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About

Behind Mentally Speaking.

Husband, father, brother and son. Retired trial lawyer, speaker, author, musician and advisor. Mentally Speaking is the resource I wish had existed when I was pretending to be okay. My addiction is part of my story. It is not the whole of it.

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Jason Ward
Legally Speaking

More Than Twenty Years in the Courtroom.

I practised civil litigation across business and commercial disputes, family law, defamation, shareholder conflicts and employment law. I articled with Siskinds in London and then practised commercial and class action litigation at Ogilvy Renault in Toronto.

After running as a candidate in the 2003 Ontario general election, I moved my family back home and opened my own firm. My wife, Karissa, soon left her business law practice at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt to build it with me. Today Wards Lawyers PC is a twelve-lawyer, full-service firm.

The Law Society of Ontario certified me as a specialist in civil litigation. At fifty, I stepped away from the courtroom. I remain a co-owner of the firm, and I now speak and write about mental health, addiction and wellness in the legal profession.

Along the way I wrote Resolving Grave Disputes: The Law of Dead Bodies in Ontario, available on Amazon and CanLII, and published in the Estates, Trusts & Pensions Journal.

Education

Practice

Personally Speaking

Life Beyond the Law.

Community

Karissa and I have served on many community boards and advised local and provincial non-profit and charitable organizations. Youth mental health is closest to our hearts. For years we ran Haunt Your Home, a month-long Hallowe’en home-decorating contest that drew visitors from around the world, and we created what may be Canada’s biggest kids’ road hockey tournament, raising money and awareness for the cause.

Coaching

For many years I coached minor hockey, soccer, baseball and lacrosse, and I have sponsored young athletes chasing their goals.

Music

I have played in rock bands all my life, singing and playing guitar. My brother, Simon, founded The Strumbellas and was the band’s lead singer and songwriter.

Jason Ward signature
Jason and his family, Abigale, Jason, Dexter, Karissa and Austin
Jason presenting trophies at Canada’s largest kids’ road hockey tourney raising funds for kids’ mental health
Recognition

Awards and Designations.

Honours

  • Business Hall of Fame

    JA Northern and Eastern Ontario, 2023, with Karissa

  • Outstanding Service and Contribution to Community Award

    Government of Canada, 2023

  • COVID Hero Award

    Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, 2020/21

  • Employer of the Year, Wards Lawyers PC

    Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, 2019

  • Community Leadership Award

    Rotary Club of Lindsay, 2014

  • Business Leader of the Year

    Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, 2010

  • Coach of the Year, Minor Hockey

    Lindsay Minor Hockey Association, 2010/11

  • Favourite Lawyer

    Readers’ Choice Awards*, 2010 to 2020

  • Favourite Law Firm, Best Law Firm, Best Legal Services, Best Family Law Lawyer and Best Family Law Firm

    Readers’ Choice Awards*, 2020/21

  • Best Employment Lawyer

    Readers’ Choice Awards*, 2020 to 2022

  • Proudly Married to Karissa Ward

    Business Leader of the Year, 2015, and Extraordinary Woman of the Year, 2016

*Readers’ Choice Awards, Peterborough Examiner and Kawartha Lakes This Week

Professional Designations

See My Publications

Let’s Talk.

If your organization is ready for an honest conversation about mental health in the law, I would love to hear from you.

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