Breana Paige Vandebeek

Breana Vandebeek practices as a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto and across Ontario. She has been counsel in many leading constitutional cases and high profile criminal matters. Breana has a particular interest in criminal appeals and has argued over 70 appeals at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. She has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Breana’s commitment to social justice goes beyond her law practice. Breana is a member of the Pro bono Inmate Appeal Program at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. She is a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and has appeared as counsel on their behalf before the Supreme Court of Canada on criminal law issues of national importance. She has also assisted with the publication of a Criminal Appeals Practitioner’s Handbook and is co-authoring another Handbook in relation to Prosecuting and Defending Drug Offences, both published by Emond Montgomery Publications.

Breana graduated from Queen’s University Law School. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University, and a Master of Arts degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto. She is a member in good standing at the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.

R v Morrison (2019): The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the reverse presumption of age for the offence of internet child luring.

R v Boudreault (2018): The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the imposition of the mandatory victim fine surcharge.

Ewert v Canada (2018): The Supreme Court of Canada addressed the use that could be made of actuarial risk assessment tool, by the Correctional Service of Canada, in the context of aboriginal offenders.