Après TFS - Katherine (Saccucci) McBrearty '04
Our newest Après TFS spotlight features Katherine McBrearty ’04! Catch up with this TFS alum as she shares her path from the classroom to a career in law.
TFS: Please describe the path you took after TFS.
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: After graduating from TFS, I completed my Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. From there, I attended the Université de Moncton to study French common law, and then went on to earn a Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall with a focus on alternative dispute resolution. I’ve been practicing law since 2012.
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: After graduating from TFS, I completed my Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. From there, I attended the Université de Moncton to study French common law, and then went on to earn a Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall with a focus on alternative dispute resolution. I’ve been practicing law since 2012.
While I was at TFS, I went back and forth between wanting to study medicine or law. Both paths appealed to me because they offered ways to help people. Through my studies, I realized law was the better fit. It combined the analytical work I enjoyed with the human side of problem-solving.
TFS: What does a typical day look like for you?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: Because of my young child, my day usually starts pretty early. We spend time together before I head to work, and in the evenings, we have dinner as a family, read books and get ready for bed. Then start all over again the next day.
In terms of my work, I have supported administrative tribunals for many years. That means that I have supported adjudicators, helped to administer tribunal processes such as hearings and helped to safeguard the integrity of these processes. Most of my days are spent in hearings, meetings or collaborating with my colleagues.
TFS: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: Safeguarding tribunal integrity and ensuring procedural fairness are at the heart of what I do and something I take very seriously. I’ve had the privilege of working with several administrative tribunals over the years, and what gives me the greatest satisfaction is knowing that people appearing before them receive a fair and impartial process. Helping to uphold that fairness is very rewarding to me.
TFS: How did your experience at TFS help you get to where you are now?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: My TFS education gave me one of the greatest gifts: fluency in French. It shaped both my personal life and my career. Because I was bilingual, I was able to attend law school in French and later work in New Brunswick, a bilingual province, for nearly a decade. Many of the positions I’ve held would not have been possible without that skill and it has served me incredibly well in my career.
I actually asked my parents to send me to TFS. I’d gone to another school until the end of grade 4, but I had a close relationship with my grandparents and spoke French with my grandfather. I wanted to speak the language not just conversationally, but fluently. It was important to me. That decision influenced every part of my life. My parents were very supportive and incredibly proud of the education I received at TFS. Graduation day stands out still as one of my fondest memories, especially because my grandparents were able to come. That was the real cherry on top. There are a lot of proud moments in my life, but my graduation from TFS is one that has always stayed with me.
TFS: How has French language and bilingualism impacted your career?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: It’s had a tremendous impact. When I lived in New Brunswick, many positions required bilingualism. I worked primarily with administrative tribunals and had the privilege of serving as General Counsel for New Brunswick’s Energy and Utilities Board from 2020 until I returned to Ontario at the end of 2023.
Studying law in French was an amazing experience. The Université de Moncton’s law program was small which meant we had more opportunities to discuss ideas and ask questions. I met incredible people there, including my husband, Frank McBrearty, and one of the most influential mentors in my life, François Beaulieu.
Through his course on alternative dispute resolution, I discovered my passion for mediation and negotiation. He showed me that law doesn’t always have to mean litigation. It can also be about understanding, communication and resolution. Later, I had the privilege of working with him at the Energy and Utilities Board, which was a full-circle moment for me.
That experience taught me what kind of lawyer and person I wanted to be. While there’s a perception that lawyers are all about arguing in court, I’ve always believed in keeping the human side of the profession. I went into law to help people, to solve problems fairly. If I can make even a small positive difference, that’s a success in my eyes.
TFS: What skills or lessons from TFS do you find yourself applying most often in your work?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: TFS taught me how to work hard and write well. The academic standards were high, and that foundation has stayed with me. One of my most influential teachers was Mr. Tucker, who was incredible. I had so many amazing teachers, and the quality of instruction across the board was exceptional. Writing clearly and thinking critically are skills I use every single day.
TFS: What was your most memorable experience at TFS?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: Some of my favourite memories are simple ones. Eating lunch with my friends in the upstairs hallways of Giles Hall. I was lucky to be friends with such a genuine group of people who were kind and who also liked to learn as much as I did. I’m still in touch with many of them today, and now our children even play together. It’s wonderful to see that connection continue to the next generation.
TFS: What advice would you give to current students?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: Try to enjoy the journey after graduation. I know that sounds cliché, but your career path may unfold in ways you don’t expect and that’s a good thing. When I was in high school, I couldn’t have predicted where I’d be 5, 10 or 20 years later.
Also, even though it can be difficult, keep an open mind. It’s important to have goals and ambitions, and TFS students certainly do, but don’t let them limit you. Sometimes opportunities come along that you never could have imagined, and they can lead you to something even better. If you stay curious and adaptable, wonderful things happen.
TFS: What do you wish you had known while at TFS that could have better prepared you for life after graduation?
KATHERINE MCBREARTY: That's a good question. I think I was as prepared as I could have been at 17. Certainly more than most. TFS gave me a strong foundation to navigate whatever came next. Of course, life isn’t always easy or predictable, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I’m very happy with where I’ve ended up and grateful for the path that got me here.
