Speakers
Keynote
Alex Neve, MA, LL.B, Secretary General, Amnesty Canada
Alex Neve believes passionately in a world where the human rights of all people are respected and protected.
Alex has been a member of Amnesty for over twenty years, initially as a group member in Halifax. He has worked for the organization nationally and internationally in a number of different roles including a stint as Refugee Coordinator for Amnesty Canada and refugee program work at the international level as well. In that capacity he was involved in research work for Amnesty in Tanzania, Ghana and Mexico. Prior to taking up his current position he served as a Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Alex has participated in Amnesty International missions to Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoïre, Guinea, Honduras, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Grassy Narrows, Ontario. He has represented Amnesty International at the 2001 Summit of the Americas, the 2002 G8 Summit and the 2003 Asian Plurilateral Symposium on Human Rights in China. He has appeared before numerous Canadian parliamentary committees as well as various UN and Inter-American human rights bodies. He appears and writes regularly in the media and speaks to audiences across the country on a range of human rights topics.
Alex studied law at Dalhousie University and earned his Masters Degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. He has delivered keynote speeches and lectures at various venues, including Oxford and Harvard Universities.
Alex is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for International Justice, and a member of the Board of Directors of Partnership Africa Canada. He was named a Trudeau Foundation Mentor in late 2007.
Alex is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Keynote
Angie Wahienhawi Barnes, Wolf Clan, Akwesasne, Ontario
Angie is a member and life long resident of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. Angie threw her hat into the political life at Akwesasne in 1986 and held the office of an elected Kawehnoke District Chief until 1994 and again since 2000.
In 2003 to 2006, Angie held the elected title of Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, making her the first woman to be elected to the position.
In Angie’s words, “I have a varied academic post secondary background as I take courses when I feel I need to gain more insight on a subject. My post secondary education, which I don’t feel is finished yet, covers a gamut of areas in the social sciences area such as social work, criminology, sociology, psychology, aboriginal law, science, business management, accounting and now getting ready to learn about alternative medicines.”
In between stints on Council, Angie coordinated the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s jurisdictional process known as the Nation Building Process, where she is today. Angie explains, “These are exciting times we, in Aboriginal Territory are experiencing as we, the Onhkwehonhwhe peoples look and implement approaches to exercise our inherent rights and promote ways for our communities to heal and I am grateful that I can be a part of it.”
Master of Ceremonies
Isfahan Merali, B.A., LL.B./J.D.
Ms Merali has practiced human rights law with the OHRC since 1995. She is currently the Acting Registrar at the Commission. She has acted as a senior consultant and advisor on numerous international human rights and health rights projects. In 1999-2000, Ms Merali was a Human Rights Fellow the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. In 2000, Ms Merali acted as Director of their International Human Rights Programme. Ms. Merali is the co-editor of several books relating to international human rights, author of numerous articles on women's health rights and has presented extensively on these topics in Canada and abroad.
Michael Harris, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Michael joined the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1991. Michael Harris is currently the Acting Director of the Mediation and Investigation Branch of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The branch is responsible for the intake, mediation and investigation of complaints under the Human Rights Code. Michael provides oversight and leadership to a staff of approximately 80
Michael has extensive knowledge of the Human Rights Code and its application, and has conducted many Public Education sessions on the Code to Private and Public sectors employers, service providers and housing providers.
Speakers
Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Barbara Hall was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission in November 2005, after 40 years as a community worker, lawyer and municipal politician. She served three terms as a city councillor, and as Toronto's mayor from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 to 2002 she headed the federal government's National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. Ms. Hall also practised criminal and family law, was a member of the Ontario Health Ministry's Health Results Team, and lectured nationally and internationally on urban and social issues. She has a strong record of bringing diverse groups together to build healthy communities.
Myriam Montrat, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Myriam Montrat is the Director General of the Discrimination Prevention Branch at the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). As such, she is responsible for prevention initiatives, employment equity compliance audits, communications and CHRC’s regional offices.
