Course Chairs
Janet K. Patterson — Barrister & Solicitor, Burnaby
Lorna A. Pawluk — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
About the Course Chairs
Janet K. Patterson retired from full-time practice in 2014 but maintains a part-time practice as a sole practitioner, representing workers, offering workshops, and consulting with unions, non-profit societies, and community groups on compensation and disability related matters. Janet was called to the bar in 1988 and practiced union-side labour and employment law. In 2001, she joined the Appeal Division of the Workers' Compensation Board as an Appeal Commissioner. In 2003, Janet was appointed vice-chair of the newly created Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal and served as a vice-chair and deputy registrar until 2005. She then joined the law firm of Rush Crane Guenther where she represented workers in complex compensation appeals at all levels and in a variety of related proceedings including discriminatory actions, section 257 applications, arbitration, disability appeals, and CPP appeals. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she was a post-secondary instructor and has continued her interest in teaching throughout her career. She was an instructor and the acting coordinator in the Labour Studies Program at Capilano College. She initiated a workshop series to teach compensation advocacy to worker advocates. From 2010 to 2014, she was a director for IAM Cares Society, a non-profit society focused on rehabilitation programs for disabled workers. She has held an OIC appointment tot he Public Service Appeal Board.
Lorna A. Pawluk focuses on occupational health and safety and workplace safety matters for employers including regulatory, employment, and human rights matters. She is a member of the board of directors for the BC Institute of Technology and chair of the Governance Committee, and a member of the board of the College of Massage Therapists of BC and chair of the Inquiry Committee. She is past chair of the National Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, and co-chair of the National Administrative Law, Labour and Employment Law Conference. Lorna is a former member of the Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council of BC (CBABC); chair of the Tribunal Appointments Committee (National CBA); and former board member of the British Columbia Safety Authority, British Columbia Council of Administrative Tribunals, and Employers' Health and Safety Association. She also investigates harassment and bullying complaints for private clients and adjudicates public protection orders under section 35 of the Health Professions Act.
Faculty
Danielle Allen — Hastings Labour Law Office LLP, Vancouver
William C. Boyte — Employers' Advisers Office, Richmond
Alissa Demerse — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Peter Eastwood — Hamilton Howell Bain & Gould, Vancouver
Kim Fournier — Manager, Law & Policy, Employers' Advisers Office, Kelowna
Stan A.H. Guenther — Rush Crane Guenther, Vancouver
David K. Jones — Bernard LLP, Vancouver
Kevin Love — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
John McNamee — Senior Policy and Legal Advisor, WorkSafeBC - Policy, Regulation & Research, Richmond
Monique Pongracic-Speier — Ethos Law Group LLP, Vancouver
John D. Rogers, QC — Victory Square Law Office LLP, Vancouver
Andrew Schafer — Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP, Vancouver
Alan D. Winter — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver