Nigerian-born Chidinma B. Thompson was among the six announced on Monday by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, as Judges.
Justice Thompson, Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary, was appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary. She replaces Justice C.M. Jones (Calgary), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective November 11, 2022.
Appointed along with Justice Thompson include Honourable Alice Woolley, a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Calgary; Honourable Kevin Feth, a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Edmonton; Ayla Akgungor, Partner at Field LLP in Edmonton, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Edmonton; Jonathan Martin, Chief Federal Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Edmonton, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Edmonton; and Darren Reed, Partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Calgary, appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary.
A statement by the Department of Justice, Canada said the appointments were made under the judicial application process established in 2016 which “emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.”
Justice Thompson, who was born and raised in Nigeria. A product of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Nigerian Law School, she was called to the bar in 2002 and practiced law in the country with an international law firm until she immigrated to Canada in 2004.
In 2007, she obtained her LL.M from the University of Calgary and also obtained the equivalent of a Canadian LL.B from the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. She obtained a Ph.D. (law) from the University of Calgary in 2014.
Justice Thompson joined the research department of Bennett Jones LLP in 2008, articled with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 2009, and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2010. She became a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 2017.
She spent her legal career as a lawyer, adjudicator, and arbitrator. She maintained a diverse commercial litigation, arbitration, and regulatory law practice in a broad range of sectors.
Throughout her career, Justice Thompson volunteered with the Legal Education Society of Alberta, Pro Bono Law Alberta, Calgary Legal Guidance, Alberta Regional Advisory Committee of the Advocates Society, and the Canadian Bar Association. She served on the Boards of not-for-profit organizations such as Ignite Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and Nigerians Inspiring Development Organization Americas (NIDOA) Canada.
She spent rewarding time mentoring law students, young lawyers, and women. Justice Thompson was sessional instructor of various law courses at the University of Calgary. She authored several law textbook chapters and articles, and frequently spoke at professional conferences. She was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta), the Women in Law Leadership Award, and the Young Women in Energy inaugural Award.
Justice Thompson and her husband, Kenny, are blessed with two wonderful children.
