Harvey James Slobodzian

Harvey Slobodzian, majored in economics at the University of Winnipeg (twice named to the Dean’s Honour List and Economics Major Prize winner) before heading into law at the University of Manitoba. He graduated in 1983 being the recipient of the Commercial Law Prize. He served on the editorial staff of the Manitoba Law Journal. He articled with Newman MacLean, which has subsequently merged with another law firm, and was called to the bar in 1984.

Harvey likes the cut and thrust of litigation. He thinks on his feet and looks comfortable in court where he has had many successes. It doesn’t matter much which court.

He’s been to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa – twice. The court level doesn’t matter much to him. He has stood before a lot of benches – the Provincial Court, Queen’s Bench, Court of Appeal. He has appeared before his share of tribunals, too – Workers’ Compensation Board Appeal Commission; the Automobile Inquiry Appeal Commission; The Residential Tenancies Appeal Commission; the Manitoba Labor Board; the License Suspension Appeal Board; the City of Winnipeg Board of Revision.

His clients represent a wide variety of legal service needs and pleadings. It helps, too, to be comfortable in the other official language. After receiving his call to the Manitoba Bar, Harvey studied French in Paris at the Alliance Française from 1984 to 1985. He added two diplomas to his resume: Diplôme SupÉrieur d’Etudes Françaises Modernes and Diplôme d’Etudes de Langue Française.

On his return from Europe in 1985 he began his law practice at Baker Zivot & Co. and was an associate in the firm when, in 1992, he moved to Pullan Guld Kammerloch, also as an associate. Harvey was one of the original co-venturers and principals of the reshaped PKF Lawyers.

He is currently engaged in general practice, drawing on his extensive experience particularly in the areas of domestic and civil litigation.

Harvey is a former Board Member of the Alliance Française du Manitoba having served in the capacities of legal counsel and treasurer. He was a member of the Manitoba Mining Board for over 10 years and sat as it’s Presiding Member. He served for (the maximum allowable term) on the Board of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Winnipeg Region) where he held the position of its chairperson. He continues to be a member of the Canadian Mental Health Association and has been involved in ongoing Board committee work. Harvey is a current member of the Knights of Columbus. As well, Harvey was appointed by the Manitoba Government to the Vulnerable Persons with a Mental Disability Hearing Panel where he sits on a regular basis hearing applications for substitute decision makers.

Harvey’s career has witnessed numerous challenging legal cases and he has seen significant success in the pursuit of his clients’ interests. That being said, he is particularly proud of his legal representation of the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada in its dispute with the City of Winnipeg, which resulted in Winnipeg continuing to be the long term home of the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum, ushering in a new era of cooperation between the parties.

For the past several years, Harvey has acted as Manitoba Counsel to National Employee Assistance Plan providers. In this capacity, he provides legal consultations on diverse legal matters to employee plan members. He does so because he understands the importance of people having prompt access to experienced legal services.

His recreational interests include 10-pin bowling and fishing. He is a long-time league bowler and is a certified 10-pin bowling coach.