Agenda

Have you ever experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour at work and wondered what you should do about it. Even worse, have you had your claim dismissed as “just a joke”? You are not alone! Disturbingly, workplace sexual harassment is still fairly common in Canada. According to a 2014 Angus Reid poll, 43% of Canadian women have experienced inappropriate sexual comments, jokes or unwanted touching at work. The issue is more prevalent for younger women, and those in precarious forms of work such as students and junior associates. 

On Monday, October 16, 2017, come join us at the PLTC rooms as our distinguished panel of speakers discuss sexual harassment at work. This event is designed to be a companion to the Not Just a Bystander podcast from the CBA National Women Lawyers Forum, which was originally released on March 8, 2017, International Women’s Day. The podcast covers topics on the current law on sexual assault and sexual harassment, the psychological perspective of why sexual assault and harassment occurs, and how to respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment.

We encourage you to listen to the Not Just a Bystander podcast before the event.

Speakers

Sara Forte is the founder of Forte Law, a small employment law boutique firm in Surrey.  Sara advises employers and employees (including law firms and lawyers) on all aspects of employment law and workplace human rights.  Forte Law’s approach is practical, working with clients to identify their goals, and creating strategic plans to resolve or move forward from workplace legal issues.  Sara took the leap to open Forte Law in 2016, in an office 2 KM from her home in Surrey, after 12 years of practice in Vancouver (six years at a national firm and six years at a boutique).  Sara is actively involved in the business and legal community, and is on the executive of the Surrey Bar Association and CBABC WLF.  Sara also supports a number of community organizations and is on the Board of Directors for Sources Community Wellness Society.  Sara is a mother of three kids, aged 4, 9 and 11.

Claire Marchant is a Practice Advisor and Equity Ombudsperson at the Law Society of British Columbia. As Equity Ombudsperson, Claire assists legal employers and individuals working for legal employers in resolving concerns about workplace discrimination and discriminatory harassment. Claire has a background in workplace law, with experience in a broad variety of employment, privacy, and human rights issues. Besides her job, Claire is passionate about food, exercise (to balance out all the food), and her family, including her two and a half year old German shepherd dog Kepler.

Bena Stock was called to the Bar in 1992 and practiced primarily in the areas of professional negligence and insurance defence litigation for 24 years. Bena left the practice of law in 2015 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counselling. She was in private practice before joining the Lawyers Assistance Program as an Associate Director last spring. Bena has assisted many clients in the areas of anxiety, depression, relationship issues, time management, and career planning, including career transition and advancement. She has a particular interest in helping clients develop practical coping mechanisms to support a sustainable lifestyle. Bena is also on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Restorative Justice Society.

Bena can be reached by phone at 1 (888) 685-2171 or (604) 685-2171 or email at bena@lapbc.com.

A light lunch will be served at the meeting.  Register early as space is limited. We look forward to seeing you there!