Get to know ADR Education at ADR Education - Determination, Agility, Resolution

Get to know ADR Education

Meet the people of ADR Education: Sylvain Lefebvre, Andrew Fulton, Jessica McNamara, Robert Pidgeon and Mallorie Nicholson.

ADR Education is a partnership of five experienced conflict resolution experts from across Canada. We work in every part of the country, in both official languages, and in other countries. Our backgrounds in law, psychology, planning, and dispute resolution give our firm the distinct advantage of agility.

As practitioners, we are committed to providing exceptional service. We believe that people in conflict can tackle their differences with process and communication help.

As trainers and adult educators, we are committed to deliver learning solutions that enhance capacity and fit the unique circumstances and needs of our clients.

We rely on building relationship with our clients. By choosing to work with us, you will find us to be:

Trustworthy
Responsive
Approachable
Receptive
Determined

Because all five partners share competency in all we do, we offer the ability to substitute personnel whenever you want. We often provide more than one partner where the task requires it. Learn more about each of us below.

Gordon Sloan, Founder

Gordon started mediating in 1985. He founded ADR Education in 1997 providing dispute resolution services across Canada.

Sylvain Lefebvre, Partner

Sylvain spent 26 years in federal departments, 20 years with the Correctional Service of Canada and 6 years with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, where he held the position of National Program Manager, Informal Conflict Management System.

Andrew Fulton, Partner

Andrew has enjoyed providing dispute resolution services since 1994. He resides in Edmonton and the Greater Vancouver area and works extensively throughout Canada.

Jessica McNamara, Partner

Jessica has been working in the field of dispute resolution since the late 1990s. She mediates, facilitates, negotiates, coaches, and delivers training across Canada.

Robert Pidgeon, Partner

Robert is a Chartered Mediator and a respected educator within the conflict management field. His practice is based in Ontario.

Mallorie Nicholson, Partner

Mallorie is a grounded and helpful presence in difficult conversations. She uses analysis, skills and process to shift disputes from avoidance & competition to open dialogue & collaboration.

Meda Kabue, Firm Administrator

Meda’s role as Firm Administrator is to support the Partners in the organizational & logistical tasks that ensure successful and fast service delivery for ADR Education’s clients.

Jamie Chicanot, Associate & Former Partner

Jamie has been working as a conflict engagement specialist for the past 20 years in myriad contexts across Canada. He regards himself first and foremost as a helper and is drawn to the work because of that identity.

Sylvie Matteau, Associate & Former Partner

Sylvie is passionate about her field of expertise and enjoys working with executives and team leaders faced with the challenges of conflict in their workplace.

Cherolyn Knapp, Associate

Cherolyn Knapp’s practice includes mediation, facilitation, negotiation, workplace assessments, training and investigations.

Barbara McNeil, Associate

Barbara has a thirty-year plus career as a mediator, facilitator, adjudicator, and trainer in dispute resolution for workplace, municipal, energy, stakeholder engagement, governance, and other issues.

Brin Hamilton, Associate

Brin Hamilton is a conflict consultant, mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, and human resources professional.

Salima Samnani, Associate

Salima Samnani is a Kenyan Indo-Canadian immigrant. Her experience as a litigator and as a lecturer, which focuses on public law and employment law, makes her an ideal workplace investigator, mediator, and facilitator.

Jonathan Chaplan, Associate

For over 35 years, Jonathan has had a varied career as a lawyer, mediator, facilitator, restorative justice practitioner, trainer and manager. In all of these roles, what drives Jonathan is the desire to help people to better communicate and work with each other.

Robbie Sheffman*, Associate

Robbie has spent his lengthy and varied career as a mediator, investigator, lawyer, adjudicator, teacher and broadcaster trying to “get to the bottom of things.” He applies his curiosity, perseverance and communication skills to untangle and resolve.

The presenter showed skill in weaving between theory and practice... from theoretical examples to sensitive hot topics.

ADR's approach is exceptional. They are able to take a complex subject and distill it into digestible components

Teaching methods are fantastic!

The team was effective. Our case was set for a two week trial but was mediated in one day!

I've seen a lot of manuals for this kind of thing in my time, and this one is by far the best.

Very accomplished presenters excited about what they are teaching...easy to be with and very approachable.

Excellent facilitating. Keeping on track, taking control at the appropriate times.

For our staff to see how the skills can be used specifically in their work makes them take notice.

Your ability to customize the course so it was directly relevant to the work we do made it all the more useful.