Intuit Canada says freelancers, independent contractors and on-demand workers will make up 45 per cent of the Canadian workforce by 2020.  Whether it's Uber, SkiptheDishes, Etsy or more independent options, "side hustles" are changing the economy in British Columbia.  Our panelists will tackle issues of where we are now: topics like classification issues, liability, dispute resolution, and more. We'll also look at where the legal landscape is headed in the future in this incredibly packed webinar.

Join us as Dr. Ken Thornicroft, a lawyer and professor at the University of Victoria, and Geoff Mason, employment lawyer, lead us through the dynamic world of law and the gig economy.

Geoff thrives in a crowd – whether he’s leading it, mobilizing it, or simply part of the team. Approachable, responsive and compassionate, he has an uncanny knack for putting others at ease and creating connections. His genuine interest in and curiosity about people, coupled with his seemingly limitless enthusiasm, make Geoff a natural fit for the very human work that is employment law.

With a legal background supporting companies spanning industries from forestry and mining to tech startups, Geoff is familiar with the broad spectrum of business cultures operating in BC. He is also a strong proponent of the principles of sustainable employment who enjoys translating theory into practice by educating employers and empowering employees.

While adventurous and well-travelled, Geoff has solid roots in the Lower Mainland having grown up in Delta. Passionate about his hometown and his province as a whole, he has a long history of community involvement, with a hockey bronze medal at BC’s Winter Games standing out as a particular highlight. Geoff is now focusing his give-back on providing public education through various channels including as a guest lecturer at the Vancouver Premier College of Hotel Management and a presenter at the BC Epilepsy Society AGM (2019). Our resident expert on all things “gig economy”, Geoff has been a frequent guest on local radio shows and podcasts focusing on this timely workplace topic.

Dr. KennethThornicroft, University of Victoria (Gustavson School of Business)

Kenneth Wm. Thornicroft is a Professor of Law & Employment Relations with the University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. Dr. Thornicroft holds a law degree (LL.B./J.D. 1979) from the University of British Columbia and a doctorate (Ph.D. 1996) in Labour and Human Resource Policy/Employment Law from the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Thornicroft has received numerous teaching awards including six separate “Professor of the Year” awards and several other research and scholarship awards. He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the British Columbia Council of Administrative Tribunals, the British Columbia Industrial Relations Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Industrial Relations Association, the Canadian Labour Law Association, the Labor and Employment Relations Association and the Society of Labor Economists.

Dr. Thornicroft is the author of over 110 journal articles, conference papers, book reviews and book chapters. He is a co-author of Employment Obligations and Confidential Information (2002; 2nd edition, 2009; 3rd edition 2016) and Collective Agreement Arbitration in Canada (4th edition, 2009; 5th edition, 2013; 6th edition, 2017) both published by LexisNexis Canada Inc.

Dr. Thornicroft’s current research focuses on employee/er rights issues, the grievance arbitration process and the interpretation and enforcement of employment contracts. He is also an active third party neutral having adjudicated several thousand disputes over the past two decades.