Travis Cunningham, Elizabeth Iredale, Jayne Janzen round out Edmonton, Calgary, northern appointees
The Alberta government has announced the appointments of Boyd Langford, Denis Lefebvre, Kristin Fahlman, Travis Cunningham, Elizabeth Iredale, and Jayne Janzen as six new judges of the Alberta Court of Justice.
According to the provincial government’s news release, the judicial appointees have received these assignments, effective on the following dates:
- Langford: northern region (Mar. 16)
- Lefebvre: Edmonton criminal (Mar. 16)
- Fahlman: Calgary criminal/Calgary region (Mar. 16)
- Cunningham: Edmonton region (Mar. 23)
- Iredale: Calgary family and youth (Apr. 7)
- Janzen: Edmonton family and youth (Apr. 8)
Mickey Amery, Alberta’s justice minister and attorney general, and James Hunter, chief justice of the Alberta Court of Justice, congratulated the new additions.
“Each brings valuable skills and experience that will strengthen the work of the Court and contribute to maintaining public confidence in a justice system that is accessible, timely and impartial,” Hunter said in the news release.
“Continuing to fill judicial appointments directly strengthens the capacity of our courts, helping ensure Albertans have timely access to justice,” Amery said.
“We look forward to the important role they will play in serving Albertans and supporting access to justice in communities throughout the province,” Hunter added.
The provincial government’s news release provided more information regarding the six new judges.
Boyd Langford
Langford’s general practice has included both criminal and family law. Based mainly in High Level, Alberta, he has delivered pro bono services to the region’s societies, community groups, and churches for years.
As a roster lawyer with the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, he has frequently appeared as duty counsel in criminal dockets.
At a private law firm, he articled in 2004 and joined the partnership immediately upon admission to the bar in 2005. He obtained an LLB from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000.
Denis Lefebvre
Since 2022, Lefebvre has been a full-time justice of the peace at the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton.
From 2020–22, he served as labour and employment counsel with Alberta Health Services. From 2017–20, he chaired the Public Health Appeal Board for a three-year term.
Lefebvre’s private sector practice has encompassed litigation across employment and labour law, human rights, and administrative law. He has served as a lawyer mentor with the Law Society of Alberta. He received his JD from the University of Alberta in 2008.
Kristin Fahlman
At the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service in Calgary, Fahlman has worked as a Crown prosecutor since 2009 and led the Youth Prosecution Unit since 2025. She has also belonged to the Urban Crime Team. She has helped prosecute files and managed the Serious Habitual Offender Program.
She founded a registered charity that supports human trafficking survivors across Canada, served as social justice chair for the Catholic Women's League, sat on the board of Amaris Adoption and Family Support Services, and mentored for the Law Society Mentor Express Program.
She gained admission to practise in Alberta in 2010. She earned her JD from the University of Calgary in 2009.
Travis Cunningham
For the Edmonton Indigenous Court, Cunningham began participating in its development and implementation in 2021 and has served as a Crown prosecutor within the court since its launch in 2022.
He became a Crown prosecutor in 2007 and has since garnered over 18 years of experience in the role. He has handled trial, appeal, and docket court work. He has readied criminal files for trial, bail hearings, appeals, and sentencing.
Cunningham worked as a police officer at the Edmonton Police Service from 2002–07. He articled at a defence firm. He obtained his LLB in 2000.
Elizabeth Iredale
Iredale is experienced in child protection law. For the Family and Surrogate Court litigation program of Alberta’s Ministry for Justice and Solicitor General, she became assistant director in 2021 and director in 2023. From 2006–21, she served as a barrister and solicitor with the justice ministry.
She practised law in Calgary’s private sector after articling. She received her LLB from Dalhousie Law School in 2002.
Jayne Janzen
From 2021–25, Janzen was a member of the Indigenous Family Justice Initiative Committee. From 2019–21, she acted as Alberta Justice’s representative on the Family Advisory Court Team, a judicially sponsored court committee.
Within Alberta’s justice ministry, she has served in various roles since 2005 and became a senior legal officer on the Legal Services Division’s people and communities legal team in 2021. From 2001–05, she worked as staff counsel in Legal Aid Alberta’s Family Law Office.
From 1997–2001, Janzen practised law in the private sector. She earned her LLB at the University of Alberta in 1996.
