Karon C. Bales

Karon C. Bales is a lawyer and founding partner of Bales Beall LLP. Her practice is centred on family law and estate planning and their interrelated litigation, particularly in matters of significant assets, complex property protection and interests in family businesses. Ms. Bales also acts as a mediator in estate and family-related disputes. Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in estates and trusts law and in family law, she is a Fellow and Governor of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and President-Elect of the Canadian Chapter. She is also an Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law; a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners; Chair of the Board of The Seeing Eye Organization (Canada); and a trustee of The Seeing Eye Inc. (U.S.A.), which provides guide dogs to blind and visually impaired persons to improve their mobility and participation in day-to-day life. Past Chair of the Board of Nightwood Theatre, Canada's longest established feminist theatre company promoting the work of Canadian women playwrights, producers, directors and actors, she has also previously served as Chair of the Board of North York General Hospital Foundation, as Vice-Chair of the Board of North York General Hospital and as a trustee of the United Way of Greater Toronto. An avid theatregoer, Ms Bales has attended performances at the Stratford Festival every year since 1972. She is also an enthusiastic cook. She and her husband, Charles Beall, have three children and four grandchildren. They live in Stratford and Toronto. Ms Bales joined the Festival's Board of Governors in March 2020 and has chaired the Advancement Committee since 2021; she also serves on the Marketing & Communications and Nominating committees.