Derek From Email & Phone Number

Experienced legal counsel with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit sector and civil litigation. Skilled in Charitable Organizations, Public Speaking, Communications and Media Engagement, Policy Analysis, and Politics. An analytic thinker and team player with a J.D. from The University of Western Ontario.Derek has argued, managed and assisted in numerous cases, interventions and administrative proceedings, including R. v. Comeau, SCC (interprovincial trade); R. v. Fleming, SCC (freedom of expression); Wall v. Highwood Congregation, SCC (freedom of association); R. v. Montague, ONCA (civil forfeiture); R. v. Schmidt, ONCA (economic liberty); Artisan Ales Consulting Inc. and Alberta, AIT (interprovincial trade).PUBLICATIONS:“It shouldn’t take a community to raise your kid and why the government won’t do anything about it”“Whatcott: The Redaction of the Taylor Dissent”“The Evisceration of Liberty in Canadian Courts”“Civil Forfeiture in Canada”“Vaping and the Law” SELECT ARTICLES:“Carbon tax ruling has opened up a constitutional Trojan horse”, Western Standard“We need more nurses like Carolyn Strom, not fewer”, Saskatoon Star Phoenix“If Notley believes in free trade, she'll lift barriers on craft beer”, Calgary Herald“B.C. Health Care Shouldn't Force Patients To Suffer On Waitlists”, Huffington Post“Law being used to silence political speech on Facebook”, Toronto Sun“Continuing Ontario's Campaign Against Vaping Will Cost Lives”, Huffington Post“This Could Be Calgary's Most Expensive Parking Ticket”, Huffington Post“Now’s the time to eliminate Canada’s old blasphemy laws”, Toronto Sun“Bill C-13: Tories trying again to open door to undue state intrusion”, Toronto Star“Infernal trade barriers: Canada’s constitution already guarantees free-trade betweenthe provinces”, Financial Post“You want my blood? I want your money”, National PostVOLUNTEER WORK:Vice President, Chestermere Regional Community Association (Dec 2019—)Director, Chestermere Regional Community Association (Dec 2017—Dec 2019)Provincial Director, Wildrose Party Executive Committee (2013-2014)Committee Member, United Way Partnership Committee, Chestermere (2013-2014)Committee Member, Community Services Advisory Board, Town of Chestermere (2013-2014)President, Undergraduate Philosophical Association, University of Waterloo (1998-2000)Literacy Teacher, Bamako, Mali, West Africa (August 1996-May 1997)PRACTICE AREAS:Constitutional lawCivil liberties Civil litigationEmployment law