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Join us for a comprehensive mid-year legal review! Our employment law experts will break down the most important developments from the first half of 2025 and offer insight into what’s on the horizon for the remainder of the year. 

This virtual symposium will help you stay ahead by clarifying recent updates, including current reporting requirements and the impact of recent legislative changes on your workplace.

SYMPOSIUM SESSIONS

Keynote Session: Damages in Workplace Claims

Speaker: Jackie Laviolette - Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP

Description: This session examines how damages are assessed in workplace claims, highlighting recent legal trends and the risks of claims. Offering strategies for HR to reduce liability through proactive management of accommodations and terminations.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Overview of the trends coming out of the courts, labour arbitration and human rights, both in British Columbia and nationally in relation to damages.
  • How HR can educate, prepare and execute on complex accommodations and terminations to avoid stiff penalties and damages.
  • How damages can compound and interrelate when employees seek compensation in multiple forums.

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Keynote Session: Employee Terminations: 2025 Case Law Update

Speaker: Neal Parker - Harper Grey LLP

Description: This session will provide an overview of recent trends in the case law, with a particular focus on employee terminations. Discuss how HR professionals can learn from these cases to update the termination provisions in employment contracts and reduce their liability on termination.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Review of the Basics. Practical advice and common pitfalls for HR professionals in drafting termination clauses in employment agreements.
  • Overview of recent case law developments, both in BC and nationally, concerning employee terminations. Discussion about the recent Ontario decision, Dufault v. The Corporation of the Township of Ignace, and its potential implications for employers in BC.
  • Tarriff-related terminations – What should HR professionals consider when faced with potentially having to terminate or lay off employees due to a tariff-related decline in business.

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Keynote Session: Avoiding Missteps: A Practical Guide to Workplace Investigations

Speakers: Catalina Rodriguez, CPHR - Forte Workplace Law

Description: In this session we will review common pitfalls in workplace investigations and how to avoid them, with the aim of having an investigation that stands external scrutiny and also provides a higher level of satisfaction to the parties. 

Attendees will also address when it is appropriate to engage an external investigator versus managing the investigation internally.

By the end of this session, you will understand:

  • The importance of having a clear mandate or terms of reference, and how to define your overall role in the investigation. 
  • What supporting documentation should and should not accompany your investigation report. 
  • Why thoroughly reviewing relevant internal policies is essential before and during the investigation. 
  • How to assess credibility, make credibility findings, and understand their impact on the investigation. 
  • How to balance timeliness and efficiency with the need to ensure fair treatment and satisfaction for all parties involved. 
  • The application of the “balance of probabilities” standard, how it supports your decision-making, and when to proactively seek out evidence.


Meet Your Symposium Speakers

Jackie Laviolette

Jackie has supported employers in all areas of workplace law for over two decades. Jackie represents provincially and federally regulated employers, in both the public and private sectors, and provides strategic advice in managing complex legal situations involving employees and unions. She has extensive experience assisting employers on day-to-day matters in the areas of workplace conflict, labour arbitration, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, union certifications and policy development. Prior to joining the firm, Jackie acted as in-house counsel for the largest unionized employer in Alberta and appeared as lead counsel before Boards of Arbitration, Labour Boards, human rights tribunals and all levels of Court in the province. Her experience as in-house counsel provides the foundation for arming clients with practical solutions that align with the business’s operational goals. In addition, Jackie is trained in trauma-informed investigations and is frequently retained to conduct independent workplace investigations into allegations of workplace harassment, discrimination, or other employee complaints. Jackie has served on many volunteer boards throughout Calgary, most recently appointed as a Board of Director to both CPHR Alberta and Sport Calgary. She offers her time as an instructor to the Trial Advocacy program at the University of Calgary and is the past-Chair of the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch, Labour and Employment Section. Jackie is a frequent speaker at various labour and employment conferences and seminars. * Denotes practicing through a law corporation.

Neal Parker

Neal has also successfully represented clients before the BC Human Rights Tribunal. He is a frequent contributor to the Harper Grey Workplace Law blog and “Ask Us Anything” seminars. In his professional regulation and health law practice, Neal assists physicians, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, psychologists, and other health professionals with various regulatory matters including College complaints, College investigations and criminal investigations. He also assists physicians in proceedings before the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Neal has a broad commercial litigation practice covering matters such as fraud, professional liability, and various contractual disputes. He also assists senior counsel in representing accountants and other financial professionals in matters involving professional liability and discipline, civil fraud and conspiracy. Neal has appeared before both the BC Supreme Court and Provincial Court. Neal grew up in Vancouver’s Douglas Park neighbourhood. When not in the office he enjoys running, skiing, soccer, painting, and travel.

Catalina Rodriguez

Catalina is an employment lawyer with over 20 years of experience acquired in law firms and in corporations as in-house counsel in the retail and banking sectors. Her experience as a workplace investigator includes sectors such as construction, municipal government, post secondary education, forestry, aviation, indigenous governance, banking, retail, public health sector, and the non-profit sectors. As a mediator, Catalina assists parties to non-litigated workplace disputes. Catalina is also a facilitator on best practices on prevention of bullying and harassment and conflict resolution in the workplace through StandUp Teams ™, as well as on leadership development topics related to diversity and inclusion such as unconscious bias.

Course curriculum

    1. Video

    2. PowerPoint

    1. Video

    2. PowerPoint

    1. Video

    2. PowerPoint

    1. Course Survey

About this course

  • 7 lessons
  • 3 hours of video content