Colleen studied municipal and land use planning law while attending UBC Law School and has been working with local governments in British Columbia since her articling days. Called to the Bar in 2000, she has practised law as in-house counsel and as an associate with Murdy & McAllister.
Colleen regularly provides advice on local government power within the context of constitutional law as well as common law and legislation, with a particular focus on information and privacy, Charter rights, and regulation involving federal, provincial, aboriginal and local government bodies.
She prepares bylaws dealing with fire, building, water and sewer services, marine and riparian areas, agriculture, animals, traffic, parks, cemeteries, business licensing, environmental protection, nuisance, fees, taxation, ticketing, council, delegation and meeting procedures. She also drafts agreements for occupation and services.
Colleen is a member and past Chair of the Municipal Section of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch) and is also a member of the Association’s Aboriginal, Environmental and Information and Privacy Sections.
For many years, Colleen taught at Capilano University as a guest lecturer on the subject of “Municipal Dealings in Property” to students of Public Administration 203.