Partner Calgary, Vancouver, T: 403.538.5042 F: 403.538.5049 lbouwmeester@mathewsdinsdale.com
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Tonya Pauw Assistant 403.538.5044 x344 tpauw@mathewsdinsdale.com
Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of British Columbia
Law Society of the Northwest Territories
University of Alberta, LL.B.
University of Manitoba, B.A. (Hons.) (Political Studies)
York University, M.A. (Political Science)
Alberta Lawyers Assistance Society (Assist)
Calgary Bar Association
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
Law Societies of Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories
The Advocates’ Society
Women in Occupational Health and Safety Society
Loretta is a well-rounded, versatile, practical and decisive workplace law lawyer. She is a partner in our Employment, Labour, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers’ Compensation practices. Prior to joining the firm, Loretta worked at other National law firms in addition to working in-house as the Manager of Legal Services and Corporate Policy with a municipality on a broad range of issues. She brings the benefits of this experience to her clients when working with them to both resolve disputes and in proactive strategic planning and risk management initiatives
Loretta has defended employers and prime contractors in regulatory proceedings and appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta, in addition to the Labour Relations Board. She is effective advising on national, provincial and federal compliance initiatives (including for employment, labour, human rights, privacy and OHS programs) and both carrying out and directing/overseeing workplace investigations. Loretta has had H2S Alive and WHMIS training, which enables her to rapidly access sour gas and other oil and gas facilities and has been repeatedly listed as a leading occupational health and safety practitioner in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She is also recognized as a Best Lawyer for WCB. She frequently speaks at professional conferences and in house training sessions, has been published in national publications such as Canadian Occupational Safety and is a co-Author of LexisNexis’ Disability Management Compliance Manual. Loretta is a current, and multi-year, Contributor to Practical Law Canada – Employment, with Thomson Reuters for the Provincial Q&As, Accident Reporting & Investigation (NWT) and Accident Reporting & Investigation (Fed).
* Denotes practicing through a law corporation.
Loretta has defended employers, prime contractors and suppliers in OHS regulatory matters and litigated on behalf of employers in $1 million plus files. She has represented aboriginal bands and worked with the federal, provincial (AB), territorial, and a municipal government.
Employment & Labour Law – Alberta
Best Lawyers® in CanadaWorkers’ Compensation Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert DirectoryOccupational Health & Safety
Canadian OH&S MagazineReaders Choice Award
Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine (COS)5 Star Safety Lawyers and Law Firms
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Labour and Employment Section South, Calgary.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented as part of an expert panel at the DriverCheck Fitness for Duty Summit, Edmonton
Loretta Bouwmeester presented as part of an expert panel at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Ottawa.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Labour and Employment Section South, Calgary.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for a Client presentation in Calgary
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Law Firm Management and Leadership Section – South at the Canadian Bar Association, Calgary
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for a Client presentation in Edmonton
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for Informed HR Calgary.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for Lancaster House 36th Annual Labour Arbitration & Policy Conference at The Westin, Calgary.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – AB Law Firm Management & Leadership Section at the Canadian Bar Association, Calgary
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta 68th Annual Conference at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the Benefits Canada Benefits & Pension Summit at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the WOHSS Launch Event at the Calgary Petroleum Club, Calgary
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Petroleum Safety Conference in Banff, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester and Wilson Chan presented, Alberta Construction Safety Association Health & Safety Conference at Telus Convention Centre – Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester moderated the presentation for the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch in Calgary, Alberta
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Law Firm Management & Leadership Section in Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester, and Wilson Chan presented at the Canadian Bar Association in Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Law Firm Management & Leadership Section in Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the CARA/CURIE Symposium at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Alberta
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships in Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Calgary Society of Safety Engineers in Calgary, Alberta.
Loretta Bouwmeester and Lori Brienza presented to the Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta in Calgary, Alberta
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Council for Chief Privacy Officers West in Calgary, Alberta
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at Progress Energy in Calgary, Alberta.
We are proud to announce that Loretta Bouwmeester is one of the newest Queen’s Counsel appointees in Alberta. The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General recognizes lawyers who have provided exceptional service to Albertans and the legal community and who have made significant contributions to the administration of justice. Congratulations Loretta!
