BIOGRAPHIES

A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Vincent J. De Angelis is a partner in the law firm of Scher & De Angelis LLP. His areas of practice are focussed on corporate/commercial, real estate and wills and estates law. he is an instructor in the Business Law Section of the Bar Admission Course and a member of the Canadian Bar Association.

Mr. De Angelis is active in local community matters and charitable causes. he is a member of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce. He also is a member of the executives of local charities and non profit organizations. Mr. De Angelis serves as Chair of Helpmate Community Information & Volunteer Bureau - Richmond Hill, and Vice-Chair of the Upper Rouge Network, a chapter of the Rouge Valley Foundation which advocates the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands for future generations through the use of land trusts and the establishment of parks. Mr. De Angelis has also devoted free time in providing legal services for local charities and non profit organizations. In 1997, Mr. De Angelis ran for the office of local councillor, Town of Richmond Hill, and continues to be an advocate for local residents on municipal matters.

A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Hugh Scher is a partner in the law firm of Scher & De Angelis LLP where he practises civil litigation and administrative law with a focus on employment, labour and human rights law especially in the area of disability rights.He has served as Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities since 1995. He is Past-President of the Board of Directors of ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities. He is Past-Chair of Info Ability, an information and referral service for vulnerable adults in Ontario, and he has held several additional positions on boards and committees of various other community organizations.

Mr. Scher has participated in various Federal and Provincial Government Consultations on issues of social policy and disability rights and has presented briefs before numerous Federal and Provincial Government Committees on subjects including constitutional, transportation, criminal law, health law, employment equity and human rights reform.Mr. Scher is actively involved in case development and advocacy work on equality rights matters before the Canadian Superior Courts, Boards and Tribunals.Mr. Scher has appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts and is frequently quoted in newspapers across the country as an expert on matters relating to euthanasia, assisted suicide and the human rights of people with disabilities. Mr. Scher is a frequent lecturer on disability issues at the Law Society of Upper Canada, York University, the University of Toronto and other organizations across Canada. He is an instructor in the Public Law Section of the Bar Admission Course, a member of the Canadian Bar Association and Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers' Association.