Human Rights Law Conference 2026

Course Chairs
Sandra F. Guarascio (she/her) — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
Lindsay Waddell (she/her) — Moore Edgar Lyster LLP, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Sandra Guarascio (she/her/hers) is a partner with Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver and a member of its management committee. She practices in all areas of employment and labour law, with a particular interest in human rights and respectful workplace issues. She has been recognized by Chambers Canada, Lexpert, Best Lawyers Canada, and Lexology for excellence in workplace law. Sandra assists public and private sector employers by providing balanced, strategic, and proactive representation and advice for unionized and non-unionized environments. She strives for people-centered approaches and constructive problem-solving. She is an experienced investigator, advocate, facilitator and speaker, and has conducted numerous workshops dealing with management issues, discrimination, accommodation, and workplace harassment and bullying. She is a regular contributor to Lancaster House, Labour Law Online, and BCHRMA and was an instructor with Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (formerly the National Institute for Disability Management and Research) for over a decade.

Sandra clerked with the BC Supreme Court and was called in 2002. She has been the co-chair of CLEBC's award winning annual two-day Human Rights Conference since 2007.

The most important thing to know about Sandra is that she is a devoted dog lover who spends every moment she can exploring forest trails with her family, including their beloved dog pack.

Lindsay Waddell (she/her) is a partner at Moore Edgar Lyster LLP where she practices human rights, labour, administrative, and professional regulatory law. She acts for public and private sector unions, individuals and professional regulators on a wide variety of matters.

Lindsay is an experienced litigator who has appeared as counsel at all levels of court and in front of all manner of administrative tribunals. She has extensive experience as counsel in judicial review and appeals involving complex human rights, administrative law, and freedom of expression issues. When not litigating, Lindsay also conducts independent investigations for institutional clients and acts as independent legal counsel to administrative tribunals and decision-makers.

Lindsay is a former co–chair of the Human Rights Subsection of the CBABC, a regular speaker for Lancaster House and Labour Law Online, an annual instructor at the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School, and a contributing author and editorial board member for the Administrative Law Practice Manual published by CLEBC.

Planning Committee
Devyn Cousineau (she/her) — Vice-Chair, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
Elias Jimenez Gonzalez (he/him) — Forte Workplace Law, Surrey
Koml Kandola (she/her) — Kandola Arbitration Services Ltd., North Vancouver
Kristen Kasting (she/her) — Legal Counsel, BC Public School Employers Association, Vancouver
Guuduniia La Boucan (she/her) — Staff Lawyer, BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Victoria
Allison Lachance (she/her) — First Nations Health Authority, West Vancouver
Jitesh Mistry (he/him) — Jitesh Mistry, Labour Arbitration and Mediation Services, Burnaby
Laura Track (she/her) — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
Robyn Trask (she/her) — Victory Square Law Office LLP, Vancouver
David G. Wong (he/him) — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Welcome
Alec Guerin — Musqueam Knowledge Keeper, Musqueam Indian Band, Vancouver

Faculty
Matthew Allard (he/him) — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Kayla Bergsson (she/her) — Victory Square Law Office LLP, Vancouver
Michelle Casavant, KC (she/her) — Casavant Law, Vancouver
Rosalie A. Cress (she/her) — Southern Law LLP, North Vancouver
Jessica L. Derynck (she/her) — Southern Law LLP, North Vancouver
Lisa C. Fong, KC (she/her) — Ng Ariss Fong, Vancouver
Jessica Forman (she/her) — Forte Workplace Law, Surrey
Sara Forte (she/her) — Forte Workplace Law, Surrey
Kasari Govender, KC (she/her) — Human Rights Commissioner of BC, Vancouver
Afifa Hashimi (she/her) — Moore Edgar Lyster LLP, Vancouver
Kirsten Hume Scrimshaw (she/her) — Ally Workplace Law, North Vancouver
Carly Hyman (she/her) — General Counsel, BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Victoria
Dimple Kainth (she/her) — Satya Law, Burnaby
Rebecca Kantwerg (she/they) — Victory Square Law Office LLP, Vancouver
Armaan Kassam (he/him) — Staff Lawyer, National Council of Canadian Muslims, Vancouver
Kristen Kasting (she/her) — Legal Counsel, BC Public School Employers Association, Vancouver
Guuduniia La Boucan (she/her) — Staff Lawyer, BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Victoria
Jacqueline Louie (she/her) — Victory Square Law office LLP, Vancouver
Brandon Macleod — Staff Lawyer, BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Vancouver
Jaspreet Mann (she/her) — Forte Workplace Law, Surrey
Daniel McBain (he/him) — Moore Edgar Lyster LLP, Vancouver
Fiona H. McFarlane (she/her) — KSW Lawyers, Surrey
Christopher M. McHardy (he/him) — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
Sep Memarazad (she/her) — QMUNITY Legal Clinic, Vancouver
Jennifer Metcalfe — Staff Lawyer, BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Vancouver
Samrah Mian (she/her) — Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, Vancouver
Jitesh Mistry (he/him) — Jitesh Mistry, Labour Arbitration and Mediation Services, Burnaby
Shawnee Monchalin (she/her) — Legal Counsel, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
Emily Ohler, KC (she/her) — Chair, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
Kirsten M. Samson (she/her) — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Gabrielle M. Scorer (she/her) — Roper Greyell LLP, Vancouver
River Shannon (she/her) — QMUNITY Legal Clinic, Vancouver
Meredith Shaw (she/her) — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
Lauren Soubolsky (she/her) — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
Ruben Tillman (he/him) — Ng Ariss Fong, Vancouver
Laura Track (she/her) — Community Legal Assistance Society, Vancouver
David G. Wong (he/him) — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

