Grand Valley: ABM + Legal Update


Date and Time

Starts:05/11/2022 5:00 PM

Ends:05/11/2022 6:45 PM

Registration Closes:05/11/2022 5:00 PM

Event Type: Annual Business Meeting

1.0 CPD Hour(s)

Location:
ON24

Price:

HRPA Members: Free or Optional $5 Donation | Non-Members: $30 + tax

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Availability

Additional Information

Event Sponsor


A Legislative Update of employment, human resources, labour and safety laws. This panel discussion will provide HR Professionals with updated knowledge regarding legislative obligations with respect to various employee entitlements. Issues will include Bill 27, Leaves of Absence, Terms of Employment, PPE/Safety/Screening, Remote Work, Employment Contracts, Leaves of Absence, Issues of Accommodation, Vaccine Mandates, Discipline and terminations for violation of COVID protocols; and, the Impact of the Pandemic on common law notice periods.

Note:  The Annual Business Meeting (ABM) portion of today’s event will include a report on Chapter activities, volunteer and newly designated member recognition, and an introduction of our 2022/2023 Chapter Board.

Learning Objectives:

  • understanding of legal obligations owed to employees arising from recent jurisprudence
  • identifying risks in current practices based on jurisprudence
  • practical tips to mitigate risks and manage current workplace issues
    This will allow the strategic HR professional to provide current advice to their organization and senior leadership team on how to manage the above issues from a practical perspective while assisting the organization in being legally compliant.

Agenda:

5:00PM   Welcome and Introductions

5:05PM   Annual Business Meeting, HRPA Grand Valley & District Chapter

5:30PM   Introduction of Legal Update Panel

5:35PM   Legal Update and Presentation

6:35PM   Final Questions and Wrap Up

6:45PM    Event Concludes

Registration Closes: May 10, 2022 at 8:00AM.

Registration Difficulties or Questions: Please reach out to our Chapter Experience Coordinator Bobbi-Lyn Smith at BLSmith@hrpa.ca

Learning & Giving Back!  As suggested by HRPA members and as part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility, HRPA has identified Indspire and Black Youth Helpline as recommended charities. Should you wish to support please select the $5 donation option upon checkout. Thank you!

Speaker bio(s)
Evan Campbell, Employment Lawyer, Miller Thomson LLP

Evan Campbell provides proactive advice and representation to employers regarding all aspects of labour relations and employment law. Evan assists employers with a variety of issues including discipline and terminations, employment standards, corporate mergers and acquisitions, human rights, employment contracts and workplace policies, workplace safety and insurance, health and safety, and industrial and construction labour relations. Evan has extensive experience litigating matters involving wrongful dismissals, corporate and commercial disputes, grievance arbitrations, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Labour Relations Act. He regularly represents clients before the courts and numerous administrative tribunals including the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.


Pamela Krauss, Employment Lawyer, Morrison Reist Krauss LLP

Pamela Krauss was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006 and has over 10 years of practice experience specializing in Employment Law. She proudly became a partner of Morrison Reist Krauss LLP in January of 2018. Legal Practice Pamela’s career is dedicated to resolving legal issues facing non-unionized workplaces for both employee and employer clients. She effectively negotiates employment and non-competition agreements, and advises and advocates regarding issues related to: severance packages, wrongful dismissals, constructive dismissals, workplace policies, employment standards, human rights compliance and claims, personal and psychological harassment and disabled employees. Through her years of legal experience, Pamela has developed a passion for advocacy – in particular trial and appeal work. Though she is practical, and resolution orientated, where a fair resolution is not available, she is a formidable advocate with a proven track record of litigating difficult wrongful dismissal cases both at the trial level and appeal level for both employees and employers. In representing clients in any litigation process, she is a natural advocate who brings passion and effective communication together with the goal of ensuring her client’s position is not only heard, but truly understood. Pamela has appeared before the Ontario Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. She also has a breadth of experience in handling Ministry of Labour complaints, Canadian Labour Board unjust dismissal claims, and Canadian Human Rights Commission applications. Pamela also brings to her practice experience in corporate tax law, commercial law, intellectual property law and information technology law from her early days as an associate lawyer at a national law firm in Toronto, and as in-house legal counsel at a major technology company in Waterloo. Advising Businesses Pamela has become a trusted legal advisor to many small to midsize local businesses. She enjoys partnering with entrepreneurs to strategically manage legal issues that arise with their employees. Pamela continues to develop a keen understanding of the many challenges small to midsize businesses face through her career experience, non-profit board experience and her personal experience in business management both as a partner of Morrison Reist Krauss LLP, and in working with her husband in managing his local business, Berlin Contracting Inc. When advising employers on strategy and resolution of tough legal issues Pamela’s diverse legal experience and business experience is an asset. Pamela truly appreciates the importance of creating and maintaining healthy workplaces, the high cost of employee turnover, the complexities of employee compensation, the importance of adequately protecting intellectual property and confidential information, the criticality of tax considerations in any transaction and the impact rapid advancement in software and technology is having on the workplace and on business. Background Before her career in law, Pamela grew up in Southern Saskatchewan in the rural farming community of Assiniboia. After graduating high school, she relocated to London, Ontario where she completed both her Bachelor of Sciences degree and Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Western Ontario. When she began law school, Pamela was focused on becoming a Patent Agent so she could specialize in drafting and defending biotechnology patents. However, her career path led her to the tri-city of Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Ontario where she was inspired by one of her current partners, Melanie Reist, to pursue a litigation practice and specifically, an employment law practice, in which Pamela has found her true calling. Community Involvement No matter how hectic her schedule may get, Pamela always ensures she finds time to dedicate to community leadership, volunteerism, and continuing education. She has served as a director, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Kitchener Waterloo Alzheimer’s Society and the Waterloo Wellington Alzheimer Society. She is a member and Trustee of the Waterloo Law Association and a member of the Ontario Bar Association. As part of her role as a Trustee of the Waterloo Law Association she chairs the Mental Health Committee which is mandated with increasing awareness and resources regarding mental health within the Waterloo Wellington Bar. Pamela also enjoys educational opportunities to share her knowledge of employment law with colleagues and students. She has been a Guest Instructor for legal courses both at Wilfrid Laurier University and Trios College and has been a speaker or participating panelist at various events hosted by the Waterloo Wellington Law Association, Law Society of Ontario and Grand Valley Chapter of the Human Resources Professional Association.


Kathryn Meehan, Employment Lawyer, Hicks Morley LLP

Kathryn Meehan is an employment and labour lawyer at Hicks Morley’s Waterloo office. She represents clients before the courts and administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Kathryn practises in all areas of labour and employment law, advising a wide variety of public and private sector employers within a broad range of industries. She also works with clients to ensure best practices, delivers training and provides advice on a pro-active basis before it becomes necessary to exercise her advocacy skills. Kathryn graduated as the gold medalist from the LL.B program at the University of Western Ontario and subsequently obtained her LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, England. Prior to joining Hicks Morley, she completed her Master’s of Industrial Relations at Queen’s University and subsequently worked and taught in the field of human resources. Kathryn spent her articling year as a Clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Kathryn is very active in her community. She is a frequent speaker on human resources law-related topics. She has been a part-time faculty member at Fanshawe College, Conestoga College and the University of Waterloo in the Human Resources Management programs.