As part of our ongoing commitment to our members we are pleased to introduce the CAMA Professional Development Series. This program is comprised of various webinars that are coordinated for the CAO/City Manager, senior managers and their employees. Along with our own webinar series, CAMA Partner companies will be providing educational and informative learning opportunities that showcase innovative services and products relevant to municipal management. Free of charge to all CAMA members this will be a wonderful way to provide an eclectic selection of resources to all your employees.
NAVIGATING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026 I 1:00 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M. EST
REGISTRATION LINK
Get ready for an insightful session with municipal and labour law experts Don Lidstone, K.C., Ale Henao, and Mary Nguyen, as they dive into the latest updates on applicable legislation and case law and will provide practical legal advice on employment agreements.
This session covers nuances of key topics like fixed versus open terms, salary and benefit complexities, termination process provisions, constructive dismissal, severance, mitigation, requiring residency, and the increasingly relevant “respectful workplace” issues. They will also shed light on the pitfalls to avoid during the term of employment and offer new employment contract mechanisms to protect municipal administrators from bullying, harassment, and defamation.
They will share real-life stories to illustrate each legal point. Plus, you’ll have the chance to get your burning questions answered in our interactive Q&A segment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding and protect your professional interests.
Learn More About the Speakers:
Don Lidstone, K.C.
Don Lidstone K.C. is licenced in BC, Alberta, and Yukon. He practices generally in the area of local government law. His municipal law focus is in the areas of governance, finance and taxation, land use and development, environmental law, aboriginal law and bylaw/legislative drafting. Invited to speak regularly at conferences, symposia and universities, Don has chaired the Sustainable Region Initiative (Governance and Finance), Liquid Waste Expert Review Panel, Fire Services Review Panel, Whistler Waste Blue Ribbon Panel, and the Municipal Law Section of the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. He has published numerous papers and manuals and consulted on the development of the Community Charter and other municipal statutes in a number of provinces. Don was designated King’s Counsel in 2008.
Ale Henao
Alejandra (Ale) Henao is an associate with Lidstone & Company’s Labour, Employment, and Human Rights Group. Ale advises the public and private sectors on a wide range of contractual and statutory employment obligations and disputes. These include dismissals, human rights complaints, employment agreements, policy development, and investigations. Having developed a unique interest and proficiency in WorkSafeBC law and policy, Ale assists with Board-level claim management to appeals at the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT), and Occupational Health and Safety matters such as bullying and harassment. Ale is licensed to practice in BC and Alberta. She has appeared before the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, the Provincial and Supreme Court of British Columbia, and WCAT. Ale obtained her BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She completed her law degree at Thompson Rivers University in 2018 having received the Dean’s Discretionary Award, the Law Foundation of British Columbia Public Interest Award, and the Bill W. Eremko Memorial Award.
Mary Nguyen
Mary started her legal career at a Vancouver firm practicing civil litigation, providing advice to schools, health authorities, municipalities, and other institutions on a variety of matters including human rights, professional negligence, personal injury, and product liability. After 7 years in litigation, she took on an in-house position where she practiced labour and employment law for the next five years, negotiating contracts, resolving disputes, and advising on a variety of legal and policy issues in the public health sector. Mary enjoys helping clients navigate complex deals, resolving conflicts, and securing strategic outcomes.
