Stephen Gleave: Labour Lawyer, Late-Blooming Farmer, and Lover of the Outdoors
Hamilton, Ontario-area labour and employment lawyer Stephen Gleave is well-known throughout Canada for his abilities in the courtroom and the negotiating table. However, there is another side to him that often goes unexplored. When he’s not busy filing briefs or advocating for his clients, he is a naturalist and a man of many hobbies, most of which involve enjoying open spaces and the great outdoors. In particular, Stephen is an avid fly fisherman, as well as a daily jogger. He also owns and operates a working farm in a rural suburb of Hamilton called Ancaster where he tends to livestock, fruit orchards, and even a forest full of rare and exotic species of trees.
Recently, we contacted Stephen Gleave to pick his brain about how he chooses to spend his precious recreation time, and what appeals to him most about his newly-adopted rural lifestyle.
Q: Can you start by telling us a little about your professional life?
Stephen Gleave: Sure. As a labour and employment lawyer, I represent my clients in disputes related to employment contracts, workplace policies, and labor laws. In general, that requires a lot of meetings, a lot of phone calls, and several court appointments each week. During the work week, I’m cooped up indoors for long hours, dealing with piles of official documents that need my attention. That’s a big reason why I spend pretty much all my spare time outside in the fresh air either exercising or running my farm.
Q: What initially attracted you to farm life, and why did you settle on the community of Ancaster?
Stephen Gleave: Farming is something I always wanted to try my hand at. Even as a young man, the appeal of growing crops and raising livestock appealed to me. I love the law and I’m happy I’ve pursued a career in it, even though it meant all the extra years of school. It took quite a few years to establish myself in the field. But I always had an eye on farm life, and wanted to pursue it as soon as I thought I had space in my life for it. I chose the town of Ancaster for many reasons. First and foremost, I fell in love with the property. Second, I work in Hamilton, and Ancaster is located on its outskirts, so my commute isn’t too far. Third, it’s just a lovely old town full of nice people. It was established way back in the 1790s, and some of the original architecture is still standing even today. Ancaster even played a significant role in the War of 1812. It’s got history and charm, and I really enjoy living there.
Q: What sorts of things do you grow?
Stephen Gleave: A little of this, a little of that. We have a hundred acres in total. There’s a fruit orchard full of plum, cherry, apple, and pear trees. There are some tulip trees. We have several beehives that produce fantastic honey. We’ve added Scottish highland cattle to the mix fairly recently. But my favourite part might be the old-growth forest. It’s full of Carolinian trees, including some Kentucky coffee trees.
Q: That’s quite a lifestyle change compared to living in a large city. It also must be a lot of hard work. Once you began farming, did it live up to the expectations you had for all those years?
Stephen Gleave: It was maybe not exactly what I thought it would be, but it was exactly what I needed. I have no buyer’s remorse. Given the same choice, I would do it again in a heartbeat. And I one hundred percent recommend it to others. It’s a very satisfying and fulfilling way of life.
Q: Between keeping the farm going and working at your legal practice, you must not have very much time for anything else! When you do have a moment to spare, what do you like to do?
Stephen Gleave: Well, they say if something is important enough, you make the time for it. My health is very important to me, so I’ve made time to jog every day. I’ve been doing that for a long time now. Another neat thing about Ancaster is how many trails it has that are perfect for jogging! Outside of that, whenever I have enough time, I love to fly fish. I just find it to be relaxing to be out in the water casting a line. Everything about it is great: the calming sounds of the water, the crisp air—when I’m fly fishing might be when I’m at my happiest.
