LAURIE A. E. OAKES
Laurie was born and raised in Powerview-Pine Falls, Manitoba. She attended Law School at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 2002. She married her husband Michael following graduation and started her career in Dauphin, Manitoba as Michael was posted there as a member of the RCMP at the time. She practised in Dauphin, Powerview-Pine Falls and Winnipeg.
Prior to her move to the Swan River Valley she had been working as a lawyer for the City of Winnipeg. In early 2013, after 7 years of living and working in Winnipeg she and her husband made the decision that the City life wasn't for them and that they wanted to give their children the small town / rural upbringing they enjoyed as kids. They put their house up for sale and made the leap to move to the Valley where Michael's parents were already enjoying their retirement years.
Laurie and her family are very happy to call the Valley their home.
MICHAEL D. OAKES
Our Financial Manager was born and raised in The Pas, Manitoba. After graduating high school, Michael attended the University of Manitoba and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology. Shortly thereafter, he joined the RCMP which he continued at various locations until his move to the Valley in 2013.
Michael is married to Laurie and has two adult children.
CHRISTINA MAE LOVE
Our Office Manager Christina was born and raised in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, and moved to the valley with her parents when she was 17 years old. After graduating work took her back north to The Pas and Flin Flon, where she worked as a head cashier for Extra Foods and as a radio station copywriter and webmaster. She returned to the Valley in 2013 with her children and has been with Oakes Law Office ever since.
JENNIFER BERNT
Jennifer was born and raised in Winnipeg but spent the school breaks at her grandparent’s farm in the Swan Valley. After high school she worked at a bank for 15 years before moving to Swan River with her husband in 2004.
In 2005 she started working for Burnside & Ferriss, which later became Ferriss Law and now has merged into Oakes Law Office. When not at work she enjoys reading, being in her back yard and glamping.
CHARLENE SCHURE
Charlene was raised in Swan River, MB and after graduation, she moved to Winnipeg, MB to work. Realizing that the city life wasn’t for her, she moved back to the valley and worked in a variety of roles before finding her place in the business office at the Benito Health Centre for 18 years. In 2017, she joined Ferriss Law and later became part of the Oakes Law Office team when the two firms amalgamated.
Outside of work, Charlene enjoys camping, tending to her yard, travelling and spending quality time with her daughters and granddaughters. Charlene resides in Benito, MB with her husband where farming is a big part of their lives.
RHANDA CARUK
Rhanda was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba where she attended ACC and obtained her Medical Office Assistant certificate. She relocated to Swan River in her early 20’s and started work at the Swan Valley Health Centre as a medical transcriptionist. After obtaining certification in Health Information Management, Rhanda continued on with Prairie Mountain Health as a Health Information Services Manager. She retired from PMH in 2022 and started at Ferriss Law, joining Oakes Law Office when the two firms amalgamated.
When not at work, Rhanda enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and grandchildren. She loves the outdoors and can be found camping, walking, golfing, and puttering in her yard.
TAMMI THIESSEN
Tammi and her husband were both born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, but moved to the Valley almost 20 years ago to raise their two daughters. She was a stay-at-home mom for most of those years, rejoining the workforce in the Fall of 2021 and working as an accounting technician before joining the Oakes Law Office team.
When not at work, Tammi can often be found puttering in her kitchen or out walking on the mile road that runs beside her yard - her two "happy places."
JAIMI ROGERS
Jaimi was born and raised in the Swan River Valley. After graduating from high school, she moved to Vermilion, Alberta to attend Lakeland College in the Ranch and Feedlot Rider Program. In 2021, she moved back to the Valley with her husband and two children. She was working in the School Division before joining the Oakes Law Office team. Jaimi and her family love spending time doing outdoor activities such as quadding, sledding, and camping. Her personal hobbies are horses and gardening.
ALICIA CHRISTENSEN
Alicia grew up in Gladstone, Manitoba for most of her younger years before relocating to Swan River with her family. After graduating high school, she moved to Brandon, Manitoba to attend Assiniboine Community College to complete and receive her Business Administration Diploma. In 2006 she moved back to the valley and started as a summer student working for BellMTS at Mervs where she stayed employed for 20 years.
When not at work Alicia enjoys spending time at her cabin at Madge Lake with her husband and two children.
BRANDY LESLIE
Brandy Leslie is a Real Estate Legal Assistant with a strong connection to the local community. Born and raised in Flin Flon, Brandy has called the Valley home for the past nine years and enjoys being part of the community she now calls home. She has been happily married for eight years and, outside of work, loves spending time enjoying the great outdoors with her family and pets. Brandy brings a warm, personable approach to her work and takes pride in helping clients navigate their real estate legal matters with care and attention to detail.
DONNA PODOLSKI
Donna was born and raised in Swan River, MB. After high school she attended ACC in Brandon, MB, eventually moving back to the Valley once she completed school. Over the years she has worked at True Value, Swan River Valley Hospital and at Merv’s.
Donna and her husband enjoy watching their son play hockey in the winters and spending time at the family cabin in the summers.
ELLIE OAKES
Ellie is Laurie's daughter and was raised in the Valley from a young age. She is in a law student at the University of Saskatchewan and will be joining Oakes Law Office as an associate lawyer once completed. She currently spends her summers working at the office and plans to continue to do so. She enjoys animals, reading and spending time with her friends.