Teresa is recognized as a leading practitioner in Alberta in advising and representing school boards and independent schools on a wide variety of labour and education matters in respect to labour arbitrations, Board of Reference hearings, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, human rights, privacy, employment standards, sexual harassment, constitutional law, student-related issues, school closures, policy review, internal investigations and school board governance/school trustee matters.
She also advises management-side labour and employment law from many different industries in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut on the labour and employment aspects of day-to-day issues. Her work includes labour and employment litigation, arbitrations, human rights, collective bargaining, draft of employment contracts, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, harassment policies and general employment polices and practices.
Teresa has appeared before every level of Court of in Alberta, the Supreme Court of Canada, Alberta Labour Relations Board, Canada Industrial Relations Board, various Human Rights Tribunals, Arbitration Boards and other administrative tribunals, including hearings before school boards of trustees.
In 1989 Teresa completed her law degree at Université Laval, which she did in French. Teresa articled to the Quebec Court of Appeal in Quebec City.
For 11 years Teresa taught a law course in French to University of Alberta Business students at the Campus St. Jean at the University of Alberta.
In 2004 Teresa founded the Education Law Section of the Northern Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Teresa publishes the monthly national education law newsletter, Vis-à-Vis, issued by the Alberta School Boards Association.
Education
LL.B., Université Laval
Teacher’s Diploma, l’Université du Québec a Chicoutimi
Certificate in French Civilization and Culture, Sorbonne University
B.A. French Literature, University of Alberta
Awards and Recognition
2013 Friends of College of Alberta School Superintendents Lifetime Award
Recognized in the area of Education Law, Best Lawyers Canada
Professional Associations and Affiliations
Founder, Canadian Bar Association Education Law Section
Advisory Committee, Faculté St Jean, University of Alberta
Director, Friars’ Board
Former President, St. Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild
Community and Volunteer Activities
Co-founder/Organizer, Annual Ab Rep Fundraiser Challenge, Strong Kids Campaign
Board Member, Edmonton Friars
Co-Provincial for the 2012 Edmonton Friars’ Ball
Chair of several organizing committees for various gala dinners
Past Board Member - Advisory Committee, Dean Claudette Tardif, Faculté St Jean, University of Alberta
Past Board Member, Senate of Neuman Theological College
Past President, French Speaking Lawyers Association of Alberta
Past President, St. Thomas More Guild of Northern Alberta
Represented the Province of Alberta, in French, in the s. 23 Charter litigation filed by a Francophone Educational Authority.
Represents the Province of Alberta in the French language-publication constitutional challenge in R. v. Caron.
Represents employers in grievance arbitrations hearings in disputes arising under collective agreements: management rights, employee discipline, terminations, discrimination, sexual harassment, workplace accommodation, etc.
Represents employers in human rights matters, including judicial review matters.
Represents employers in Board of Reference matters.
Represents employers in wrongful dismissal lawsuits.
Appears before Canada Industrial Relations Board regarding matters such as essential service applications and collective bargaining-related issues.
Represents employers in respect to privacy complaints presented to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Represents employers in respect to employment standards complaints.
Negotiates collective agreements.
Represents school jurisdictions in relation to school board trustee disputes, school closures, school board hearings, teacher transfers, internal investigations, student appeals before boards of trustees, etc.
In 2011, Teresa acted for a Northern municipality in Nunavut in a Coroner Inquest regarding the death of an Iqaluit citizen.
“Forbidden Images on a Teacher’s Laptop – A Lesson Well Learned”, McLennan Ross Legal Counsel
“Cyberbullying and Student Discipline”, The CASS Connection (publication of the College of Alberta School Superintendants)
“Confidence in the Court”, LawNow
“School Internet Use and Internet Luring”, LawNow
“Case Law Update: Restrictive Covenants and Retention Bonuses”, Employment Update, Legal Education Society of Alberta
“Judicial Independence”, Law Now,
“Confidence in the Courts”, Law Now, Legal Studies Program, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta
“School Internet Use and Internet Luring”, Law Now, Legal Studies Program, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, reprinted in the ATA Magazine
2012
"Harassment in the Workplace", McLennan Ross Webinar
2011
“Defamation on the Internet and School Boards”, ASBA Legal Conference
« Une mise à jour en droit de l’emploi, Le droit en français », Legal Education Society of Alberta
“Social Media as an Evidentiary Basis for Employee Discipline”, Employment-Related Records, Lorman Education Services Seminar
“OH & S Fundamentals for School Boards and Disciplining Employees for Safety and Infractions”, Governance Matters for School Boards’ Conference
“Student (Internet) Expression and the Charter: Pridgen Decision”, Centre for Constitutional Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
“Challenges and Hazards of Working with Violent and Special Needs Students”, AEHSA Fall Conference (Alberta Education Health and Safety Association)
“The Cure to Accommodate: Practical Approaches to Reasonable Accommodation by School Jurisdictions”, Teacher Appraisal and Dismissals, Lorman Education Services
“How to Conduct Effective and Legally Sound Investigations”, Workplace Investigations Seminar, Lorman Education Services
“Risks Associated with Special Needs Students”, Lloyd Sadd Annual Risk Management Seminar
“Student (Internet) Expression and the Charter: Pridgen Decision”, CBA Constitutional Law Section Meeting, Northern Alberta
“The ABCs of Interpreting and Writing Collective Agreement Clauses”, ASBA Conference: School Boards as Employers
“Labour and Employment: Compare and Contrast”, ASBA Conference: School Boards as Employers
2010
“Superintendent CEO Contracts of Employment”, CASS Conference
“Sexual Harassment and School Jurisdictions in Alberta”, Teacher Appraisals and Dismissals, Lorman Seminar
“Maximizing Your Business Development”, FCI-CWI, Career Women Interaction, Women in Law: Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges
2009
“Constructive Dismissal and Abusive Treatment”, Employment Law Seminar, Legal Education Society of Alberta
“Some Practical Considerations of Conversion Motions, Access and Independence: Restoring the Balance in Administrative Tribunals and Labour Boards”, CBA National Administrative and Employment Law Conference, Ottawa.
“Legislation and Digital Citizenship”, Central Alberta Regional Consortium
