Alumna Andrea Himel is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Family Court Branch

FIFSW alumna Andrea Himel has been appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Family Court Branch.

Justice Himel graduated from U of T’s combined law and social work program in 1998. The combined program was designed for students which to practice in areas where law and social work intersect, such as child welfare, immigration law, juvenile and criminal justice, dispute resolution, and family law. Students complete the two degrees in four years, rather than the five it would otherwise take to pursue the degrees independently.

Prior to her appointment, Justice Himel was a sole practitioner with a focus on family law, mediation, child protection and children’s law. As a member of the Child and Family Services Review Board, she adjudicated and mediated cases involving school expulsions, adoptions, secure treatment, and other Children’s Aid Society matters. She is a past-president of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and was Co-Chair of the Conference and Research/Policy Committees. She was also a major contributor to the development and marketing of the AFCC-O’s Parenting Plan Guide and Template.

Since 2012, Justice Himel has mentored students through the externship program at the University of Toronto, providing opportunities to learn about the family justice and child protection systems. Throughout her career, she has been a frequent presenter at educational programs and has published articles on a variety of topics.