Michael D. A. Ford K.C.

Partner

Michael Ford could not be a more skilled, service-oriented and collaborative lawyer.

— client quote, Chambers Canada

Emailm.ford@ca.dlapiper.com

About

Michael Ford, K.C. is a partner in the firm's Calgary office. His practice is focused on employment, labour and workplace privacy law, and has extensive experience in all aspects of collective bargaining, advising both unionized and non-unionized employers.

Michael brings deep experience to the evolving landscape of workplace law and is a trusted advisor to clients navigating challenging labour and employment issues.

As an advocate, Michael has appeared before courts, arbitrators and administrative tribunals, and has been involved in several hundred reported decisions over the course of his career.

As a strategic advisor, he is known for providing practical, common-sense guidance. His collaborative approach, sound judgment, and approachable manner helps clients, colleagues, and counsel resolve complex workplace matters effectively.

Michael has acted for employers in collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes and contract administration matters. He has advised employers on dealing with union organizational activity and provided counselling on various workplace matters, including employee discipline and termination, privacy issues, employment agreements, harassment/discrimination, drug testing policies, and sick leaves.

He has also provided guidance to boards of directors and compensation committees on executive employment matters and routinely advises on Canada/US business transactions involving employment matters.

Michael develops sensible and workable solutions to complex workplace issues in a range of industries, including: energy, manufacturing, warehouse, communications, retail, financial, transportation and high-tech industries, as well as major public sector institutions in the health and education fields.

He has defended many employers in significant labour and employment cases involving provincially and federally-regulated workplaces.

Michael is a leader in the human resources community. He is the former President of the Human Resources Institute of Alberta; former Chair of the Human Resources Policy Committee of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce; and, has taught labour law at the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary. He is also a frequent speaker at various labour and employment conferences across the country. He was appointed a King’s Counsel in 2012.

Michael has been recognized since 1998 in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, a guide to the leading law firms and practitioners in Canada, in the area of labour law. He has been listed since 2008 in Chamber's Global: Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers, as a leading lawyer in the area of employment law; he has been described by the publication as: "…outgoing, bright and really knows his stuff (2009)…"; "…noted for his expertise in trade union matters and occupational health issues…" (2010); "…is lauded for his practical approach to labour and employment in the Province of Alberta…" (2012); "…broad knowledge of legal issues and his ability to work to solutions…" (2013).; "…is singled out for his experience relating to the transportation sector…" (2014); "…is very well known… is one of the best employment lawyers…" (2015). The Canadian HR Reporter has also acknowledged him as one of Canada's top employment lawyers.

Areas of FocusEmployment Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Antitrust and Competition Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity