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Canadian Occupational Safety, Canada’s premier publication on OH&S, announces Mathews Dinsdale and its partners, Cheryl Edwards, Jeremy Warning and Loretta Bouwmeester winners of their inaugural 5-Star Safety Lawyers and Law Firm Award. “Our research team has tirelessly worked to uncover the best and brightest legal minds in the OHS sphere”. Thank you!
We are proud to announce that Loretta Bouwmeester, of our Calgary office, has been nominated for the Leadership in the Profession (Private Practice) award presented by Women in the Law Leadership of Alberta. This award will recognize and applaud a lawyer in private practice who has shown extraordinary leadership and a commitment to being a positive role model for other lawyers.
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2022 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
22 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2022 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Congratulations team University of British Columbia our 2021 Virtual Moot winners, and team Osgoode Hall for being in the finals. Well Done! Thanks to everyone who participated from coast-to-coast, in our 23rd Annual National Labour Arbitration Competition. Hopefully next year we will be back face to face!
We are proud to announce that Loretta Bouwmeester of our Calgary office was awarded the Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society’s Volunteer of the Year 2019. The award was in recognition of her ‘extraordinary service to ASSIST and lawyer well-being’. Loretta was also appointed to ASSIST’s Board of Directors. Wellness matters to us. For our team and yours. Take care and be well.
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2021 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
21 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2021 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Loretta Bouwmeester and Lori Brienza quoted in Talent Canada in an article titled New Legal Landscape Benefits Alberta Employers which discusses Bill 32 - August 18, 2020
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour & Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, OH&S Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2020 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Effective March 1, 2022 Alberta lifted almost all remaining COVID-19 public health restrictions and is officially in “Step 2” of a three-phased approach in moving towards an endemic and out of the pandemic phase.
Read moreAlberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program officially ended on February 8, 2022 and Alberta is officially in “Step 1” of a three-phased “Return to Normal” approach.
Read moreStage 3 is AB’s final stage in its reopening plan and will result in nearly all current COVID-19 related public health restrictions implemented by AB Health being lifted.
Read moreMandatory work from home order is lifted but remote work is still recommended where possible. Employers must maintain health and safety measures to reasonably address the continuing COVID-19 hazard.
Read moreEffective April 21, 2021, Alberta employers must give employees job-protected leave to receive COVID-19 vaccinations without any loss of pay or benefits.
Read moreEmployers with eligible employees are expected to apply and administer the benefit on behalf of the government. It is important to apply early as the deadlines are in March and there is a cap on the total amount the government will pay.
Read moreEmployers should be aware of new extensive restrictive measures, and carefully consider how their business operations may be further adapted to comply with the new restrictions after what has proven to be a very challenging year for AB employers.
Read moreBill 47: Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act will likely pass third reading in the legislature by December and result in very significant, and far-reaching, changes to the current Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Read moreEmployers should carefully review the requirements to determine whether the targeted measures apply to their workplace.
Read moreA review of the feedback process employers are encouraged to participate in, as well as issues employers have faced under the current OH&S and Workers’ Compensation legislation.
Read moreA review of the implications for employers, and what workplace accommodations may become necessary as a result.
Read moreWe focus is on several key OHS related lessons learned and “novel” OHS legal issues arising from the pandemic, which continue to create issues for employers, OHS, HR and management as workplaces continue to reopen with “public health“ measures in place.
Read moreAdministrative bodies in Alberta are providing more information to the public in the context of human rights and workers’ compensation.
Read moreThis issue highlights and provides context for the most significant developments in OHS for 2019.
Read moreWhat employers need to be aware of from a workplace safety perspective.
Read moreQuoted in The Cannabis Channel: “Suncor, union agree to random drug testing”
January 8, 2019Author, Lexology: “Canada – “The OHS Year in Review 2018”
December 3, 2018Author, Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine: “Random testing a go at Suncor”
June 1, 2018Quoted in Benefits Canada: “Navigating the ’50 shades of grey’ surrounding marijuana legalization and the workplace”
May 3, 2018Author, 2018 Petroleum Safety Conference: “Bill 30 – What Now? The Changing Focus of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Laws”
April 30, 2018Author, Lexology: “Five Ways to Manage Occupational Health and Safety Risks Related to Volunteering Effectively”.
March 16, 2018Quoted in Benefits Canada: “Learn how legal marijuana will affect the workplace at the Benefits and Pension Summit”
July 4, 2017Quoted in Canadian Lawyer Magazine: “Marijuana at work”
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