Summary

• Matthew Stacey and Jason LeBlond appointed to Provincial Court of British Columbia
• The new judges have been assigned by judiciary to Port Coquitlam and Prince George, respectively  
• Appointments help address vacancies and maintain the court’s capacity

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The Government of British Columbia has appointed two Provincial Court judges to help ensure timely and efficient access to justice.

The new judges, effective July 13, 2026, are:

• Matthew Stacey
• Jason LeBlond

Strengthening the justice system

The new appointments bring diverse, extensive legal experience to the Provincial Court, as well as a strong commitment to serving communities throughout British Columbia.

Matthew Stacey

Stacey will be assigned by the judiciary to Port Coquitlam, which serves Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, among the fastest-growing communities in the Lower Mainland. Stacey has more than 20 years of legal experience and has served as Crown counsel with the BC Prosecution Service since 2007. As Crown counsel, Stacey has served as administrative Crown for major crime in Surrey, and as deputy regional Crown counsel (acting) for the Fraser Region, leading the Surrey Crown counsel office. Prior to specializing in the prosecution of serious crimes and sexual offences, Stacey practised as a tax lawyer for two and a half years.

Jason LeBlond, KC

LeBlond will bring more than 26 years of legal experience to the judiciary to Prince George. LeBlond has practised primarily in criminal defence, with some involvement in civil forfeiture matters. LeBlond has served on several committees supporting the work of the Provincial and Supreme Court and has helped develop and mentor early-career lawyers in northern B.C. LeBlond has also worked closely with many of the Indigenous Peoples in the Prince George area. In 2023, LeBlond was appointed King’s Counsel in recognition of exceptional contributions to the legal profession in British Columbia.  

Judicial appointments in B.C.

• Judicial appointments consider various factors, including court requirements, diversity of the judiciary and candidates’ areas of expertise.
• Stacey and LeBlond are the 10th and 11th judicial appointments since December 2025, helping address vacancies and maintain the court’s capacity.
• These appointments support B.C.’s ongoing commitment to ensuring courts have the judicial resources needed to meet the demands of the justice system and serve the people of the province.

Quick Facts:

• Judges are appointed after a multi-step process that starts with interested lawyers applying and the Judicial Council of B.C. reviewing the candidates.
• The council is a statutory body made up of the chief judge, an associate chief judge, other judges, lawyers and members from outside the legal profession.
• The council recommends potential judges to the Attorney General, with the final appointment made through a cabinet order-in-council.
• Although judges are assigned to a judicial region, many use technology, such as videoconferencing, for court proceedings, enabling the court to provide timely access to justice for all people in British Columbia.
• Judges also travel regularly throughout the province to meet demands.

Learn More

• For information about the judicial appointment process, visit: www.provincialcourt.bc.ca