Prior to joining the Commission, Myriam Montrat was at Industry Canada, where she was the Director, Service Delivery and Partnerships, Canada Business, and as such was responsible for government service delivery to small and medium enterprises and directed several multi-jurisdictional (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal levels) initiatives requiring the creation of linkages and development of partnerships between the federal government and key stakeholders.
Michael Creek, Coordinator, Toronto Speakers Bureau; Voices from the Street
Through the Bureau, Michael has learned research, public policy and public speaking. He is one of three directors representing Ontario on the National Anti Poverty Organization.
Michael is a survivor of Cancer and physical and mental abuse, homelessness, poverty and is a psychiatric consumer/survivor. Michael explains, “Poverty oppresses people and communities it was my unwanted companion and has caused more physical and emotional pain than any other illness, that I have gone thru in my life.” Michael advocates by speaking out on the dangers that poverty inflicts on the health and well being to those in his communities.
Susan Gapka, Chair, Trans Human Rights Campaign
Chair, Trans Health Lobby Group, Rainbow Health Network
Ms. Gapka transitioned on September 28, 1999 to fulfill her lifelong dream of living as a woman. As an Egale Canada Board member Susan helped develop their trans portfolio, creating a national trans list and its Trans Issues Committee.
Ms. Gapka also co-investigated with Rupert Raj on the Trans Health Project sponsored by the Ontario Public Health Association. In December 2004 Susan was recognised for her work empowering transsexual and transgender communities when the City of Toronto awarded her the Pride Award. The Trans Human Rights Campaign is seeking to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include 'gender identity' and is a project of the Trans Health Lobby Group.
Avvy Go, Director, LL.B
Avvy has worked exclusively in the legal clinic system, serving the needs of low income individuals, non-English speaking immigrants and refugees.
Avvy co-founded both: the STATUS Campaign aimed at regularization of status for non-status immigrants; and, the Colour of Poverty Campaign, to address the increasing racialization of poverty in Ontario.
Avvy has served as Vice-Chair of the Court Challenges Program of Canada, President of the Chinese Canadian National Council (Toronto Chapter), board member of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, member of the Access to Justice Committee and the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee.
Evadne Macedo, Senior Policy Analyst, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Evadne Macedo has been a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ontario Human Rights Commission since 2006. She has been with the Commission since 2002, having previously held positions as Mediator, Investigator and Legal Counsel. She has a practical understanding of human rights issues from each of these perspectives that she brings to her current work in public education and policy development. She recently updated the Commission's popular employment resource, Human Rights at Work (to be published in the fall of 2008) and is currently completing work on the Commission’s report on its consultation on human rights and rental housing.
Shaheen Azmi, Senior Policy Analyst, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Shaheen Azmi is Senior Policy Analyst with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He has been active in the Commission's systemic change initiatives in the policing sector. His doctoral studies in social work focused on challenges of diversity in human services, with particular focus on needs of ethno-racial and religious minorities.
André Goh, MA, Manager, Diversity Management Unit, Toronto Police Service
André has international experience and long-term commitment to equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression in the public and community sectors.
André has been in the human rights and diversity field both professionally and from a community perspective, for over two decades. André worked with the Ontario Human Rights Commission as a Human Rights Officer in investigation, mediation, training and conciliation. He also has experience with the Western Australia Police Service and served Coordinator of Recruitment and Aboriginal Promotional Services at the Western Australia Department of Justice and as Equity Advisor with Ryerson University.
Maurice Switzer, Director of Communications, Union of Ontario Indians
Maurice Switzer is citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, and has Mississauga, Haudenosaunee, and Jewish ancestry. He currently serves as Director of Communications for the Union of Ontario Indians in North Bay, where he lives with his wife Mary. He has been a journalist since 1965, and was the first Aboriginal publisher of a Canadian daily newspaper. He is a part-time communications studies professor at Huntington University in Sudbury.
