Erin is a trusted advisor for employers, advocating for federally and provincially regulated employers in the public and private sectors on matters related to workplace law.

Erin has been counsel on a number of high-profile labour, employment and workplace human rights cases in Alberta and before federal boards and courts, including matters where leave has been sought to the Supreme Court of Canada. Erin regularly provides advice to employers on drug and alcohol cases, sexual harassment and bullying complaints, human rights complaints, stress claims and accommodation issues. Erin also provides organizational advice regarding the full spectrum of collective agreement interpretation cases, employment law issues, and strategic guidance on day to day workforce management.

Erin is well known for her work in public sector health care, with both a health care background and previous employment as in-house counsel for a large provincial healthcare provider. Her experience provides effective and practical advice and solutions, in a responsive and timely way.

In her spare time Erin is often driving her two daughters to various sporting events and swimming pools,  and occasionally escapes with her husband for a glass of wine.

Education

• LL.B., Dalhousie University
• BN, University of Calgary

Professional Associations, Affiliations and Community Involvement

• Executive Member, CBA Employment and Labour Southern Alberta Subsection, 2014 - Present
• Board Member and Governance Committee Member, Aspen Family Community Network Society
• Past Chair, CBA Employment and Labour Southern Alberta Subsection, 2015 - 2016

Labour & Employment

Erin represents and advises employers and employees concerning a variety of issues, such as termination, discipline, human rights, employment standards, workers’ compensation, labour arbitration, labour relations board matters and issues involving privacy and access to information. She also advises employers in the drafting, implementation and application of employment policies and agreements, bullying and sexual harassment complaints, and drugs and alcohol.

Erin also has specialized experience dealing with public sector health care, as a former registered nurse and as past in-house counsel for Alberta Health Services.

Some of Erin’s experience includes:

• Representing a health care client and successfully upholding the just cause termination of a regulated health care professional with 36 years of service.
• Lead legal counsel for a national railway on a five week Federal Human Rights Tribunal hearing regarding limits of employer accommodation and bona fide occupational requirements.
• Acting as lead negotiator and legal counsel for multiple employers in first collective agreement bargaining.
• Providing legal support to one of Alberta’s largest employers on labour and employment matters covering several collective agreements
• Representing a major manufacturer in a wrongful dismissal claim and successfully having the claim dismissed summarily.
• Acting for an insurance company with respect to defending an injunction application and related allegations regarding breaches of confidentially and non-competition clauses
• Co-Counsel for a major post-secondary institution before the Human Rights Tribunal on a family status complaint
• Representing a non-profit independent school in certification, collective bargaining, multiple unfair labour practices, and a dispute interest board against the United Food and Commercial Worker’s.
• Lead legal counsel responsible for a large provincial organizations’ Drug and Alcohol policy and Procedure.
• Co-counsel providing labour advice, bargaining support and representation to multiple unfair labour practice applications for an assisted living facility engaged in 280 day strike with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

• “Accommodating Episodic Disabilities: A guide to dealing with chronic and recurring health conditions” (Panelist) – Lancaster Calgary Labour Arbitration & Policy Conference, May 2017
• “Effectively Responding to a Human Rights Complaint”, CBA Employment and Labour Section, April 2017
• “Optimizing the External Counsel and Corporate Counsel Relationship” – CACE Webinar Presenter, Feb 2017
• “Medical Marijuana: Workplace Implications for Drug Testing, Zero Tolerance and Accommodation”, (Panelist) – Lancaster Calgary Labour Arbitration & Policy Conference, May 2016
• “Illness and Absenteeism in the Workplace – A Practical Approach”, HRIA Conference, February 2016
• “Restructuring your Workforce”, CBA Natural Resources Southern Alberta Subsection, March 2015
• “Medical Marijuana in the Workplace”, HRIA Conference, March 2014