Counselling Resources for Whistleblowers

Witnessing organizational wrongdoing, coming forward, and facing potential retaliation are significant life events that can profoundly
impact your psychological well-being. This directory features specialized practitioners who are trauma-informed and experienced in the unique challenges whistleblowers face. These professionals understand the complex emotional landscape of moral injury and institutional betrayal. We encourage you to consult your insurance provider or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to verify your coverage options. This directory is provided for informational purposes. Whistleblowing Canada Research Society does not formally endorse individual practitioners. We recommend interviewing potential counselors to ensure their approach meets your specific needs.

Please Note:  Counsellors can practice only in the province they are licensed in.

Name and Affiliations	Location & Website	Specialities & Approaches	Languages	Email Address & Phone number
British Columbia
Lydia Anderson, MACP, RCC #12509	Chilliwack, British Columbia  Virtual Consultation available  [email protected]	Areas of focus: Trauma, PTSD and Complex Trauma; Anxiety and Depression; Grief and Loss; Stress and Burnout; Life Transitions; Moral Distress and Moral Injury; Workplace and Organisational Difficulties; Institutional Betrayal and Whistleblower Retaliation. Training and approaches: Extensive post-graduate training in trauma treatment; integrative and trauma-informed counselling; CBT; ACT; DBT-informed approaches; Motivational Interviewing; OEI (Observed and Experiential Integration); IFS/parts-informed approaches; mindfulness and self-compassion practices.	English	[email protected] 604-705-4000 For virtual consultation, contact: [email protected] Online booking available here
Quebec
Julie Gouin, c.o. Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec	Québec Virtual consultation available https://juliegouin.com/	Psychological Support, Navigating Career Transitions, Career Coaching, Workplace Dynamics, Moral Injury	Français English	[email protected] 581-702-2006
Richard D. Rapoport, t.s. OTSTCQ, Psychotherapy Permit – Order of Psychologists of Quebec	Montreal / Province of Québec Virtual consultation available	Performance and Resilience Enhancement; Mental well-being, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD or OSI; Workplace or Organisational; Stress ; Moral Injury; or Trauma. Military, First Responders, Veterans. CBT, EMDR, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Mindfullness and Self-Compassion practices.	English Français	[email protected]

 

Navigating the decision to blow the whistle can be challenging, whether you work in the public or private sector. In two insightful videos, Justin Villeneuve breaks down the rights of whistleblowers in Ontario, offering essential guidance and practical options. From understanding legal protections in the public sector to exploring the steps and safeguards available in the private sector, these resources aim to empower individuals to speak up while safeguarding their rights.

Whistleblower Rights: If you’re considering whistleblowing, start here to gain the knowledge you need to know your rights and make an informed decision 

Lawyers Directory: Should you wish to speak to a lawyer, click here to go to our Directory of lawyers for whistleblowers.

Whistleblower Blog

The posts on this Blog are those of Canadians who have been struggling for a long time, in most cases years, to have their serious concerns addressed by authorities responsible, to no avail.  The authors have offered significant evidence of their claims, although most have not yet been proven in court.  Their allegations of wrong-doing, detrimental to the public interest, appear to have been ignored.  Further, the authors claim to have suffered reprisals for trying to do their jobs ethically and loyally. These stories shine a light on glaring gaps in our systems for receiving, investigating and correcting disclosures of wrong-doing.  The disclosers require protection, not the wrong-doers. We hope telling these stories of system failures and harmful consequences to good people and the public interest, will encourage the responsible authorities to take appropriate corrective action. 

→ Click here for Whistleblower Blog Posts

 

Guest Blog

Welcome to Whistleblowing Canada's Guest Blog: Welcome to Whistleblowing Canada’s Guest Blog on matters that shed light on whistleblowing in Canada. If you are working in this growing field of practice and study in any capacity – lawyer, accountant, compliance officer, HR, academic, media, third-party disclosure mechanisms, etc., this is the place where you can discuss, debate and explain your views and experiences.