• key cases
• analysis and trends
• effects on practice

• risks if one party in an ongoing relationship stops talking to another over a human rights issue—how might that impact litigation if you do have to go there?
• the importance of perspective-taking for preventing and responding to human rights issues or conflicts 
• practical steps for (1) creating a positive and preventative culture, and (2) early and effective resolution when issues do arise
• how far should parties go in trying to help others feel heard; how and to what extent do apologies help or hurt?

• the different sources of remedial authority
• common principles but different applications in the two areas; including: injury to dignity, public interest remedies, and reinstatement
• practical considerations for settlement discussions

• update on tribunal delays, challenges, and initiatives
• discussions of some key issues
• preview of what to expect in the remainder of the fiscal year

• what would/should you do?
• discussions in context

• review and update of significant BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada cases

• history of gender-affirming care access in BC, the BCHRT's role, and SAGAH's 2026 Report on 2S/TNB care in BC
• recent discrimination cases: Child Q v. Dr. A; Hamilton v. BC MSP
• systemic gaps in care: KW v. BC Ministry of Health
• a better forum? Ontario (Health Insurance Plan) v. K.S.
• trauma informed, trans competent lessons for serving 2S/TNB clients

• review of arbitral jurisdiction to interpret and apply human rights legislation in BC
• review of human rights and the "hybrid" approach applied by labour arbitrators 
• review of the application of the law and outcomes by labour arbitrators compared to human rights tribunals
• how labour arbitrators can apply human rights legislation and provide remedies for union workers that best promote the purposes of human rights in the workplace

• review of law in Canada and abroad
• review of recent Canadian studies on the health, career, and broader economic impacts of menopause
• barriers in our current workplace accommodation processes
• a case for change

• updates on Commissioner's inquiries
  • exclusion of media from the April 2023 Hastings decampment (Un(media)ted report)
  • disproportionate impact of police use of force on Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people and/or on people with mental health issues 
• updates on cases in which the Commissioner was/is an intervenor or is seeking leave to intervene
  • Fox, Scheu and Smith v. City of Victoria
  • Gitxaala and Ehattesaht v. HM the King in the Right of BC
  • Kishawi v. Vancouver Island University
  • Roy, Littlejohn and BCCLA v. City of Vancouver
  • BC Teachers Federation obo Chilliwack Teachers" Association v. Barry Neufeld

• how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) applies to human rights legislation, in light of Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2025 BCCA 430
• the importance of Indigenous-specific human rights remedies, including remedies under Indigenous legal orders, in cases of Indigenous discrimination
• how practitioners can implement UNDRIP in their work, including:
  • Indigenous-specific remedies achieved in recent Heiltsuk Nation Indigenous consumer racism cases
  • how Indigenous practitioners, who experience institutional discrimination themselves, can use UNDRIP in their practices and support their clients through colonial human rights processes that remain inaccessible to many Indigenous complainants

• panel discussion of common scenarios with governance challenges 
• effects of interference or inaction by board and council members 
• interplay between professional regulation and human rights duties 
• practical strategies and applicable case law