2023 Labour Conference

About Ian Johnstone

IAN B. JOHNSTONE, B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M.

PARTNER

Johnstone & Cowling LLP

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ian served as a police officer with the Peel Regional Police. He holds a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice (summa cum laude) and attended the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law where he received the law school awards for both labour and employment law. He also attended the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law and completed his Master of Laws.

Ian has taught labour and employment courses at the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law and the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law. He is a regular lecturer at the Ontario Police College. Ian is a member of, and serves on several committees of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a co-chair and co-founder of the OACP Police Labour Conference. He and some of the other lawyers at the firm act as counsel to police chiefs, police service boards, provincial ministries of public safety, as well as on behalf of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

Ian also acts for private sector employers and various government agencies as employer counsel for a wide range of issues.

About Allison Johnstone

ALLISON JOHNSTONE, B.A., J.D., LL.M.

BARRISTER & SOLICITOR

Johnstone & Cowling LLP

Allison is an associate with Johnstone & Cowling LLP. Allison obtained her J.D. at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and completed her Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Cornell Law School. She practices in all areas of labour and employment law and has particular experience in police disciplinary cases and human rights law. Allison appears as a Prosecutor under the Police Services Act, as well as at arbitration hearings and before the Human Rights Tribunal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, as well as the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

Holly Britton brings over 20 years of human resources experience in both the private and public sectors. Currently Acting Director of People, Development and Learning at Durham Regional Police Service. She holds a BA from Trent University, MBA from the University of Fredericton and the CHRL designation. Holly has a passion for Health and Wellness and is a strong proponent of progressive, measurable welling programming. She sits on the International Association Women in Policing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, and the Anti-Stigma Advisory Table (Mental Health Secretariat). 

Sharon Wilmot acts as General Counsel to Peel Regional Police. She was called to the bar in 2008, following which she practiced civil and criminal litigation with a large, full-service law firm until 2012. Prior to joining Peel Regional Police, she acted as counsel to Toronto Police Service. She has experience in all legal aspects of policing including issues relating to privacy and privilege, Charter issues, matters relating to the Police Services Act and general risk management of public complaints and civil litigation.  She is currently co-chair of the OACP Police Legal Advisors Committee.

Lauren is a leader in the field of workplace respect, harassment and violence. She investigates complex complaints including:
• sexual harassment and sexual assault
• psychological harassment/bullying
• systemic discrimination
• allegations of discrimination/harassment based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and family status
Lauren has conducted investigations in police services, investigated elected officials including mayors and municipal councillors and has investigated sexual assault complaints against athletic coaches.

Retired Deputy Chief Mike Federico served 45 years with the Toronto Police Service.  He has experience in all aspects of policing including uniform and investigative services, human resources, labour relations, professional standards, and operational support.  

In addition to his police duties, he has served as the senior investigative advisor to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services now the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the government agency responsible for police oversight in the province of Ontario. 

Recently, he served as the Administrator to the Durham Regional Police Service appointed by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.  Areas of focus included the human resources processes of discipline and promotion, which often involved dispute and grievance resolution. 

He is a court recognized expert witness in both civil and criminal cases offering expert opinion on matters of police authority, supervision, discipline, and training. 

He is a lifetime member of the OACP, and Past President of the Toronto Police Senior Officers Association. 

In his private capacity retired Deputy Chief Federico is the Past President of the Board of Directors of a community-based substance use and mental health treatment foundation, Vitanova.

Stan MacLellan - Raised in Cape Breton, has extensive experience in the municipal policing field.  He has worked for two of Ontario's larger police services - Ottawa Police Service 1995 - 2003 and the Durham Regional Police Service 2003.

Stan has an undergraduate degree from St. Francis Xavier University, has obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Queen's University and is currently studying at Charles Sturt working towards his doctorate in Policing and Security

Stan is active within his community working with youth and with agencies supporting the vulnerable as a volunteer and board member.

Bob brings over 25 years of public affairs experience in both the public and private sectors. His previous roles include Executive Vice President at Edelman, Senior-Vice President at Ipsos Reid and Vice-President at The Angus Reid Group. In the Ontario Government, he served as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, and as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Colleges and Universities, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Energy. Bringing together his private and public experience, Mr. Richardson co-founded The Devon Group (2003), a company that was acquired by Edelman in 2014, where he built one of Ontario’s most reputable public affairs agencies. Bob also serves as vice-chair of the board of The Ontario Centres of Excellence, director of Soccer Canada, and a member of the Board of Governors of George Brown College.

Has worked with the RCMP, moving through the ranks from Constable to Assistant Commissioner and has served in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Ontario and spent almost 19 years in the three northern territories. Worked for the Durham Regional Police Service and the Ottawa Police Service in the role of Chief of Police between 2005 and 2012.

Has been an Adjunct, visiting or part-time professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Charles Sturt University, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and as a visiting fellow at the Australian Institute of Police Management.

Has extensive background at the investigational/supervisory and Aboriginal/First Nation and Community Policing level over a 31 year policing career. Has extensive experience in all avenues of policing, administrative, managerial and investigational.

Guest lecturer at the University of Alaska, St Mary's University, Dalhousie University, Charles Sturt University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Simon Fraser University, Carleton University, University of Ottawa, Chinese People's Public Security University and The Indian National Police Academy.

Greg Weston is one of Canada’s leading communicators and a trusted expert in media and all aspects of strategic and crisis communications. He is a valued strategic advisor to a variety of corporations, public agencies and other organizations. Greg is also a successful entrepreneur, a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and lecturer. He brings to clients a rare combination of experience in media, public affairs and business spanning four decades. As a consultant, he has advised corporations and public-sector agencies across a range of sectors including policing, security and intelligence, emergency response, healthcare and eldercare, telecommunications, robotics and technology commercialization.

Greg was one of Canada’s leading voices in national print, broadcast and digital journalism for more than 30 years, earning numerous national awards, including the Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service in Journalism, one of Canada’s highest media honors; the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University; and a Queen’s Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. He is the author of two best-selling books, and has been named an Honorary Life Member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

Prior to recently establishing Searchlight Strategy Group, Greg spent six years in strategic communications as a Partner at Earnscliffe Strategies after a successful engagement with a leading public opinion research company. He was previously a communications consultant to a number of publicly-traded technology start-ups during the 1990s.