoba and was called to the bar in that province in 1988. John’s involvement in the Canadian Bar Association is extensive: he has served as President of CBA-Manitoba and previously sat on the National Board in 2006-07. He is an active volunteer in the CBA International Initiatives/Global Affairs Canada SIRD (Supporting Inclusive Resource Development) project in East Africa. He also served as a member of the CBA’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force.

Lynne Vicars Portrait

LYNNE M.J. VICARS

Vice President | Ontario

Lynne Vicars is a banker turned lawyer whose extensive experience in both business and complex litigation has fostered a passion for bringing technology to the legal profession. With an M.B.A. in International Business, a J.D. from the University of Alberta, an LL.M. in e-Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a certificate in Lean Six Sigma from the University of Toronto, Lynne brings a unique perspective to her legal practice – one that connects business principles and technical innovation with legal vision and strategy.

Admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions, Lynne provides strategic legal advice on data privacy and breach response, information governance, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, eDiscovery, subpoena response and trains other lawyers on the use of "CaseLines" for electronic document review and presentation in hearings.