The Provincial Court Early Resolution Process (ERP) recently expanded to the Vancouver (Robson Square), North Vancouver, Richmond, Pemberton and Sechelt Provincial Court registries, joining the existing Early Resolution Registries in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Surrey and Victoria. The early resolution provisions apply to all parties seeking to resolve family law matters including parenting arrangements, child support, contact with a child, guardianship of a child, spousal support, and property division in respect of a companion animal under the Family Law Act.
 
Learn about ERP from Associate Chief Judge Sue Wishart, Natasha Gooch, Jon Stewart, and Munnarsh Vilvang.
 

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About the Speakers

About Associate Chief Judge Sue Wishart
Associate Chief Judge Wishart obtained a Masters of Science degree from Queen’s University in 1990, followed by a law degree from the University of Victoria in 1994. She was called to the BC Bar in 1995. Her work as a lawyer was mainly in the area of criminal defence law. During her time as a lawyer Associate Chief Judge Wishart was active in the Canadian Bar Association. She chaired the Victoria criminal law section, was an elected member of Provincial Council, and an elected member of the Executive of the CBA - BC Branch.

Judge Wishart was appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia in March of 2009, serving Victoria, Duncan and the Western Communities. In November of 2014 she was elected president of the Provincial Court Judges’ Association and in that capacity served as a member of Judicial Council for the year 2015.  

Judge Wishart was appointed Associate Chief Judge on May 15, 2016 for a two-year term, re-appointed May 15, 2018 for a three-year term, and re-appointed May 15, 2021 and May 15, 2024 for a further three-year term. As Associate Chief Judge, she serves on various committees including access to justice initiatives, court technology and business intelligence. She has participated in the development and implementation of changes to the Small Claims Rules and the Provincial Court Family and Child, Family and Community Service Act Rules. She is also involved with the specialized courts across the province and serves as Alternate Presiding Member of the Judicial Council of British Columbia.  

About Natasha Gooch
Tasha is the Senior Program and Policy Analyst with the Family Justice Services Division of the Ministry of Attorney General. She works closely with the Executive Management Committee and the analyst team to develop and evaluate policies, programs, and procedures that support families across British Columbia. Tasha contributes to a wide range of initiatives, with a recent focus on leading the implementation of the Early Resolution Process as it expands to Provincial Court Family Registries throughout the Lower Mainland.

About Jon Stewart
Mr. Stewart completed his law degree at Queens University in 1992, completed his articles at a large Vancouver law firm, and has been practicing in Victoria since his admission to the bar in 1993.  Mr. Stewart joined our firm in 2008.  He is a skilled negotiator, with a wide range of experience in trying cases in both the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of British Columbia, as well as settling cases outside of court.  Mr. Stewart is a past member of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and has served as a board member for Capital Families Association.

Mr. Stewart currently practices in Family law, Personal Injury and Civil Litigation.  He has many years’ experience working in Family Law, and is exceptional at assisting in difficult family situations.  

About Munnarsh Vilvang
Munnarsh was called to the bar in British Columbia in 2011 and has worked primarily in the area of Family Law and Child Protection. Munnarsh worked in the Fraser Valley in private practice until 2023 when she took a temporary position with Legal Aid BC as the Lead Family Duty Counsel at the Surrey Courthouse. In October 2024, Munnarsh assumed the role of Lead Family Duty Counsel Lawyer for Port Coquitlam and New Westminster.