→ Click here for Guest Blog Posts

 

Disclaimer: Whistleblowing Canada Research Society makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in these Blog Postings.  The opinions and views expressed in these publications are wholly those of the authors.  They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Whistleblowing Canada Research Society or its members.

Contact: To join in the discussion and submit a post email us at: [email protected]

What Canada’s AI & Whistleblowing Study Reveals About Employee Trust
Posted by Steph MacGregor · January 20, 2026 3:41 PM · 1 reaction

Ignoring Whistleblowers and Not Enforcing Laws Cause Avoidable Deaths.
Posted by Pamela Forward · October 21, 2021 6:15 PM · 1 reaction

International Conference Discloses Canadian Whistleblowers At Risk
Posted by Pamela Forward · October 03, 2019 2:12 PM · 1 reaction

See all posts

Check out books by leaders and Advisory Board members at Whisleblowing Canada: 

Under Cover: Inside the Shady World of Organized Crime and the R.C.M.P.

- By Garry Clement

 

Canada Under Siege: How PEI Became a Forward Operating Base for the Chinese Communist Party

- By Garry Clement & Dean Baxendale

 

The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health

- By Jennifer Fraser 

 

The Gaslit Brain: Protect Your Brain from the Lies of Bullying, Gaslighting, and Institutional Complicity

- By Jennifer Fraser 

 

Police Line: Do Not Cross: Silencing a Canadian Police Whistleblower

- By Kelly Donovan

 

Psychosocial Impacts of Whistleblower Retaliation: Shattering Employee Resilience and the Workplace Promise

- By Jacqueline Garrick

 

Irresponsible Government: The Decline of Parliamentary Democracy in Canada

- By Brent Rathgeber

 

Whistleblowing and Retaliation in the United Nations

- By Caroline Hunt-Matthes

Each year Whistleblowing Canada publishes a report on our accomplishments for the year.

- Click here for Year in Review for 2025

- Click here for Year in Review for 2024

- Click here for Year in Review for 2023

Welcome to the Ontario Lawyers Directory for Whistleblowers

This directory is your resource to help you find legal support. Each listing provides:

• Counsel Availability: The lawyer's name in this list indicates the lawyer is willing to consider whistleblower cases.
• Pro Bono Consult &/or Case: Shows if the lawyer offers a free initial consultation and/or will consider case representation. If a lawyer is unable to take your case on a pro bono basis, you might ask if they would consider taking your case on a contingency basis i.e. their fees will be paid from any award you may receive if you win your case. However, you would have to have a strong case that the lawyer believes is winnable, otherwise, they would not get paid. Alternatively, if you are a self-represented litigant, you could ask if they would assist you with certain agreed upon tasks from time to time as you navigate the legal system, for example, coaching, or drafting certain documents etc.
• Contact Information: Includes phone numbers and email addresses for easy communication.
• Description of practice: Includes the special area the lawyer practices in.

How to Use the Directory

Browse the directory to find a lawyer who meets your needs. Each entry is updated regularly for accuracy.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us.

