Canadian Bar Association: Provincial Presidents 2026-2027 Unveiled

• The Canadian Bar Association has announced its provincial presidents for the 2026-2027 term, with all new leaders commencing their roles on September 1.
• Sarah Vincella Coderre is the first Black president of CBA Alberta, specializing in employment, labour, and human rights law.
• Robert Pellizzaro (CBA Manitoba), Megan Reynolds (CBA Newfoundland & Labrador), Angela Stolz (CBA Saskatchewan), and James Profit (CBA Prince Edward Island) are among the newly appointed provincial presidents.
• These leaders bring diverse legal expertise, ranging from family law and corporate litigation to environmental law and real estate, to their respective provincial branches.
• Connor Bildfell for British Columbia and Jason Cooke for Nova Scotia were also named as provincial presidents.

The appointment of these Canadian Bar Association provincial presidents for 2026-2027 carries significant weight for the legal profession across the country.

The Canadian Bar Association has officially unveiled its slate of provincial presidents for the 2026-2027 term, with new leaders stepping into their roles on September 1. These appointments mark significant Canadian Bar Association provincial leadership changes across several regions, bringing fresh perspectives and diverse expertise to the forefront of legal advocacy and professional development.

Among the key appointments, Sarah Vincella Coderre will lead CBA Alberta, Robert Pellizzaro takes the helm for CBA Manitoba, Megan Reynolds is set to preside over CBA Newfoundland & Labrador, Angela Stolz will guide CBA Saskatchewan, and James Profit assumes leadership for CBA Prince Edward Island. Each president began their tenure on the specified date, accompanied by their respective executive committees, poised to shape the legal landscape in their provinces.

Further expanding its provincial leadership, the association also announced Connor Bildfell as the president for the British Columbia branch and Jason Cooke for the Nova Scotia branch, ensuring comprehensive representation and strategic direction across various jurisdictions.

Sarah Vincella Coderre, the new president of CBA Alberta, holds the distinction of being the first Black president for the provincial branch. Her one-year term follows Christopher Samuel's leadership. Coderre brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as vice-chair of the labour and employment law section for CBA Alberta, vice-chair of the Inns of Court (South) Committee, and a member of the Agenda for justice and advocacy committee. From 2020 to 2022, she was the young lawyer (South) director on the CBA Alberta Board of Directors and was appointed secretary to the executive committee in 2023. A co-founder and partner at Bow River Law LLP, Coderre specializes in employment law, labour law, and human rights, with her practice spanning Calgary and Edmonton. She will lead an executive committee that includes past president Samuel.

In Manitoba, Robert Pellizzaro assumes the presidency of CBA Manitoba for 2026-2027, succeeding Stacey Soldier. As a founding partner at Mayer Dearman & Pellizzaro, Pellizzaro's involvement with the MBA executive committee began in 2024 as director of membership, quickly progressing to vice-president. He has also contributed to various Law Society of Manitoba committees. His legal focus lies in family law, handling cases involving separation, divorce, child custody and access, child and spousal support, adoptions, guardianship applications, and the division of family property. His executive committee will include past president Soldier, following the departure of outgoing past president Jessica Schofield this year.

Megan Reynolds will preside over CBA Newfoundland & Labrador for the 2026-2027 term, taking over from Eugene Chao. Reynolds previously chaired the Newfoundland and Labrador Mineral Rights Adjudication Board from 2019 to 2025. A partner at Curtis Dawe Lawyers, her practice encompasses litigation and advisory services, including corporate and commercial litigation, construction disputes, shareholder and oppression proceedings, insurance and disability matters, administrative law, and judicial reviews. Lexpert recognized her as a leading lawyer to watch in corporate-commercial litigation. Her executive committee will feature past president Chao, with Lynn Sullivan, an outgoing past president, having departed the committee this year.

Angela Stolz steps into the role of president for CBA Saskatchewan for 2026-2027, succeeding Jessie Buydens. Stolz's prior contributions include serving as vice-chair and subsequently chair of the environment and resources law section, where she also acted as the section’s legislation and law reform representative. A partner at McDougall Gauley LLP, she is a civil litigator with a focus on construction litigation and environmental law. Her executive committee will include past president Buydens, following the departure of outgoing past president Mark Dolan this year.

Finally, James Profit will lead CBA Prince Edward Island for 2026-2027, succeeding Sean Seviour. Profit is the national chair of the CBA's real property section and is also involved with the construction law section. His practice areas include real estate law, corporate commercial matters, and estate planning and litigation, having managed numerous commercial transactions and financing arrangements. His executive committee will include past president Seviour, with Tom Keeler, an outgoing past president, having departed the committee this year.

The appointment of these Canadian Bar Association provincial presidents for 2026-2027 carries significant weight for the legal profession across the country. These leaders are instrumental in guiding the CBA's provincial branches, influencing legal policy, advocating for the profession, and fostering professional development initiatives tailored to their specific provincial contexts.

Understanding the backgrounds and areas of expertise of these new presidents, such as Sarah Vincella Coderre CBA Alberta's focus on employment and human rights, Robert Pellizzaro CBA Manitoba's expertise in family law, Megan Reynolds CBA Newfoundland & Labrador's litigation prowess, Angela Stolz CBA Saskatchewan's specialization in environmental and construction law, and James Profit CBA Prince Edward Island's work in real estate and corporate commercial law, provides valuable insight into the potential directions and priorities of their respective branches. Their leadership is crucial for addressing contemporary legal challenges and advancing the interests of lawyers and the public they serve.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the new provincial leadership within the Canadian Bar Association for 2026-2027. This information is crucial for understanding who is shaping legal policy, advocacy, and professional development initiatives in their respective provinces, and identifies key contacts for engagement within the legal community.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Legal Newswire