Dr. Charles Théroux, Canadian Human Rights Commission
In 1997, Dr. Théroux left for Indonesia to become the Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission. There, he advised and assisted the Chairman, commissioners and staff on how to develop the Commission into a professional organization.
In 2000, Dr. Théroux returned to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and is currently the Director of the Research and Statistical Division. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the Commission's research and statistical programs.
Julian Falconer, senior partner at Falconer Charney LLP
A major component of Julian’s work has involved advocacy in human rights and public interest litigation.
Selected as one of University of Toronto’s 100 most notable graduates of the twentieth century, Julian recently completed an appointment as Chair of the School Community Safety Advisory Panel that involved a comprehensive review of the Toronto District School Board school system.
His more prominent clients have included Maher Arar whose lawsuit made Canadian legal history. Julian is currently representing Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Aboriginal Legal Services at the Goudge Inquiry. Julian was also counsel for First Nations at the Ipperwash Inquiry.
Faisal Kutty, LL.B, Kutty, Syed & Mohamed Law
Faisal is general counsel for the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association and formerly served as the vice-chair and legal counsel to the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN).
Faisal is a Ph.D. candidate at Osgoode. His dissertation explores the impact of anti-terror laws and policies on the rule of law. Faisal has acted for a number of charities and individuals caught up in national security investigations. He also filed submissions on the No-Fly List to Transport Canada on behalf of more than two-dozen organizations.
François Larsen, Ontario Human Rights Commission
François Larsen is Director of the Policy and Education Branch of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He holds an Honours BA from Laval Université (Baccalauréat spécialisé) as well as a DEC général in Administration from the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Pearl Eliadis, LL.B
Pearl has worked both internationally and in Canada on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In Canada, she is involved in pressing for social justice issues at the community level, including as past President of Equitas and, currently, President of the Shield of Athena, a CSO working with women, men and children on preventing domestic violence. She has worked in and with human rights and reconciliation commissions, from both the community and the commission perspectives, since 1995, and has helped to establish, support and, sometimes, reform these institutions in three jurisdictions in Canada, and in five other countries including Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide. She recently completed a mission to Sri Lanka on civil and political rights following the expiration of the ceasefire in early 2008.
Pearl has appeared in several public fora and the media, including on Cross Country Checkup, Daybreak Montreal with Mike Finnerty, the Bouchard-Taylor Commission, the Montreal Gazette, le Centre Justice et foi, and Hellas Spectrum on CJNT, for her views on current affairs such as reasonable accommodation, minority rights and free speech. She is the winner of the 2006 Woman of Distinction Award and the Canada 125 Medal for community service. She has published two books on human rights and governance, and several articles in law journals.
She is on the Editorial Board of Charter and Human Rights Litigation Quarterly (Federated Press) and on the Board of Governors of the Quebec Bar Association Foundation.
Dave Sangha, University of Northern British Columbia
Dave is an assistant professor with the School of Social Work at the University of Northern British Columbia. His research interests include Canadian social policy, antiracism, human rights and diasporic communities. Before entering academia, Dave worked as a race relations consultant with the Ontario Race Relations Directorate, a human rights officer with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and as a senior policy analyst with the Equity Division of the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Shelly Jamieson, Secretary of Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service
Shelly Jamieson has been appointed Secretary of the Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service and Clerk of the Executive Council effective January 7, 2008.
Deputy Minister of Transportation since January 2006, and former president of a large, publicly traded company with more than 16,000 employees, Ms. Jamieson has served in numerous executive positions.
From 2000 to 2006, she was President of Extendicare Canada, with overall responsibility for 80 long-term care facilities as well as the home care division, ParaMed. From 1998 to 2000, she was the company’s Vice President Operations.
In 2007. Shelly was recognized by the Women's Executive Network as one of Canada's Top 100 most powerful women in the "public sector leaders" category.