Ontario

Name	Firm & Location	Brief Description Practice	Email Address & Phone Number	Open to free initial consult	Open to  pro-bono cases	Open to Contingency Cases
Alexi Wood	St. Lawrence Barristers PC Toronto, ON	Defamation, privacy, online harassment and freedom of expression Website: https://stlbarristers.ca/	[email protected] 647-245-8283	Yes	No
Alexandra M.C. Douglas	Lundin PLLC Toronto, ON/ New York City, NY	Whistleblowing (capable to filing submission under both Canadian and US whistleblower programs); Commercial litigation. Website: www.lundinpllc.com	[email protected]  929-564-5461	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Alfredo Munoz	Lex Facto Inc Ottawa, ON	Independent investigation, criminal law, immigration, use of force Website: Lexfacto.ca	[email protected] 613-678-8911	Yes
Ayaya Worenwu	Worenwu Law Office Hamilton, ON	Personal Injury, Wills & Estates, Matrimonial & family, Civil Litigation, Notary Public, etc.	[email protected]	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Babek Ebrahimzadeh	Ebrahimzadeh Law Toronto, ON	Employment Law	[email protected] 647-299-4919	No	No
Barbara Hendrickson	BAX Securities Law Toronto, ON	Corporate finance securities Website: www.baxsecuritieslaw.com	[email protected] 647-403-4606	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Brian Myles Doody	Doody Counsel Legal Services Ottawa, ON	Ottawa bilingual lawyer.  Administrative, Criminal, Constitutional and Family/CYFSA Law - with prompt response supported by voicemail-to-text accessibility   https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-doody-43122825b	[email protected] 613-612-2846	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Bruce Engel	Engel G Associates Ottawa, ON	Criminal Defence Boutique: 5 lawyers, 1 paralegal Website: www.bruceengel.com	[email protected] 613-235-6324	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Chadwick Boyd	Halcyon Legal Professional Corporation Ottawa, ON	Corporate-commercial, estate planning Website: www.halcyonlegal.ca	[email protected] 613-620-2325	Yes	No
Craig Burley	Craig Burley, Barrister and Solicitor Hamilton, ON	Taxation, financial fraud Website: Craigburley.com	[email protected] 905-296-3378	No	No
David Debenham	LMR Ottawa, ON	Anti-fraud, anti-corruption Website: www.lmrlawyers.com	[email protected] 613-696-1313	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Elise Hallewick	Hallewick Law Ottawa, ON	Civil litigation: personal injury, wrongful dismissal, family law	[email protected] 613-680-4243	Yes	No
Ivan Marini	Marini Law Hamilton, ON	Civil litigation- Employment Law	[email protected] 905-317-0585	Yes	No
Jean-Marc Leclerc	Sotos LLP Toronto, ON	Class action lawyer - antitrust, privacy, securities Website: sotosclassactions.com	[email protected] 647-393-1027	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Jean-Michel Frechette	Frechette Mediation Ottawa, ON	Mediations, Workplace dispute resolution, ADR, Workplace, investigations and litigation services. Website: Frechettemediation.ca	[email protected] 613-262-4610	No	No
Jessica Fullerton	Nelligan Law Ottawa, ON	Civil Litigation: focused on the rights of the individual Website: nelliganlaw.ca	[email protected] 613-231-8366	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Justin Villeneuve	WVGB Law Group Ottawa, ON	The firm provides zealous advocacy for whisteblowers  Website: wvgblaw.com	[email protected] 613-505-5025	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Kevin P. Siu	Gilbert's LLP Toronto, ON	Civil litigator with expertise in Federal Court matters, including intellectual property litigation, judicial reviews and other applications in the fields of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and oil & gas. Website: www.gilbertslaw.ca	[email protected] 416-703-6066	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Kimberly Boara Alexander	KBA Partners LLP Toronto, ON	Acting for employees, executives, directors, partners and shareholders on issues relating to their careers. Website: kbalaw.ca	[email protected] 416-855-7076	No	No
Lance Spitzig	Glaholt Bowles LLP Toronto, ON	Litigator	[email protected] 416-368-8280	Yes	No
Laura Dickson	Dickson Wynperle Associates Hamilton, ON	Civil Litigation - Plaintiff only Website: dwalaw.ca	[email protected] 905-777-0300	Yes	No
Mark Bourrie	Ottawa, ON	Torts, defamation, political cases Website: MarkBourrie.com	[email protected] 613-255-2158	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Maryrose Ebos	MaryRose Ebos Law Professional Corp	Litigation/commercial contracts/discovery	[email protected] 437-833-5181	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Melynda Layton	Layton Law Office Ottawa, ON	I am a civil litigator focused on employment issues. I practice both before tribunals along with the Superior Court. Website: careerlaw.ca	https://careerlaw.ca/  613-225-4400	No	No
Michel Nungisa	Nungisa Law Ottawa, ON	Solicitor and Workplace Investigator Website: www.nungisalaw.ca	[email protected] 613-869-9492	Yes	No
Miranda Desa	Barrister & Solicitor Toronto, ON	about environmental and animal law issues as well as managing the risk of whistleblowing and public statements Website: www.desalaw.com	[email protected] 647-951-2428	Yes	No
Paul Champ	Champ & Associates Ottawa, ON	Employment, Labour and Human Rights Website: www.champlaw.ca	[email protected] 613-237-4740	No	No
Richard Beaule	The Middle Way Ottawa, ON	Labour law, union side Website: richardbeaule.com	[email protected] 343-597-0470	No	No
Rikin Morzaria	Kinara Law Professional Corporation Toronto, ON	Civil and commercial litigation and representation of securities Website: www.kinaralaw.com	[email protected] 416-546-0526	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Sathishkumar Balasunderam	Home Law Professional Corporation Mississauga, ON	Predominantly family law, real estate and wills and estates. Website: www.homelaw.ca	[email protected] 647-231-9669	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Susan Osayomore Alalade	Alalade Law Professional Corporation Brampton, ON	Major in real estate and family law Website: Alaladelaw.com	[email protected] 905-454-4791
Thomas William Brooker	Brooker Law Office Ottawa, ON	Employment and Personal Injury Website: brookerlawoffice.ca	[email protected] 613-226-3265	Yes	No
Victor Truong	Victor Ǫ. Truong Law Office Toronto, ON	International Trade Law Website: www.vqtlaw.com	[email protected] 647-542-3117	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Vidit Deswal	Sabio Law LLP Brampton, ON	Civil Litigation Website: sabiollp.com	[email protected] 437-974-9491	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Wade Poziomka	Ross G McBride LLP Hamilton, ON	Human Rights, Employment, Labour and Administrative Law Website: www.rossmcbride.com	[email protected] 905-572-5824	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer
Wendy Hulton	Dickinson Wright LLP Toronto, ON	Employment/Regulatory/Privacy/Cybersecurity Website: www.dickinsonwright.co	[email protected] 416-777-4035	Yes	No
Yavar Hameed	Hameed Law Ottawa, ON	Administrative and employment law Website: www.hameedlaw.ca	[email protected] 613-627-2674	Yes	Yes	Check with lawyer

