Overview
Roger J.F. Lepage practises primarily in the areas of litigation, regulation of professions, education, labour and employment, human rights, and family law. With more than 40 years of experience, Roger has appeared as counsel on many leading cases before every level of court in Saskatchewan, as well as before other provincial and territorial courts, the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also sat for 10 years as a member of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal.
Roger continues to write and speak extensively in his areas of expertise, including the regulation of professions and education rights. He is an active and committed member of his community and participates in a number of organizations.
Roger is bilingual, serving both English- and French-speaking clients.
Litigation: representing clients in general litigation, including defamation, farm disputes, commercial, and estate claims.
Regulation of professions: representing professional regulatory bodies and individuals in the health, education, and insurance sectors and providing advice on governance and discipline.
Education: acting for education boards and providing advice on governance, human resources, human rights, and constitutional issues.
Labour and employment: representing primarily employers regarding collective agreements, grievances, discipline, and accommodation issues, and advising regarding terminations.
Human rights: acting for both employers and individuals regarding issues of discrimination, accommodation, and harassment.
Family law: representing primarily business clients regarding asset distribution, custody and maintenance, pre-nuptial agreements, real estate transactions, wills and estates, and elder law.
Professional achievements & leadership
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law, 2022
- Benchmark Canada, Saskatchewan Litigator of the Year, 2021
- Benchmark Canada, Litigation Star: Family and Matrimonial; Labour and Employment, 2017-2022
- L’Ordre des francophones d’Amérique, par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, 2015
- Benchmark Canada, Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2015
- Turgeon honorary award (Prix honorifique Turgeon), awarded for the advancement of Francophone rights in Saskatchewan, 2006
- Jeanne Dubé award (Prix Jeanne Dubé), awarded for the advancement of Francophone rights in the Northwest Territories, 2005
Notable matters
- Buena Vista ( Village ) v Garner, 2024 SKKB 100
- Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest c. TNO, 2023 CSC 31
- Mervin Slater v. Pedigree Poultry Ltd., et al., 2023 CanLII 39592 (SCC) (leave to appeal dismissed)
- Victor Loewen v. Pedigree Poultry Ltd., et al., 2023 CanLII 39595 (SCC) (leave to appeal dismissed)
- Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie‑Britannique v. British Columbia, 2020 SCC 13
- Strom v. Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association, 2020 SKCA 112
- Tim Bodnarchuk v. Professional Conduct Committee of the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics, 2016 CanLII 36657 (SCC) (leave to appeal dismissed)
- Saskatchewan College of Paramedics Bodnarchuk (Professional Conduct Committee) v. Bodnarchuk, 2015 SKCA 81
- Conseil Scolaire Fransaskois v Saskatchewan, 2011 SKQB 210 (underfunding of school board)
- Hydrodig Canada Inc. v. 101202529 Saskatchewan Ltd., 2019 SKQB 128
- Brandow v. Horri, 2018 SKQB 317
- Saskatchewan v. Good Spirit School Division No. 204, 2020 SKCA 34
- Strom v. SRNA, 2018 SKQB 110
- Bodnarchuk v. Professional Conduct committee of the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics, 2016 SCC (leave application dismissed April 7, 2016)
- Commission scolaire francophone, TNO v. Attorney General of the Northwest Territories, 2015 SCC (leave application dismissed October 29, 2015)
- Caron v. Alberta, 2015 SCC 56 (constitutional and language rights)
- Yukon Francophone School Board, Education Area #23 v. Yukon (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 25 (constitutional law, education law and impartiality)
- Association des parents de l’école Rose-des-vents v. British Columbia (Education), 2015 SCC 21 (intervenor for the National Federation of Francophone School Boards; constitutional law and education law)
- Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife et al. v. Procureur général des Territoires du Nord-Ouest et al., 2014]CSTN-O 25 (constitutional law and solicitor-client costs)
- Lawless v. Conseil scolaire fransaskois, 2014 SKQB 23 (education law and human rights)
- Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and Pittman v. SRNA, [2014] SKQB 27 (judicial review of administrative law discipline decision)
- Conseil scolaire fransaskois v. Government of Saskatchewan, 2014 SKQB 285 (interim injunction for 2014 underfunding of school board)
- Mazyn v. Mazyn, 2012 SKQB 130 (family law and shared custody)
- Nguyen v. Quebec (Education, Recreation and Sports), 2009 SCC 47 (anglophone education rights: intervenor)
- DesRochers v. Canada (Industry), 2009 1 S.C.R. 194 (right to be served by federal institutions in either official language: intervenor)
- Merrick v. Ipsco and United Steel Workers, Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal, November 14, 2008 and calculation of damages, November 18, 2009 (duty to accommodate employee for addictions)
- Fédération Franco-Ténoise v. Attorney General of Canada, 2006 NWTSC 20; 2008 NWTCA 05; 2008 NWTCA 08 (right to be served by territorial institutions in either official language)
- Kilrich Industries Ltd. v. Halotier, 2007, YKCA 12 (right to be served in the Yukon in either official language); 2008, YCCA 04 (solicitor-client costs awarded)
- Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region v. Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (Howell), 2008 SKQB 281 (arbitration decision to discipline employee for workplace misconduct)
- Merk v. International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 771, 2007 SK CA 6 (employment law and whistleblowing)
- Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region v. Jardine, arbitration decision, Dan Ish, 2006 (arbitration decision to discipline employee for harassment)
- Kivela v. Regina (City) and CUPE (October 10, 2003) Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal decision; 2006 SK CA 2 (duty to accommodate employee for a disability)
- Sadi v. Canada (Canadian Human Rights Commission), 2006 FCC 1067 (employment law and human rights during interview process)
- Merk v. International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 771, 2005 3 S.C.R. 425, 2005 SCC 70 (employment law and whistleblowing)
- Doucet-Boudreau v. Nova Scotia (Ministry of Education), 2003 3 S.C.R. 3 (constitutional law and education law and appropriate remedies: intervenor)
- Duke v. Puts, 2001 204 Sask. R. 130; 2004 SK CA 12 (defamation litigation involving health professionals)
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses v. SRNA, 2000 SKQB 124 (litigation practice and striking proceedings)
- Hauser v. Thatcher, 1995 SKQB 5792 (family law and variation of custody and access due to primary parent moving)
- Knutson v. SRNA, 1990 SK CA 2650 (Charter rights and disciplining by a regulatory body)
Thought leadership
- Author, “The Complaint, Investigation and Discipline Process of Health Care Professionals other than Physicians,” Saskatchewan Legal Education Society Inc., 1994
- Author, “Governance Models for Minority Francophone Education in Canada,” CAPSLE conference, and Education and Law: Rights, Responsibilities, Reasonableness: Striking the Balance in Education, 1994
Community involvement
- Fondation fransaskoise (Saskatchewan francophone foundation for community and education)
- Troupe du Jour professional theatre
- St-Jean-Baptiste Parish
- Past president, Conseil général des écoles fransaskoises (Francophone board of education)
Corporate directorships
- Board of Directors, La Troupe du Jour Inc.
- Board of Directors, CBA Conference of French Speaking Jurists
- Board of Directors, Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan Inc., (AJEFS)
Professional memberships
- Law Society of Saskatchewan
- Canadian Bar Association
- National Federation of French Speaking Common Law Jurists
- Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association
- Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan (AJEFS) (Association of French speaking jurists of Saskatchewan)
- CBA Conference of French Speaking Common Law Jurists
Languages spoken
- English
- French
Bar admissions & education
- Saskatchewan, 1979
- LL.B., University of Saskatchewan, 1978
- B.A. (with distinction), University of Regina, 1975
