BC CALL 2026 Regional Conference
About this Event
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF LABOUR LAWYERS /
ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES AVOCATS DU MOUVEMENT SYNDICAL
2026 BC Regional CALL-ACAMS CONFERENCE
November 6, 2026
Maritime Labour Centre: 1880 Triumph St, Vancouver, BC
Registration Fees:
· Early bird (register before September 30, 2026): $200
· After September 30, 2026: $250
· Students: $50
To purchase tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1999412634011
Schedule: November 6, 2025
8:30 am – 9:30 am Registration, Coffee, and Snacks
9:30 am – Opening Remarks
Noah Escandor – BC CALL Regional Vice President
Erik Hoibak – BC CALL Regional Vice President
9:45 am – 10:45 am – Effective Representation at the Labour Relations Board
Labour Relations Board Chair Jennifer Glougie and Vice Chair Rene-John Nicolas give helpful information on how best to represent yourselves and your clients while litigating at the Labour Relations Board.
Panelists: Jennifer Glougie, Chair, Labour Relations Board
Rene-John Nicolas – Vice Chair, Labour Relations Board
11:00 am – 12:15 pm – Organizing the Oldest Profession – Labour Organizing, Collective Action and the Unionization of Sex Work
Over the past few decades, certain groups of sex workers across North America have unionized, or tried to unionize, as a pathway to better rights and protections at work. These efforts have had varying levels of success. More recently, the Sex Work Autonomous Committee (SWAC), a non-union group of strippers and erotic massage parlour workers in Montreal, organized a strike during the Formula 1 weekend to demand greater labour protections and advocate for the decriminalization of sex work.
This panel brings together local, national and international sex worker rights advocates and sex worker organizers to discuss the role of unionization and collective action in advancing the rights of sex workers. Panelists will discuss recent efforts to organize sex workers in Canada and the United States, and reflect on the benefits and drawbacks of the Wagner Act model for these communities of workers. Panelists will also reflect on what the larger labour movement in BC and Canada can do to support sex workers in achieving legal recognition and protection.
Panelists: Kit Rothschild - Co Executive Director, PACE Society
Andrea F. Hoeschen – General Counsel, Actors’ Equity Association
Adore Goldman – Sex Worker Autonomous Committee
Kelly Go – SWAN Vancouver
Moderator: Jay Lannon - Legal Counsel, Emergency Communications Professionals of BC – CUPE Local 8911
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch Provided
1:15pm – 2:30 pm - What Labour Lawyers Should Consider When Working with Racialized People and Strategies for Assessing Racial Discrimination Files
The membership of our Unions often reflects our racially diverse society, but are we as labour lawyers considering the specific needs and circumstances of the racialized members we work with? Our three panelists will offer practical considerations when working with racialized people, and perspectives on assessing racial discrimination issues and files. The panelists represent a range of experience from private, in-house, and non-profit practice, from both within and outside of the labour context.
Panelists: Aleem Bharmal, KC – Human Rights Lawyer, Community Legal Assistance Society
Sonya Sabet-Rasekh – Advocacy Department, BC General Employees’ Union
Afifa Hashimi – Lawyer, Moore Edgar Lyster LLP
Moderator: Noah Escandor- BC CALL Regional Vice President
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm – Trial By Fire – Representing Unions During Strike Action
In the aftermath of several major strikes this panel hears from four seasoned labour lawyers about their experiences representing those striking unions and how best to effectively represent trade unions during strike action.
Panelists: Chris Buchanan – Partner, Hastings Labour Law Office
Tamara Ramusovic – Partner, Moore Edgar Lyster LLP
Thom Yachnin – Partner, Victory Square Law Office
Stefanie Ratjen – Advocacy Department, BC General Employees’ Union
5pm onwards: Conference adjourned, social at the Princeton Pub
The Princeton Pub is located a 2 minute walk away from the Maritime Labour Centre (walk north on Victoria Drive and then turn right on Powell St.) at 1901 Powell St, Vancouver, BC.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Please make arrangements to get home safely if you plan on drinking.
Where is it happening?
CAD 54.73 to CAD 268.10