Bar admissionsAlberta, 1986

EXPERIENCE

Mount Royal Faculty Association v Mount Royal University (Board of Governors), 2026 ALRB 61 (CanLII) and 2026 CanLII 25286 (AB GAA)
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1415 and Mr. Brian Cadieux and Greyhound Canada Transportation ULC, 2026 CIRB LD 6089
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union and Canada Malting Co. Limited, 2026 CIRB 1254 – Unreported
Sharma v Calgary Board of Education, 2026 AHRC 91 (CanLII)
Elizabeth Wood v Calgary Board of Education, 2026 – Unreported
Atkinson v Calgary Board of Education, 2025 ABOHSAB 24 (CanLII)
Zhao v Calgary Board of Education, 2025 AHRC 92 (CanLII)
Calgary School Division v Alberta Teachers’ Association, 2025 CanLII 105653 (AB GAA)
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1415 and Mr. Brian Cadieux and Greyhound Canada Transportation ULC, 2024 CIRB LD 5412
University of Calgary (Re), 2024 CanLII 121029 (AB OIPC)
Board of Governors of Mount Royal University v Mount Royal Faculty Association, 2024 CanLII 119283 (AB GAA)Board of Governors of Mount Royal University v Mount Royal Faculty Association, 2024 CanLII 68666 (AB GAA)
Kolesnikov and Calgary Board of Education (May 30, 2023) – Unreported
Oleynik v University of Calgary, 2023 ABCA 265 (CanLII)
Vettraino v Calgary Board of Education, 2023 AHRC 117 (CanLII)
P.K. v Calgary Board of Education, 2023 AHRC 29 (CanLII)
Matthews Equipment Limited O/a Herc Rentals v Teamsters Local 362, 2022 CanLII 5053 (AB GAA)
First Canada ULC v International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 955, 2022 CanLII 43794 (AB LRB)
Alberta Health Services and The Alberta Medical Association – Ruling on AHS’s Preliminary Objection About Arbitrability (January 29, 2021)
Zembiak and Calgary School District No. 19 Calgary Board of Education – Decision of the Board of Reference (July 5, 2021) – Unreported
Bartlett v FirstCanada ULC, 2021 AHRC 173 (CanLII)
Rast and Calgary Board of Education – Appeal to a Board of Reference (August 6, 2021) – Unreported
University of Calgary v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2021 ABQB 795 (CanLII)
First Canada ULC, Branch No. 31720 v Miscellaneous Employees, Teamsters Local Union 987 of Alberta, 2020 CanLII 2716 (AB GAA)
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees v Masterpiece Retirement, 2020 CanLII 74263 (AB LRB)
Complainant v International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 955, 2019 CanLII 106066 (AB LRB)
Schindel v International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 955, 2019 CanLII 104290 (AB LRB)
Unifor, Local 4050 v Inn Vest Hotels GP XV Ltd., 2019 CanLII 5089 (AB GAA)
University of Calgary v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2019 ABQB 950 (CanLII)
Cardinal Coach Lines ULC v General Teamsters, Local 362, 2019 CanLII 148453 (AB GAA)
Collins v International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 955, 2019 CanLII 88138 (AB LRB)
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees v Alberta (Labour Relations Board), 2019 ABQB 100 (CanLII)
Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1415 – Unjust dismissal of Mansour Torfehnejad – May 7, 2019
Alberta Medical Association v Alberta Health Services, 2019 ABQB 82 (CanLII)
First Canada ULC (Cardinal Coach Lines Airdrie) for review of an arbitration v General Teamsters Local Union No. 362, 2018 CanLII 50164 (AB LRB)
Trane Canada ULC v United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Local No. 488, 2018 CanLII 80750 (AB LRB)
First Canada ULC v General Teamsters Local Union No. 362, 2018 ABCA 294 (CanLII)
First Canada ULC v The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 955, 2017 CanLII 55933 (AB GAA)
Calgary School District No. 19 v Alberta Teachers' Association, 2017 CanLII 10820 (AB GAA)
General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362 v Rolling Mix Concrete Limited Partnership, 2016 CanLII 42001 (AB LRB)
Brian Cadieux v Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1415, 2016 CIRB 836 (CanLII)
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees v Alberta Health Services, 2014 CanLII 27691 (AB LRB)
Health Sciences Association of Alberta v Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, 2014 CanLII 60418 (AB LRB)
Calgary Board of Education v Alberta (Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2014 ABQB 189 (CanLII)
Calgary Board of Education v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2013 ABQB 187 (CanLII)
Inn Vest Hotels XV LP (Fairmont Palliser) Calgary, Alberta v National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW Local 4273), 2013 CanLII 148657 (AB GAA)
Calgary Zoological Society v City of Calgary and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local No 37, 2013 CanLII 85711 (AB LRB)
The University of Calgary v. Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (whether solicitor client documents are subject to disclosure to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta)
Greyhound Canada v. ATU Local 1415, (2011) 207 L.A.C. (4th) 192 (accommodation arising from repetitive workplace injury)
Suncor Energy v. CEP (2008), 178 L.A.C. (4th) 223 (Post-incident drug testing)
Ryrie v. The University of Calgary (2012) ABQB 342 (post traumatic stress disorder arising from dismissal)
Canadian Human Rights Commission and Khiamal v. Greyhound Transportation [2009] 75 C.C.E.L. (3d) 333 (Personality conflict is not discrimination)
Filipchuk v. Cargill Ltd., [1996] A.J. No. 865; 23 C.C.E.L. (2d) 20; 44 Alta L.R. (3d) 132 (Constructive Dismissal)
Greyhound Canada v. ATU Local 1415, (2011) 213 L.A.C. 433 (use of medical records to administer short-term medical leave)
The Calgary Board of Education v. ATA, (2010) 103 C.L.A.S. 98 (psychological testing as a screening tool for promotion)
The University of Calgary v. Faculty Association, (2010) 192 L.A.C. (4th) 214 (elimination of government health care premiums);
ATA v. Calgary School District #19 (2006) 15b L.A.C. (4th) 97 (court jurisdiction to deal with historical employee benefit plan surpluses over a 25 year period)
Flint Canada Inc. v. Bonokoski (1997) 50 Alta L R. (3d) 26; 203 A.R. 225; 145 D.L.R. (4th) 453 (applicability of employment standards to worksites located outside of Alberta)

Languages

Awards

Education

CHRP, 1992

LL.B., University of Alberta, 1984

B.Comm. (Labour Relations), University of Alberta, 1981

Seminars

Speaker, 2016 DLA Piper (Canada) LLP Canadian Employment and Labour Law Conference

Memberships And Affiliations

Member, Former President, Human Resources Institute of Alberta
Member, Former Chair, Labour Law Subsection, Canadian Bar Association (Southern Alberta)
Former Chair, Hospital Privileges Appeal Board of Alberta
Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Calgary Bar Association
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Member, American Bar Association, Labour and Employment Sector