Course Chairs
Michael Blatchford — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver
Martha Rans, QC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
About the Course Chairs
Michael Blatchford is a partner in the Vancouver office of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He works with charities, not-for-profit organizations, and other entities in the voluntary sector, from health care, education, and social services to arts and culture, environmental and recreation, and athletics. Michael also assists professional bodies, associations, clubs, and religious and faith-based organizations. He advises on all aspects of their operations and governance, helping them to effectively carry out their programs while complying with regulatory obligations. He represents organizations in their dealings with regulators, including the Canada Revenue Agency, advises on fundraising and receipting issues for charities, and has assisted numerous charities in carrying out their work abroad. He also provides advice to charities and not-for-profit organizations that carry on a social enterprise or other revenue generating activities. Michael is the co-founder and co-chair of the BC Charity and Non-Profit Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Martha Rans has over 22 years of experience as a lawyer including a decade as an employment, labour, and human rights lawyer/mediator. Since setting up her own practice in 2003, her work has been primarily devoted to non-profits, co-ops, and charities. She regularly advises her clients across BC on non-profit incorporation, governance, privacy, employment, labour, human rights, and intellectual property/social media. Martha is an advocate for public legal education and information for non-profits. She is the co-founder and Legal Director of the Artists' Legal Outreach (www.artistslegaloutreach.com) and the Law for Non Profits project (www.pacificlegaloutreach.com) that together provide advice, information, and education to thousands of BC's creators and non-profits. She is also a copyright educator and teaches the next generation of artists and designers at ECUAD and UBC.
Featured Speaker
The Honourable Ratna Omidvar, C.M., O.Ont. — Independent Senator for Ontario, Ottawa
Senator Omidvar has over 30 years of experience working in the charitable sector at senior levels of management as well as serving as a board director and a volunteer, including leading a private foundation, the Maytree Foundation. She has served as a board director and advisor on over 30 charitable boards including public agencies, boards, and commissions.
Currently, Senator Omidvar is a Director at the Samara Centre for Democracy, a Director at the Century Initiative, a Council Member at the World Refugee and Migration Council, and Chair Emerita at the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Senator Omidvar is also an internationally recognized voice on migration, diversity, and inclusion. In April 2016, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada as an independent Senator representing Ontario. As a member of the Senate’s Independent Senators Group she holds a leadership position as Liaison. She also served as Deputy Chair of the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector.
Senator Omidvar was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2005 and became a Member of the Order of Canada in 2011, with both honours recognizing her advocacy work on behalf of immigrants and devotion to reducing inequality in Canada. Senator Omidvar received a Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws, from Ryerson University in 2018 and from York University in 2012.She is the co-editor of Five Good Ideas: Practical Strategies for Non-Profit Success (2011).
Planning Committee
Sarah Fitzpatrick — Miller Thomson LLP, Vancouver
Yvan G. Larocque — Miller Titerle Law Corporation, Vancouver
Aaron Oh — Legal Counsel, Corporate, Charity & Tax, MasterCard Foundation, Vancouver
Anders Ourom — Sole Practitioner, Vancouver
Faculty
Kris Archie — CEO, The Circle on Philanthropy, New Westminster
Kate Bake-Paterson — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Rosalind M. Campbell — Arbutus Law Group LLP and Councillor, Musqueam Indian Band, Victoria
Sarah Fitzpatrick — Miller Thomson LLP, Vancouver
Ripan Hans — Haddock & Company, North Vancouver
Yvan G. Larocque — Miller Titerle Law Corporation, Vancouver
Aaron Oh — Legal Counsel, Corporate, Charity & Tax, MasterCard Foundation, Toronto
Anders Ourom — Sole Practitioner, Vancouver
Dierk Ullrich — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Lisa M. Zwarn — Professional Registered Parliamentarian, Surrey
Click here for faculty bios