Melissa (she/her/hers) practices in all areas of labour, employment, human rights, and administrative law.
She provides practical advice and effective advocacy to unions regarding a wide variety of labour matters including discipline and discharge, collective agreement interpretation, policy grievances, organizing efforts, and unfair labour practice disputes.
Melissa has a particular interest in advising and advocating for unions and individuals on a variety of human rights issues. She also provides advice and representation to non-unionized employees on many workplace issues, including wrongful dismissal, contract interpretation, and accommodation disputes.
Melissa has appeared before the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the BC Labour Relations Board, and in federal and provincial grievance arbitrations. She takes a pragmatic approach to legal service, and values building relationships with her clients and understanding their short and long term goals, so that she can obtain the best results possible.
In the community, Melissa serves as Co-Chair of the CBABC Women Lawyers Forum Mentoring Committee. She has volunteered for LEAF, West Coast LEAF, Muddbunnies Riding Club (BC), the Canadian Red Cross, and as President of her varsity rowing teams at the University of Ottawa and Simon Fraser University.
In her spare time, she can be found hiking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, or curled up reading her book club’s latest pick with the firm’s Chief Morale Officer, Toby McToberson.
EDUCATION
B.A. (First Class Honours), Simon Fraser University
J.D. (Cum Laude), University of Ottawa
CALL TO THE BAR
2015
ASSISTANT
Erin Laflamme (she/her/hers)
**Non-Practising