Page 12 - CCCA 295084 Magazine_Summer 2019

{ ProfiLe }

“ The issues we often deal with are very

diffcult, with high levels of scrutiny and
accountability. You have to have humour to
be able to work in this environment, as well as
”
fexibility, open-mindedness and patience.

Rising to the Challenge “Sometimes I feel impatient with that,” tack happened outside of the TDSB Head
she adds with a laugh. “So that has been a Offce.
When Leola began the GC position, she bit of adjustment.” “I was at the offce when the van attack
had no previous GC experience, and Another area of adjustment for law- happened. I wasn't on the street,” she re-
credits a number of people including the yers she has noticed is in communication calls. “It was like a scene out of a movie. I
TDSB Director of Education, Dr. John styles. “I often help the communications just couldn’t believe it.” She looks at her
Malloy, as well as her predecessors Colin department review certain matters that colleagues in the aftermath, and “some of
Grant and Tony Brown, and several non- go out either to the community or on our them are dealing with it well and some of
lawyer mentors for her success. website,” Leola explains. “How we write as them are not.”
“There were a number of things I want- lawyers, and what parents and laypeople For Leola, it triggered her existing post-
ed to change,” she says about when she expect in communications” is not always traumatic stress. In July 2010, she was
started. She began with restructuring the in line. “For some lawyers, that's a bit of hit by a car from behind while crossing
legal department and looking at ways to cut a challenge.” the street. “I was very healthy up to that
costs. Reducing litigation costs by increas- She credits some writing courses she point, athletic and all that,” she says. “That
ing in-house capabilities, expanding the took early on as “the best investment I ever changed my life signifcantly. It caused a lot
online legal resources to enable schools to made.” It helped her in law school as well of health issues, both physical and mental.”
help themselves and working on improving as in the workplace “because when you “So if I were to give advice to lawyers
lawyer retention rates have helped. But, she become a GC, less and less of the work is [who are known for working long hours],”
admits, “it's a long process and especially purely legal. More and more of the work she says, “I would say you're not going to
diffcult now, with tighter budgets.” is the strategic stuff,” which may include be able to avoid an accident but what you
“What has changed over the last few helping write a news release, business pro- can do is try to stay as healthy as possible.
years in the legal functions at the TDSB,” posal or crisis communications pieces. [Maintain] a balance between your work
she explains, “is the reliance on lawyers to and investing in your own health.”
do quite a variety of things. I think that's a Learning & Leading “You also need to have some humour,”
testament to how much value we bring to she continues. “The issues we often deal
the organization, so I'm quite happy with Crisis communications became reality with are very diffcult, with high levels of
that, but it does take quite a bit of time for for Leola in July 2017, when a student scrutiny and accountability. You have to
us to deal with all types of issues as well.” drowned on a TDSB-organized trip. “It have humour to be able to work in this
The legal department is relied upon for was really sad. It was very diffcult for ev- environment, as well as fexibility, open-
not just legal advice but also strategic ad- eryone,” she says. mindedness and patience.”
vice, with Leola working closely with the “We had no choice but to go into crisis It also helps to work with great peo-
executive and senior team—which means management mode,” she continues. “And ple, who are moving the needle on im-
“tons of meetings.” I think that particular incident really portant topics like diversity, access and
Through all these meetings and other tested all of us on how to handle an ex- equity—which Leola feels grateful for
TDSB training, she has seen frsthand tremely complex situation. There are sev- every day. “The people here are amazing,
how “the way lawyers learn is quite dif- eral defning moments in my career, and and I'm not the only one who says that,”
ferent than the way teaching professionals that was one of them. It was really chal- she smiles. “You can't help but feel pretty
learn…. We can sit through an hour and a lenging, but we learned a lot and we are good when you go to work.” ❚
half [or more] of having someone tell us doing whatever we can to prevent things
updates in law and so on, whereas teach- like that from ever happening again.”
ing professionals are used to groupwork, Then, in April 2018, another tragedy Lynne Yryku is the Executive Editor of CCCA
interaction and lots of discussions.” struck: the Toronto Yonge Street van at- Magazine.

12 CCCa MaGazINe | SuMMer 2019 ÉTÉ