Child’s Views Before the Court (and beyond)

Marian Jacko, Children’s Lawyer for Ontario, is Ojibway and from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, located on Manitoulin Island. Marian is a proud mother of two daughters (Thuraya and Waskoness) and one son (Brandon). In 1993 she completed her undergraduate studies in Social Work (Native Human Services) at Laurentian University in Sudbury. In 1996 she completed the combined Masters of Social Work and Law program at the University of Toronto. Following her call to the Ontario Bar in 1998, Marian worked in the Property Rights Department of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. While working full time, Marian completed her course work and thesis in 2005 and received her Master of Laws degree in Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution from York University. In April 2015, Marian joined the Ministry of Attorney General as Legal Counsel to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Indigenous Justice Division. Marian was then appointed by Order in Council to the position of Children’s Lawyer for Ontario in November 2016. Marian has been very active within the Indigenous community, including serving on Board of Directors for non-profit organizations and advisory committees. In her spare time, Marian coached rep hockey and is very involved with engaging Indigenous youth in the sport of ice hockey. Marian volunteers with the Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) executive and helped coach Team Ontario in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship 2016 together with Ted Nolan.