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your interest in Whistleblowing Canada Research Society. We welcome all forms of support to the organization including volunteers, advisory board members and board of directors. In keeping with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion we invite volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences to engage with us in fostering a culture of belonging, dignity and respect as we work to achieve our Mission.

Before we request information from you, let us tell you about who we are and what we do.

What is whistleblowing: Whistleblowing is the act of disclosing wrongdoing by any person with knowledge of a situation they believe is seriously wrong to whomever they believe can do something about it, whether the truth-teller is an insider employee or outsider witness. Allowing the whistleblowing phenomenon and contradiction - of punishment for truth-tellers and often impunity for wrong-doers - to persist means that people who witness wrongdoing frequently don't speak up for fear of reprisals and victimization.  It also raises concerns about legitimizing organizational lawlessness and accepting corruption in government as a norm.  

Who we are: Whistleblowing Canada is a leading Canadian non-profit corporation and registered charity.  Our leaders are volunteers and come from every region of Canada. Our organization’s work builds on decades of experience in the whistleblowing area: protection of freedom of expression, due process for truth tellers, and protecting the human rights of those who speak out about betrayals of public trust.

What we do: We research, educate and advocate. Our Mission is to improve the lives of all through producing reliable, evidence-based knowledge and sharing it publicly to inform public policy dialogue and development; to create safe, speak-up cultures and to improve protections for whistleblowers who are vulnerable when facing formidable, powerful organizations

Here are some of the volunteer positions we offer:

• Advisory Board: Four meetings per year. Any additional time is up to the advisory board member should they wish to further contribute to the functioning of the organization.
• Board of Directors: Six meetings per year and the time it takes to fulfill the role they accept on the board, committees and/or special projects. 
• Facilitator, Whistleblowing Networking and Discussion Group: Ten meetings per year (once a month) including preparation time, wrap up and post-meeting report.
  
