Events

Elected officials play a critical role in shaping community growth, but with that influence comes risk. This fast-paced webinar will dive into the intersection of zoning, planning, and municipal accountability, offering practical insights on how to support building officials while making informed, legally sound decisions. You’ll learn how municipalities can face liability when land deals or development plans fall through and what you need to watch for to protect your municipality. 

Come prepared with your questions and leave with knowledge you can put to work right away. 
 

Meet the Speakers

Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Manager, Intact Public Entities 
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Tracy has created risk management and claims solutions for a myriad of clients and continues to champion the belief that the best risk management practices can be determined by closely examining past claims experiences. Tracy is passionate about delivering unique customer service solutions within the risk management and risk transfer space. Tracy is an instructor for the Insurance Institute of Canada teaching future insurance professionals in the industry. She has spoken at several conferences on topics ranging from Insurance Fraud to Liability Claims.

Jonathan de Vries, Shillington McCall LLP 
Jonathan de Vries is a partner and trial and appellate lawyer at Shillington McCall LLP. His practice areas encompass a wide range of municipal and public agency liability issues, including road authority liability, building code liability, misfeasance claims and economic torts. He holds a PhD in law from the University of Western Ontario, with a dissertation on public agency liability in Canadian law. Jonathan has written extensively on municipal liability, insurance law, and litigation issues, with many of his works being published in peer-reviewed journals and cited by courts and legal scholars. He is a regular speaker on these same issues to legal, academic, and industry audiences.

Jonathan obtained his Juris Doctor in 2005, and then obtained Master of Laws with a specialization in international civil litigation in 2006. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2007. Jonathan has appeared as counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and various tribunals. Beyond his litigation work, Jonathan also handles coverage matters for insurance clients, often involving specialized policies or complex losses.

Jonathan is a member of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and the Middlesex Law Association.