Loretta Bouwmeester
Partner Calgary, Vancouver, T: 403.538.5042 F: 403.538.5049 lbouwmeester@mathewsdinsdale.com
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Judy Gieselman Assistant 403.538.5041 x341 jgieselman@mathewsdinsdale.com
Biography
Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of British Columbia
Law Society of the Northwest Territories
University of Alberta, LL.B.
York University, M.A. (Political Science)
University of Manitoba, B.A. (Hons.) (Political Studies)
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
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.
Representative experience
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.
Industry recognition
Best Lawyers® in CanadaWorkers’ Compensation Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert DirectoryOccupational Health & Safety
Canadian OH&S MagazineReaders Choice Award
Presentations
OHS Year in Review 2019
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Labour and Employment Section South, Calgary.
Fitness for Duty Discussion
Loretta Bouwmeester presented as part of an expert panel at the DriverCheck Fitness for Duty Summit, Edmonton
OHS Session: Deep in the Trenches: Practical Tips in Defending OHS Charges
Loretta Bouwmeester presented as part of an expert panel at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Ottawa.
OHS Year in Review 2018
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Labour and Employment Section South, Calgary.
Fitness For Duty – What It Is and Why It Matters
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for a Client presentation in Calgary
Effectively Managing Team Member Performance
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Law Firm Management and Leadership Section – South at the Canadian Bar Association, Calgary
Workplace Harassment and Bullying
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for a Client presentation in Edmonton
Marijuana at Work – Implications for Employers
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for Informed HR Calgary.
Sober Second Thought: Experts Debate the Future of Workplace Drug Testing
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for Lancaster House 36th Annual Labour Arbitration & Policy Conference at The Westin, Calgary.
Law Firm Workplace Safety Part II
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – AB Law Firm Management & Leadership Section at the Canadian Bar Association, Calgary
OH&S Matters
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta 68th Annual Conference at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge
Cannabis and Your Benefit Plan
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the Benefits Canada Benefits & Pension Summit at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Calgary, Alberta.
Women in Safety: Being an Unstoppable Advocate and Influencer
Loretta Bouwmeester presented for the WOHSS Launch Event at the Calgary Petroleum Club, Calgary
Bill 30: What Now?
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Petroleum Safety Conference in Banff, Alberta.
Marijuana in the Workplace
Loretta Bouwmeester and Wilson Chan presented, Alberta Construction Safety Association Health & Safety Conference at Telus Convention Centre – Calgary, Alberta.
Courtroom Advocacy: A View From the Bench – Savvy Lawyer Series
Loretta Bouwmeester moderated the presentation for the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch in Calgary, Alberta
Changes to the Employment Standards Code – Bill 17: The Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Law Firm Management & Leadership Section in Calgary, Alberta.
2017 OHS Year in Review (Marijuana in the Workplace)
Loretta Bouwmeester, and Wilson Chan presented at the Canadian Bar Association in Calgary, Alberta.
Staff Employment Contracts: Hiring, Firing and Performance Management
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Law Firm Management & Leadership Section in Calgary, Alberta.
Are You Ready for (Legal) Weed? Time to Get Schooled
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at the CARA/CURIE Symposium at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Alberta
Marijuana & Workplace Safety – What’s an Employer to Do?
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships in Calgary, Alberta.
Prime Contractor Presentation
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Cenovus Energy in Calgary, Alberta.
Marijuana & the Workplace
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Calgary Society of Safety Engineers in Calgary, Alberta.
Marijuana & Workplace Safety
Loretta Bouwmeester and Lori Brienza presented to the Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta in Calgary, Alberta
Privacy Law Update
Loretta Bouwmeester presented to the Council for Chief Privacy Officers West in Calgary, Alberta
OHS in Canada: The Year in Review 2016
Loretta Bouwmeester presented at Progress Energy in Calgary, Alberta.
Events
20/20 Hindsight and 2020 Foresight: Alberta’s Evolving Workplace Laws
Read more20/20 Hindsight: Alberta’s Workplace Laws One Year Later
Read moreYou’ve Had a Workplace Accident! Managing the OHS Risk – Coast to Coast
Read morePractically Dealin’ with Pot: Impairment What You Need to Know about Impairment in the Workplace & Controlling it as a Potential Hazard
Read moreOHS? WCB? OH MY! What You Need to Know About Bill 30 and Alberta’s New Workplace Safety Laws
Read moreMarijuana & Workplace Safety – What’s an Employer to Do? Medical and Legal Issues with Marijuana Legalization
Read moreMore Hazy Days Ahead: Alberta’s New Workplace Laws and Marijuana
Read moreArticles and papers
February 5, 2019Quoted 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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