• Marketing/ Communications: Assisting the organization in various tasks including writing copy for advocacy letters, press releases, fundraising and social media.
• Fundraising: Assisting the organization with fundraising activities like phone calls, thank you letters, grant writing and appeals. 
  
• Events: Assisting with different events throughout the year including fundraising events, webinars, and conferences.
• Technical Skills: Maintaining web site, managing data base, etc.

To apply for a position, please download the application form below, and email a completed copy of the form along with your resume to: [email protected].

Application Form

Once this form is submitted, we will review your application and get back to you within two weeks’ time.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

We thank you for your interest!

Sign up

See all events

This is the story of a few Saskatchewan Seniors who attempted to report to the proper authorities improper taxation in what they believed was one Saskatchewan Regional Park Authority. Their attempts to get this corrected resulted in years of retribution and eventually the wrong-doing was discovered to be much wider than initially believed. The retribution was in the form of legal tactics, threats,  law suits, Judges and conflict of interest, and stone-walling by political authorities with responsibility for dealing with the situation. They are in jeopardy of losing their homes and saw no other option but to appeal to Canada’s Parliament.

Good day Honourable Chair Sarai and Standing Committee members, 

We understand the Standing Committee is generally focused on broad and evolving issues that affect the lives of everyday Canadians. Perhaps our issues will not resonate within your group because every day Canadians do not usually find themselves in civil court defending themselves against well-funded agents of government. “You can’t fight City Hall” is a saying at least 200 years old. Its origins are founded in the belief that bureaucratic structures spending public money will always fight to the bitter end rather than admit a mistake or deliberate wrongdoing. It’s the same theme that prompted US satirist Will Rogers to say the country was being run by the best politicians money could buy. 

In a terrible example of “progress”, it is now accepted that politicians will lie and will do so without consequence. Lying by misdirection, by omission or by flat propagating false statements are among the broad unspoken approvals in our world of sound byte politics.   

What should be of great concern is that lying in the courts of Canada now come with their own unspoken approvals. The very cornerstone of everything we have been taught since childhood centers around the concept of honesty. This is especially true in courts of law where not too many years ago, those testifying in a court of law did so with their hand on a bible, another cornerstone of our would be “just society”. 

However, in our own circumstances we have been told by a member of the Supreme Court that in court perjury is addressed at the discretion of the judge. The everyday citizen hearing that, has to immediately wonder about the discretion of a judge who would allow perjury. It is especially troubling if you are on the side of the courtroom equation facing the perjury. 

We have been in contact with numerous Canadians who have been on the wrong end of judicial discretion regarding perjured statements. We have witnessed it up close and personal three times in two years, all under the same judge. In a 2021 Canadian Judicial Council review, Chief Justice for the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Christopher Hinkson, stated it was within a judge’s discretionary right to ignore perjury. 

In our case the line between justice and politics became very blurred and, in applications seven and eight, perjury prevailed and court decisions were made based on the falsehoods. This was not alleged perjury that might be claimed by a disappointed loser in a court battle; this was material fact perjury verified by Freedom of Information documents received from Municipal Government which disproved the often-used perjury contained in the sworn statements of another agent of Government. 

In practical terms we are helpless to act to protect ourselves simply because we don’t have access to public funds to freely spend on the litigation industry that is always at the center of these disputes. 

If this trend continues it will soon, if it’s not already, be a matter of whoever has the best Liar, wins. 

PERJURY:  a Criminal Code of Canada indictable offence; but go ahead and lie in your affidavit, turns out addressing perjury is a matter of judicial discretion NOT law. 

Read more