JANUARY 2016
38
INHOUSE
JANUARY 2016
38
INHOUSE
WHEN MAUREEN Armstrong became
general counsel at York University in July
2014, one of her fi rst challenges was a
$20.5-million lawsuit brought against York
by eight students — two who were acci-
dentally shot in the university food court in
March 2014 and six others who witnessed
the incident.
Ironically, Armstrong had joined York
following six years as chair of the criminal
injuries compensation board, an indepen-
dent provincial agency that adjudicates
claims for public compensation made by
victims of violent crime. Yet her experi-
ence with criminal injury indemnity was
not, she says, a factor in York hiring her.
Harriet Lewis, a 25-year veteran in
the legal department, was retiring as
GC. "York was looking for someone
with experience managing in a
legal environment who respected
the diversity of the population
that York has in its student body
and faculty and staff," says
Armstrong. (She has three
lawyers reporting to her in
the offi ce of the counsel.)
Campus
counsel
Maureen Armstrong
is taking on a variety
of complex legal issues
at York University.
BY SHELDON GORDON
