About

Judith M. DaSilva

AccFM (Accredited Family Mediator), AccIM (Intergenerational Mediator), ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) Specialist, CIM (Child Inclusive Mediation) Specialist
B.A., B.HSc.O.T., B.A.H. Sp., M.A., Ph.D (abd), LLM-ADR

Judith is an accredited Family Mediator and Intergenerational Mediator through the Ontario Association of Family Mediation or the OAFM. Judith has experience working with people who need to bring order and function to an emotional or chaotic situation.

She has a biology degree from Queen’s, then studied Occupational Therapy at McMaster University and worked primarily in mental health. As an O.T, she facilitated people transitioning from hospital with acute conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression to home and community, integrating back into their families, activities and work. She then studied English at York and the University of Toronto, and during her PhD studies had four children.

During the raising of four children and herself experiencing a complex divorce and re-marriage, she shifted her career and research focus to the issue of families in transition, and the difficulties of navigating the family law process. She has worked with separating couples through court based mediation at Peel Family Mediation Services in Brampton, and has both a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from York University and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode, with specialites in Online Dispute Resolution and Child Inclusive Mediation. She researches in the areas of gender equity, cultural bias and access to justice. Her current and added area of work is in Intergenerational Mediation: helping families with aging family members who are struggling with conflict, establishing next steps in identified areas of concern, care plans, or other issues. She also currently assits with the professional development of family mediators through the OAFM.

If you are a self-represented litigant, you may benefit from Judith’s guide, co-authored with Julie Macfarlane, Prof. Emeritus at the University of Windsor for the NSRLP (National Self-Represented Litigants Project): The McKenzie Friend: Bringing a support person with you to court.