Alan Borovoy, LL.B, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Alan’s extensive community organizing activities include advocating against intrusive national security practices as well as racial discrimination in housing. Alan has made presentations on a range of issues including poverty, involuntary civil commitment and wiretapping. He supervised surveys on a range of issues including the under-employment of aboriginal people in Northern Ontario banks. Alan frequently appears on public affairs programs across the nation and is the author of bold publications such as Uncivil Obedience and When Freedoms Collide.
Mel Sufrin, Executive Secretary, Ontario Press Council
Mel worked for the Canadian Press for 45 years. Since 1987 he has been with the Press Council, handling complaints from the public against newspapers and preparing press releases on adjudication decisions.
Mel joined Canadian Press, the national news co-operative, as a copy boy and, after two years in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the late stages of the Second World War, was assigned to the Canadian Press bureau in Halifax. He went from there to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Windsor, Ottawa as parliamentary correspondent and New York where he covered the United Nations.
Moving to Toronto, he was progressively newsfeatures editor, chief of picture service, sports editor, general news editor and editorial vice-president. Mel has also served as chairman of the National Newspaper Awards and the News Hall of Fame.
Krista Daley, LL.M, Director and CEO, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Krista has been working in the field of human rights since 1990. She has worked in Canada at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada where she has held numerous and varied positions, most recently Senior General Counsel and Director General, Operations. In addition, Krista worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland in 2005-2006. She has written extensively in various aspects of refugee rights and has given numerous presentations on various topics relating to human rights over the years. On May 1, 2008, she was appointed Director and CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
Claire Bernard, LL.M, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec
Since 1996, Maître Bernard has worked as a legal counsel for the Research and Planning Division of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec, Quebec’s Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, providing legal advice on human rights and freedoms and children’s rights.
She wrote the Commission’s position paper on the legal rights of individuals with an intellectual impairment who stand accused of a crime. She has also represented the Commission on the Table provinciale de concertation sur la justice et la déficience intellectuelle, a Provincial Issue Table on Justice and Intellectual Impairment.
Janice Gairey, Human Rights Director, Ontario Federation of Labour
Janice is presently the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Human Rights of Director. She staffs the Human Rights, Workers of Colour and Aboriginal committees. She is a resource for the 700,000 members that are affiliated to the OFL around human rights and equity issues. She was formerly the OFL Director of Education. She has worked in the labour movement for over 20 years in a variety of positions. She was formerly a educational assistant at the Toronto District School Board working with developmentally handicapped children.
Nadeem Memon, OISE, U of T
Nadeem Memon currently teaches courses on Global Citizenship at Centennial College and is a Doctoral Candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. His research area focuses on issues of equity, inclusivity, and social justice in relation to faith based schools and faith-conscious students in public schools. Nadeem is also the co-director of the Muslim Education Project at OISE/UT and has organized conferences on Safe Schools, Teacher Activism, and Faith and Spiritually Based Teacher Education at OISE/UT.
Daniel Ducharme, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec
In 2005, Daniel joined the Research and Planning Division of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec, Quebec’s Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission as a researcher with expertise in the sociology of law, the sociology of ethics, and the analysis of the social and structural context in which rights and freedoms, particularly in the areas of health and public education, are exercised.
He wrote the Commission’s most recent position paper on the inclusion of students with special needs in the classroom.
Beverly Jacobs, LL.B, President, Native Women’s Association of Canada
Beverly, born in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, is of Mohawk ancestry from the Bear Clan. Beverly’s career began with her own firm, Bear Clan Consulting, which addressed issues such as Bill C-31, Residential Schools and Matrimonial Real Property.
Beverly is also a sole practitioner with a law office at Six Nations Grand River Territory. Her practice is on hold during her term as President of NWAC. Ms. Jacobs’ work on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women was inspired by her work with Amnesty International as the Lead Researcher and consultant for their Stolen Sisters Report. In her role as NWAC President she has traveled to countless communities to raise awareness, rally citizens and inspire young Aboriginal women.
