User:Stevedempsey/Christine Tabbert

Christine Tabbert, (born December 24, 1972 in Pembroke, Ontario) is a LiberalCanadian politician representing the riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

Personal life
Christine Tabbert is a native of the Pembroke, Ontario area with deep roots throughout the region. She grew up on Forest Lea Road, just west of Pembroke, on the family farm settled by her great great grandfather – a farm which is still worked today by her father and youngest brother. An accomplished young lawyer working in Toronto, Ontario Christine has decided to pursue a career in federal politics by seeking the nomination of the Liberal Party of Canada in her home riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

The eldest child of Hilbert Tabbert and Betty (Francis) Tabbert, Christine attended school in Alice & Fraser Township at Rockwood Public School, and in Pembroke at Pembroke Senior Public School, Fellowes High School and the former Champlain Senior High School. From Grade 7 on, she benefited from a French immersion education program. As a student, Christine was also actively involved in all levels of the Girl Guides program. While a student in Pembroke, she worked at the local library, at CFB Petawawa and at the Pembroke General Hospital (now Pembroke Regional Hospital).

Upon graduation, Christine attended the University of Guelph where she graduated in Psychology and Women’s Studies, earning a spot on the Dean’s List for her strong academic performance. She attended law school at the University of Western Ontario and was called to the Ontario bar in 2000. At law school, she received the prestigious Dean Rand Award in recognition of her overall scholastic record and her service to students of the faculty.

On becoming a lawyer, Christine was invited to join the leading international law firm of Fasken Martineau. She specializes in civil and commercial litigation and was made partner of the firm in 2006. Since 2007, she has served as Vice-Chair of its Toronto litigation department. Among Christine’s many successes at trial and on appeal are a number of important cases in securities law and pension law. Most recently, she was part of the team that won the Supreme Court of Canada decision in the highly publicized Kerry Canada case on employee pension plans.

Although her professional career has been in Toronto, Christine has maintained continuous and close ties to the Pembroke area over the years through her large, extended family and many close friends. Returning home frequently, she still attends St. John’s Lutheran Church on Black Bay Road in Petawawa – a church that her ancestors helped to establish – where she taught Sunday School for several years. She has relatives throughout the riding, including members of the Francis family who arrived from Ireland to settle in the Renfrew area (Northcote) in 1822, the Griese family who originally settled in Bromley Township five generations ago and the Gusts, who settled very near the Tabberts just outside Pembroke five generations back.

Through marriage, Christine’s family connections also include Bob and Barbara Kramer, co-owners of the former Kramer Building Supply in Petawawa, as well as two well-known families that have played a leading role in area politics. Lois Hopkins, widow of long-time federal Liberal MP Len Hopkins (1965-1997), is her father’s first cousin. Ron Hamilton, son of long-time Progressive Conservative MPP Maurice Hamilton (1958-1975), is Christine’s uncle and godfather.

Political career
She is currently a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She has represented the riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke since 2009.