In this one-hour session, we will explore the legal and practical aspects of implementing Safe Sport policies within Canadian universities. Participants will gain insights into the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), understand when and how it applies to their institutions, and learn how to develop effective complaint mechanisms and disciplinary frameworks that align with legal obligations and promote a culture of safety and inclusion in campus athletics.
Industry: Universities
2025 Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO) Annual Conference
In “Navigating Financial Sustainability – Legal Perspectives,” Michael Kennedy will provide a legal perspective on a wide range of levers that are available to university administrators in addressing these challenges.
Arbitrator Dismisses Faculty Grievance over Bill 124 Wage Dispute: No Arbitral Jurisdiction Without Reopener Provision in Collective Agreement
In a recent labour arbitration decision, Arbitrator William Kaplan dismissed a grievance filed against Wilfrid Laurier University (University) by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (the Association) on behalf of its Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) bargaining unit. This decision provides important guidance on the limits of an arbitrator’s jurisdiction in addressing legislative constraints on collective…
The Ontario Court of Appeal Provides Another Caution to Employers Drafting Employment Contracts: Actual Language is Paramount—Not Intent
In a recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Court upheld the lower court’s decision finding that the termination clause in the employment contract was offside of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and that as a result, the employee was entitled to common law reasonable notice.
Safe Sport Considerations for Colleges and Universities
While Canadian colleges and universities are not required to adopt the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (the UCCMS), they may find themselves bound to the UCCMS by their participation with certain governing sport bodies and may want to develop their own policies to ensure a safe sport environment.
Successfully represented a university in responding to an application for judicial review of a decision by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, in which the Tribunal found that the applicant’s complaint was out of time.
Successfully represented a university in responding to an application for judicial review of a decision by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, in which the Tribunal found that the applicant’s complaint was out of time.
Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS): 2023 Conference and Annual General Meeting
In “Sexual Misconduct at Universities: Bill 26 and Beyond,” Hicks Morley’s Amanda Lawrence-Patel—along with the University of Toronto’s Andrew Ebejer and Queen’s University’s Melissa Seal—will discuss the evolution of the law regarding sexual misconduct at universities, including recent statutory changes introduced by Bill 26, the Strengthening Post-secondary Institutions and Students Act, 2022.
2024 Faculty Bargaining Services (FBS) Annual Summit
FBS promotes excellence in academic labour relations in Canadian universities. As both a training and knowledge-sharing opportunity, the annual conference brings together labour relations professionals from Canadian universities to better equip them in matters related to academic collective bargaining and contract administration.
Holiday Party Best Practices: A Guide for Employers
The holiday season is a time for people to come together and celebrate. For many of us, this may include workplace parties. With seasonal festivities and holidays just around the corner, it’s that time of year again to consider the proactive steps employers can take to ensure the health and safety of employees who attend…
Employee’s $76,000 Claim for Vested Stock Units Barred by Wrongful Dismissal Settlement and Release
Settlement agreements require careful attention to both present and future entitlements, as highlighted by the Ontario Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Preston v. Cervus Equipment Corporation. The Court held that the scope of an executed release, indemnity and minutes of settlement (the Settlement Documents) precluded an employee’s subsequent claim to vested stock units, despite…