Welcome to the 2025 Police Employment Conference!
We’re thrilled to have you join us for two days of in-depth discussions, expert insights, and meaningful collaboration as we shape the future of police workplaces together. This conference is your opportunity to engage directly with leading legal experts representing both member and employer perspectives. These top-tier professionals bring real-time analysis, cutting-edge research, and practical strategies to help navigate the evolving landscape of police employment.
Most sessions feature dynamic panel discussions led by these experts, offering a balanced and actionable look at the biggest challenges and opportunities in the sector. You can access the agenda with all session descriptions and presenter bios below.
If you have any questions or need assistance before or during the event, the PAO Events Team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us at events@pao.ca.
Registration is now closed; however, we may be able to accommodate a late registration. Please reach out to events@pao.ca.
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 4:00 pm | |
| 8:00 pm |
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | |
| 7:30 am | |
| 9:00 am | Conference Welcomes & Opening Ceremonies
Mark Baxter
President, Police Association of Ontario
|
| 9:20 am | Session: Human Rights UpdateAn annual favourite, this panel of two senior labour lawyers – one representing management and one representing unions and associations – will discuss the key human rights cases from the past year and try to find anything about which they agree. This session will discuss the implications of these recent cases for Police Employers and Police Associations.
Elizabeth Keenan
Partner, Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP
Jodi Martin
Partner, Paliare Roland
|
| 10:45 am | |
| 11:00 am | Panel: Disability AccommodationFacilitating the reasonable workplace accommodation of disabled uniform and civilian employees can be challenging for all workplace stakeholders. This panel – comprised of a senior employer-side lawyer, an experienced WSIB representative, and a well-respected labour arbitrator – will bring a variety of perspectives to bear on this important topic. Note: session questions will be taken at 12:00 p.m.
Michelle Zare
Founder, Zare Paralegal Services
Sonia Regenbogen
Partner, Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP
Chris Albertyn
Arbitrator and Mediator, Albertyn Arbitration
|
| 12:15 pm | |
| 1:15 pm | Session: Bargaining BenefitsThis short session will focus on concrete advice for negotiating changes to your health benefits, including recent trends, bargaining strategy, and ideas for collective agreement language.
Lauren Pearce
Partner, Jones Pearce LLP
|
| 2:00 pm | Session: Probationary PeriodsAnother focussed session, this time on probationary employees. The panel will review challenges and best practices for the representation of employees with probationary status, including special considerations for both bargaining units, the unique status of Cadets, and the impact of the new legislation.
Bruce Price
Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, York Regional Police Association
|
| 2:45 pm | |
| 3:00 pm | Session: Collective BargainingOne of the most important and time-consuming tasks of Police Associations and Police Services Boards is to bargain their renewal collective agreements. Two senior labour lawyers – one representing management and one representing unions and associations – will discuss collective bargaining and interest arbitration. Note: session questions will be taken at 4:15 p.m.
Nini Jones
Partner, Jones Pearce LLP
Glenn Christie
Partner, Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Stories LLP
|
| 4:30 pm | |
| 8:00 pm |
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | |
| 9:00 am | Session: Police Discipline UpdateTwo police discipline lawyers will review the latest and the greatest – or not so great – decisions of Hearing Officers and OCPC and/or OPAAC to bring Police Employers and Associations up-to-date. Note: session questions will be taken at 10:15 a.m.
Alex Sinclair
Partner, Hudson Sinclair LLP
Joanne Mulcahy
Barrister, Harry G. Black, Professional Corporation
|
| 10:30 am | |
| 10:45 am | Session: Information Access and PrivacyIn an ever-connected world, this panel will review current topics in employer access to information and employee privacy, including with a view to technological changes, surveillance, and monitoring – and the growing Charter implications for Employers and Associations. Note: session questions will be taken at 12:15 p.m.
Jessica Barrow
Partner, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP
James Girvin
Counsel, Ontario Provincial Police Association
|
| 12:30 pm | |
| 1:30 pm | Session: CSPA ReviewAs the Community Safety and Policing Act turns one year old, this panel of experienced legal practitioners will consider how and what has changed in police workplaces – and where change is still to come. Note: session questions will be taken at 2:45 p.m.
Lawrence Gridin
Counsel, Gridin Advocates
|
| 3:00 pm | Conference Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Mark Baxter
President, Police Association of Ontario
|
Registrants may cancel their registration by providing the reason for the cancellation to pao@pao.ca.
Cancellation requests must be received at least seven (7) full days before the first scheduled session to be eligible for a refund, minus a $50 administration fee. For example, if the first session begins at 9:00am on a Tuesday, the cancellation request must be received before 9:00am the previous Tuesday. After this deadline, registration fees are non-refundable. Refunds will be processed within five (5) business days and issued to the original payment method. For cheque payments, an EFT will be issued
Substitutions are permitted at any time for no additional charge. To substitute a colleague for your registration, please provide their name, title, and contact information to events@pao.ca. The PAO will maintain a waiting list for each event to help facilitate substitutions.
Paid registration fees may not be transferred between events.
