John Curtis Mediation

I am thrilled to announce that Larissa Donovan has joined our team as associate lawyer, mediator, and investigator. I want to congratulate Larissa on her call to the Ontario bar on February 24, 2022 after she completed her articles with me.

Larissa brings specialized experience and knowledge to the practice including her degree in Gender Studies from Queen's University, a diploma in Human Resources Management from St. Lawrence College, and her distinguished achievements in human rights law and public interest advocacy while attending Thompson Rivers University - TRU World where she earned her JD. Larissa also holds certificates in Advanced Mediation Skills from the Mediation Centre of Southeastern Ontario and in Sexual and Gender Diversity from Queen’s University.

Larissa has already conducted and consulted on more than 30 investigations and dozens of mediations through her work with my practice. During her articles, Larissa published with the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Institute of Canada and contributed to several blog posts. ADR Institute of Canada

Watch for Larissa this summer where she will be sharing some of her knowledge on workplace conflict and cultural competence alongside me at the Mediation Associates of Eastern Ontario Professional Dialogues.​

Larissa and I are excited to continue working together assisting clients in conflict management and workplace investigations.

Please join me in welcoming Larissa!

It happens all the time.

I get to the end of an investigation and provide my findings. The client reads it over, thinks about it, and decides what to do. Sometimes there is disciplinary action taken.

That’s when I get the call from an unhappy participant.

https://www.johncurtis.ca/investigation/wheres-the-report/

Where's the report? - Why workplace harassment investigation reports are almost never shared with most of the participants.

A few weeks ago, the only folks who might recognize the name Kyle Beach would be his friends, family, and his teammates in Germany. Possibly a few passionate hockey fans.

Today, he is at the centre of a massive scandal and lawsuit that calls into question how the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks handled, or rather didn’t handle, an accusation of sexual assault by one of its own players. Beach’s courageous decision to share his story is causing a reckoning within professional hockey and empowering others to come forward.

https://www.johncurtis.ca/investigation/lessons-for-hr-directors-from-the-kyle-beach-story/

Lessons for HR directors from the Kyle Beach story - Lessons for organizations who are made aware of sexual assault allegations, like those made by Kyle Beach of the Chicago Blackhawks.