Stephen O’Neill

Stephen O’Neill’s legal career spans nearly 39 years. He has dedicated his career to working as a judge in Northern Ontario and to working in private practice for First Nations. In addition to serving 16 years as a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, he has been general counsel and has worked in land claims, mediation and negotiations.

He has experienced first-hand how mediation and alternative dispute resolution can contribute greatly to the settlement of long-outstanding claims and disputes. He is looking forward to constructively assisting in mediations and alternative dispute resolution processes involving the Crown, industry and Indigenous peoples.

Stephen graduated from the University of Windsor and spent 22 years in private practice before becoming a judge in 1999.

He was a past executive member of the Aboriginal law section of the Canadian Bar Association and a past member of the Canadian Judges Conference and the Ontario Superior Court Judges Association.

He has written extensively on First Nations issues, and he has also spoken in various venues across Canada with respect to Indigenous and Crown relations, and in reference to the fundamental importance of the principle of reconciliation.

Stephen is married to Shirley, and they have four children and four grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys canoeing, running and cross-country skiing.