ABOUT THE TRUSTEES
Marilyn Sandford, KC
Marilyn Sandford obtained her LLB from Dalhousie University in 1989, after having obtained a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree from Carleton University. She was called to the bar in 1990. Since 2002 she has been in private practice in Vancouver with the firm Ritchie Sandford McGowan. Prior to that she was counsel with the predecessor firms Ritchie and Co. and Gibbons Ritchie.
Marilyn's practice includes personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from motor vehicle accidents and other mishaps. She has experience dealing with serious head injury and amputation cases. In addition, she represents clients facing criminal charges. She also represents clients advancing civil constitutional claims. Marilyn has acted as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia, and at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Since 2010, Marilyn has taught a course at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law on issues of evidence in the context of wrongful convictions. She also acts as counsel on files with the University of British Columbia Innocence Project, supervising and mentoring student work.
Marilyn serves as a Director of the BC Association of Legal Aid Lawyers.
Marilyn's practice includes personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from motor vehicle accidents and other mishaps. She has experience dealing with serious head injury and amputation cases. In addition, she represents clients facing criminal charges. She also represents clients advancing civil constitutional claims. Marilyn has acted as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia, and at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Since 2010, Marilyn has taught a course at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law on issues of evidence in the context of wrongful convictions. She also acts as counsel on files with the University of British Columbia Innocence Project, supervising and mentoring student work.
Marilyn serves as a Director of the BC Association of Legal Aid Lawyers.
Carol Baird Ellan, KC
Carol is a retired Provincial Court Judge who works as a civil law mediator and adjudicator of discipline complaints.
After starting practice in 1980, Carol spent her early practice in corporate commercial and tax law. She then served 10 years as a provincial prosecutor followed by 19 years as a judge of the BC Provincial Court, serving as its first female Chief Judge from 2000 to 2005.
Carol retired from the bench in 2012, and provided low and pro bono family law mediation for lore than a decade, serving hundreds of clients at the most difficult times in their lives. She moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2017 and continued to provide family mediation from there until retiring from family law matters in late 2024.
Carol remains active in her part-time law practice, specializing in civil dispute resolution and adjudication, including civil forfeiture, police (OPCC) and veterinarian (CVBC) discipline.
Carol is a member of the Sechelt Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and has volunteered with Retrouvaille Vancouver, a marriage recovery program, since 2008.