Leanne McClay

Leanne McClay retired from her position as the CAO/General Counsel for the Niagara Region Police Association (“NRPA”) in May of 2025. She was in this position for 21 years. During this time, she served on the Police Association of Ontario’s Governance Committee and routinely presented to colleagues across Canada on legal issues in policing. 

She was appointed as an adjudicator by the Ontario Police Arbitration and Adjudication Commission in 2024 and remains active in that role as and when required by the Commission. 

Prior to joining the NRPA, she was the Legal Director and Chief Privacy Officer for Casino Niagara. Before becoming Inhouse Counsel, she also was in private practice at Sullivan, Mahoney in St. Catharines and Blake, Cassels and Graydon in Toronto where she practiced in the areas of corporate-commercial and taxation. 

She is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University (B.B.A), the University of Western Ontario (LL.B) and completed her LL.M at the University of New South Wales. She was admitted to the bar in 1994. 

Leanne is currently a member of the Canadian Advisory Committee for Neuchatel Junior College where she is the chair of their Governance Committee and a member of their Finance Committee.  

She has also been a past Board member for Hospice Niagara and the Canadian Cancer Society (Niagara). 

While at the NRPA, she was on the Board of the NRPA charitable fund which supports Niagara charities which she found very fulfilling. In joining the Board of Hotel Dieu Shaver, she recognized the significant and unique contribution that HDS makes to the Niagara community. It was exactly the opportunity she had been looking for and is one she hopes her past experience will benefit.    

Leanne is married to Richard Lancaster and has two sons, Reid and Dane who are currently enrolled in post-secondary education programs. She has called Niagara home for over 30 years.