The 31st Annual Alberta Labour Law Review (in-person or livestream) (Edmonton)
The 31st Annual Alberta Labour Law Review (in-person or livestream)
The year's top labour law developments and their impact on Alberta unions and employers
Edmonton
May 13 & 14, 2026
Westin Edmonton
Attend this annual conference where Alberta unions and employers catch up on new developments in labour law and their impact on the unionized workplace
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR'S CONFERENCE
Attend the conference in person or order the livestream/binder package
When you register for this conference, you can choose to attend the live conference in person, or watch a livestream of the conference with playback option that includes the virtual binder in PDF format.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Registration: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
MORNING SESSION (8:30 to 12:00)
Drew Blaikie and Joyce Mitchell
Alberta Labour Law Update
A review of new Alberta labour arbitration awards, human rights decisions and Alberta Labour Relations Board cases and their impact on Alberta unions and employers.
AFTERNOON SESSION (1:15 to 4:30)
Chantel Kassongo and Kelly Nychka
Do I have the right to work from home?
From your collective agreement to the duty to accommodate, a look at the rights of employees to work from home in the post-COVID era.
Beyond workers' compensation: When you may be able to grieve following a work-related injury
Under what circumstances can an employee file a grievance after a work-related injury that is beyond the scope of workers' compensation and within an arbitrator's jurisdiction?
When seniority rights collide with the duty to accommodate
How to strike a balance between the rights of an accommodated employee and the seniority rights of co-workers in the context of vacancies, bumping, layoff, and displacement of incumbents.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
MORNING SESSION (8:30 to 12:00)
Laura Dunnigan and Dan Scott
Accommodation Update
A review of important new accommodation cases from across Canada that offer valuable takeaways for unions and employers handling accommodation cases
AFTERNOON SESSION (1:15 to 3:00)
Chair: Arbitrator Mark Asbell, Vicki Giles and Cherie Klassen
Ask a Labour Lawyer
Union and management counsel answer your questions on labour law issues.
PRESENTERS
Mark Asbell, K.C. -- Labour Arbitrator, Asbell Dispute Resolutions
Drew Blaikie -- Union Counsel, Chivers Carpenter
Laura Dunnigan -- Employer Counsel, Mathews Dinsdale & Clark
Vicki Giles -- Employer Counsel, McLennan Ross
Chantel Kassongo, K.C. -- Employer Counsel, Neuman Thompson
Cherie Klassen -- Union Counsel, Blair Chahley Klassen
Joyce Mitchell, K.C. -- Employer Counsel, McLennan Ross
Kelly Nychka -- Union Counsel, Chivers Carpenter
Dan Scott, K.C. -- Union Counsel, Seveny Scott
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
A special guestroom rate $224 (standard, single/double plus taxes) has been arranged for registrants at the Westin Edmonton, 10135-100 Street in downtown Edmonton.
Phone hotel reservation directly at 1-877-504-3765 and ask for the group rate for The Alberta Labour Law Review. Reserve early as availability is limited.
RATES FOR IN-PERSON OR LIVESTREAM
Individual: $795 (plus $39.75 GST = $834.75)
Group (3+ each): $745 (plus $37.25 GST = $782.25)
Super Group (7+ each): $695 (plus $34.75 GST = $729.75)
Mega Group (15+ each): $645 (plus $32.25 = $677.25)
To qualify for group rates, individuals must be from the same organization, or union local, AND register together at the same time. Individuals registering separately will not qualify for group rates.
Registration to attend in person includes access to the two-day conference, the virtual binder in PDF format, continental breakfast and refreshments.
Registration for the livestream includes the virtual binder in PDF format and a link to watch the livestream of the conference in real time (with playback option for 30 days).
PAYMENT TERMS: Payment must be received before conference or access to livestream/video/binder.
CANCELLATIONS must be in writing and received by May 6 in order to qualify for a refund. Cancellations after May 6 will not qualify for a refund.
SUBSTITUTIONS may be made at any time.
Tip Of The Day
Addiction cases present some of the most challenging workplace issues for employees. Arbitrators are aware of the medical relationship between addictions, denial and recidivism. The duty to accommodate employees with addictions is broadening in Canada, and employers must demonstrate that performance issues linked to an underlying addiction or disability will require evidence that all reasonable steps were taken to accommodate the employee before a termination will be upheld.
