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Jonathon Ward

Partner
About

Jonathon Ward practices throughout Western Canada in all areas of privacy, labour and employment law. Jonathon represents clients before employment standards tribunals, human rights tribunals, privacy commissioners, ‎labour arbitrators, labour boards, workers’ compensation boards, mediators, arbitrators and all levels of Court.

Jonathon strives to be creative, strategic and above all pragmatic in assisting clients with their legal issues. His approach prioritizes saving his clients' time, money and employee bandwidth to reach a practical solution.

Jonathon provides training to organization of all sizes regarding workplace issues, such as terminations, performance management strategies, occupational health and safety, human rights obligations and privacy compliance. Jonathon is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, including for Canadian Professional Human Resources associations, and often requested to comment on workplace issues by the media.

Jonathon assists clients with all manner of employment issues, including drafting and advising on employment agreements and executive employment ‎agreements, independent contractor vs. employee classifications, drafting workplace policies, advising on performance management, termination and discipline issues, ‎advising on potential human rights claims and strategies for navigating same, ‎preparing and enforcing restrictive covenants and workplace investigations‎.

Jonathon provides strategic advice on labour matters, including collective bargaining, preliminary union organizing ‎activities, certification drives, strikes and workplace issues in a unionized environment. ‎Jonathon acts for clients in discipline, termination and policy grievances, judicial ‎review of arbitration decisions and unfair labour practice complaints. Jonathon also assists with privacy issues, including privacy breaches, privacy access requests, judicial reviews and appellate advocacy on ‎privacy issues.‎

Jonathon earned his Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary. While in law school, Jonathon volunteered with Student Legal Assistance at the University of Calgary.

Bar admissionsAlberta, 2016British Columbia, 2022

EXPERIENCE

  • Shaw v Calgary Board of Education, 2024 AHRC 63
  • United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber Local Number 7226 v Certain Employees of Vitafoam Products Canada, 2024 ALRB 17
  • Oleynik v University of Calgary, 2023 ABCA 265
  • Oleynik v University of Calgary, 2023 ABKB 43
  • University of Calgary v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2021 ABQB 795
  • University of Calgary v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2019 ABQB 950
  • Alberta Medical Association v Alberta Health Services, 2019 ABQB 82.
  • Cardinal Coach Lines ULC v General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362, 2017 CanLII 86406 (AB GAA); aff’d 2018 CanLII 683 (AB GAA); aff’d 2018 ABCA 294 (policy grievance relating to hours of work interpretation)
  • Provided employment advice to Seequent Limited, an Accel-KKR portfolio company, in connection with Seequent’s acquisition of GEOSLOPE International Ltd., a Canadian-based company that creates integrated, geotechnical analysis software.
Education
  • J.D., University of Calgary, 2015
  • B.A. (Honours), Queen's University, 2011

Awards

  • Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch (Labour & Employment), 2024-2025
  • The Legal 500 Canada (Labour & Employment), Rising Star, 2022-2024
  • Thompson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer (formerly Acritas Star™ Lawyer), 2020-2022

Publications

  • Co-Author, "Navigating mutual separation agreements: When and how?", DLA Piper Insights, July 31, 2024
  • Author, “British Columbia increases minimum wage” Canada in Focus, June 1, 2022
  • Co-Author, “No more proof of vaccination in Alberta” Canada in Focus, February 9, 2022
  • Co-Author, “Guide to Going Global: Canada”, Guide to Going Global Series, February 17, 2022
  • Co-Author, “Mandatory vaccinations in Alberta?” Canada in Focus, September 16, 2021
  • Co-Author, “The Alberta government has announced its three-stage plan to lift health restrictions” Canada in Focus, May 27, 2021
  • Co-Author, “Government of Alberta introduces paid leave for employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations” Canada in Focus, April 23, 2021
  • Co-Author, “Bill 32: Practical implications for Alberta employers” Canada in Focus, October 18, 2020
  • Co-Author, “Employment impact of Bill 24: Extension of temporary ‎layoffs and validation of COVID-19 regulations‎” Canada in Focus, June 24, 2020
  • Co-Author, “Alberta government extends temporary leave for employees” Canada in Focus, April 7, 2020
  • Co-Author, “Alberta Employment Standards Code amended to provide 14 day Quarantine Leave” Canada in Focus, March 18, 2020
  • Author, “‎(Another) Pit-fall warning for fixed-term employment agreements” Canada in Focus, March 4, 2020
  • ‎Author, “What do upcoming changes to Alberta’s occupational health and safety laws mean for employers?” Canada in Focus, May 29, 2018
  • Author, "Preparing for mandatory data breach reporting and record-keeping," Republished in Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada, April 2018
  • Author, “Sweeping changes coming for Alberta’s occupational health and safety laws” Canada in Focus, ‎November 30, 2017‎
  • Co-Author, “Employer Strategies for Social Media, Employee Privacy and Medical Marijuana Use in the Workplace” DLA Piper Publications, May 31, 2017
  • ‎Author, “Employee misconduct and social media” Canada in Focus, May 23, 2017‎
  • ‎Author, “Fundamentals of Employment Law – Navigating Common Issues at the Hiring, Managing and Firing ‎Stages of the Employment Relationship,” DLA Piper Publications, February 2, 2017

Seminars

  • Speaker, DLA Piper Employment and Labour Spring Update Webinar, June 6, 2024
  • Speaker, 2023 CPHR Alberta HR Law Conference, February 16, 2023‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Western Canadian Labour and Employment Webinar, November 18, 2021‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Cross-Canada Employment and Labour Law Update, January 26, 2021‎
  • Moderator, Reimagining the Workplace: How to Effectively Manage Remote Work ‎Arrangements During ‎COVID-19 and Beyond, June 25, 2020‎
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, DLA Piper Calgary Labour and Employment Conference, ‎September 20, 2019‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Calgary Labour and Employment Conference, October 16, 2018‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Vancouver Labour and Employment Conference, May 2, 2018‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Toronto Labour and Employment Conference, April 23, 2018‎
  • Speaker, DLA Piper Calgary Labour and Employment Conference, May 31, ‎‎2017‎
  • Speaker, Facebook or Facepalm?  How to Avoid Employment Related Social Media ‎Gaffes, Calgary ‎Labour and ‎Employment Bar Section Meeting, June 17, 2017‎
  • Co-Chair and speaker, HR 101: Employment Law Fundamentals for HR Professionals, ‎Calgary, February ‎‎9, 2017‎

Media Mentions

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia
  • Member, Vancouver Bar Association 
  • Member, Law Society of Alberta
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association
  • Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
  • Member, Advocates Society
  • Member, Canadian Association of University Solicitors 

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