JUSTICE OF THE PEACE VACANCIES

At the request of the Attorney General and in accordance with the Justices of the Peace Act, the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee (JPAAC) invites applications for vacant justice of the peace positions in the province of Ontario in the following court locations:

• Barrie (Bilingual-1)
• Brampton (5)
• Brampton (Bilingual-1)
• Dryden (Indigenous-1)
• Haileybury (1)
• Hamilton (2)
• Kenora (2)
• Kingston (2)
• Kitchener (1)
• Kitchener (Bilingual-1)
• London (Bilingual-1)
• Newmarket (2)
• Oshawa (3)
• Oshawa (Bilingual-1)
• Ottawa (2)
• Ottawa (Bilingual-2)
• Ottawa (Indigenous-1)
• Owen Sound (Indigenous-1)
• Sault Ste. Marie (1)
• Sioux Lookout (Indigenous-1)
• St. Catharines (1)
• St. Catharines (Indigenous-2)

A justice of the peace is an independent judicial officer who presides in court over various proceedings under federal and provincial statutes. This is a full-time appointment that requires travel within the province.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications as set out in the Justices of the Peace Act. Candidates must have at least 10 years of paid or volunteer experience, and:

• have a university degree;
• have a diploma or advanced diploma granted by a college of applied arts and technology or a community college following completion of a program that is the equivalent in class hours of a full-time program or of at least four academic semesters;
• have a degree from an institution, other than a university, that is authorized to grant the degree; or meet the educational equivalency requirement set out in s.2(1.3) of the Justices of the Peace Act.

More information about the qualifications to become a justice of the peace can be found here.

Selection Criteria:

In addition to reflecting the diversity of the population in Ontario, applicants should also display the fundamental skills and abilities, personal characteristics and community awareness attributes set out in the JPAAC General Selection Criteria, including:

1. Skills and/or education that are clearly relevant and transferable to the work of a justice of the peace.
2. Work, volunteer or other experience that is clearly relevant and transferable to the duties and responsibilities of a justice of the peace.
3. An understanding of, and the skills, abilities, and personal characteristics applicable to, the vacancy, including the pace of court, geographic and community needs.
4. Awareness and understanding of the breadth and depth of the role of a justice of the peace.
5. Keen interest in people and humanity, including cross-cultural experience and community engagement.
6. An ability to apply superior interpersonal skills in the courtroom and maintain decorum in adversarial circumstances.
7. A high level of achievement in the area(s) of employment and/or community service.
8. Experience providing functional advice, guidance and assistance to/at multiple levels of authority.
9. Ability and willingness to learn, substantiated through the candidate’s record of life-long learning.
10. Demonstrated good judgment in the face of real or perceived conflict of interest.
11. Proven ability and experience in making sound, practical and timely decisions with complex factors.
12. Proven reputation for punctuality, reliability, organization skills and preparedness.
13. Highly developed intellectual and analytical skills.
14. Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to change.
15. Ability to work both co-operatively and independently.
16. Ability to manage people, time, and resources.
17. Ability to present a clear, concise, and well-written application that is reflective of the candidate’s interest and ability.
18. Bilingual ability (if applicable).

For vacancies that serve large Indigenous communities (one vacancy in each of Dryden, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Sioux Lookout, and Toronto and two in St. Catharines), candidates that are Indigenous people and/or people with an in-depth understanding of Indigenous languages, history, law and communities and the issues affecting those communities are encouraged to apply.

To apply for an appointment as a justice of the peace, refer to the current application form and instructions for completion and submission here.

This website also provides information about the advertised vacancies, the JPAAC process and the role of the justice of the peace in Ontario. Reviewing the JPAAC Frequently Asked Questions may also be helpful. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday July 31, 2024. Late applications will NOT be accepted.

To be informed about future vacancies, please register at: Subscribe to Vacancy Notifications (via e-mail).