Sherri Helgason, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Sherri has worked in the Human Rights field for more than 17 years. In late 2006, Sherri returned to Winnipeg, to establish the Commission's new National Aboriginal Initiative. In this role, Sherri is responsible for strengthening relationships with First Nations and other Aboriginal stakeholders, and assisting the Commission to be more responsive to human rights concerns affecting or involving the Aboriginal community. Sherri is of mixed Icelandic and Ojibway heritage, and is a member of the Sandy Bay First Nation in Manitoba.
Brigitte Witkowski, Co-founder, HomeComing Community Choice Coalition
Brigitte is the Executive Director of Mainstay Housing, Ontario’s largest non-profit provider of housing for people with mental illness. She is also a Board member of the Ontario Federations of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs, the Sherbourne Health Centre and ConnexOntario. Her work has been recognized by the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association's Outstanding Achievement Award, and the City of Toronto's Constance Hamilton Award for advancing equitable treatment for women.
In 2003 Brigitte co-founded HomeComing, a grassroots organization that upholds the right of people with mental illness – and anyone else who faces Not-In-My-Back-Yard discrimination – to live in the neighbourhood of their choice.
Estella Muyinda, Executive Director, National Anti-Racism Council of Canada
Estella worked for more than 16 years as an Attorney specializing in criminal defence, constitutional law and human rights. Estella has considerable experience as an advocate for human rights in particular, equality issues, which include, Aboriginal, gender, disability and race based issues. Estella is a mediator and facilitator, and has made presentations on human rights issues at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and many international conferences.
Anita Balakrishna, LL.B, South Asian Legal Clinic
After completing her articles with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Anita joined the South Asian Legal Clinic (SALCO) as the Staff Lawyer. Anita currently practices immigration, human rights, and income security law at SALCO, and works mainly with low-income clients and communities.
Magaly San Martin, LL.B, Parkdale Community Legal Services
Magaly San Martin has been a long time community activist. She works as a community legal worker at Parkdale Community Legal Services. She focuses on social assistance, violence against women and policing. She develops public legal education workshops and materials from an anti-oppression framework. She is currently finishing her doctoral thesis in Sociology and Equity Studies.
Richard W. Montigny, Chair, Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission
Richard worked for many years as CEO with a PEI municipality and has extensive experience at the volunteer level. He currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the PEI Cerebral Palsy Association, is Chairman of the PEI Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation and is employed with the Legislative Assembly.
Simon Li, Host, Power Politics
Power Politics is a popular call-in show in the Chinese community. For the past three years, Simon’s weeknight program has been a meeting place of perspectives on Toronto's airwaves. This summer, Simon is presenting the TV edition of Power Politics on Canadian Chinese Media Network. Simon Li is also the guest-host of CBC Radio's national morning show The Current.
Janet Leader, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Janet Leader is a television producer with more than two decades of experience in television news and current affairs production. A self-described news junkie Janet has a BA in Communications, with a specialty in law and society from the University of Calgary and is a recent graduate of the WIFT/Schulich School of Executive Development Senior Level Certificate program for Broadcast Professionals. She has a keen interest in politics, education and issues related to social justice. She spent 15 years in the Northwest Territories before moving East last August. She currently lives in Ottawa where she works as Executive Producer – East for APTN National News.
Shannon Marchand, Alberta Employment and Immigration
As Executive Director of the Immigration Policy and Programs Branch of Alberta Employment and Immigration, Shannon is responsible for the development of broad immigration policy objectives for the province and specific program responses, the delivery of settlement services and English as a Second Language supports, and Alberta’s International Qualifications Assessment Service. He led negotiations on the recent Agreement for Canada-Alberta Cooperation on Immigration, and the development of the 2005 Government of Alberta policy framework Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta.
Sandi Bell, Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commissioner Sandi Bell is a highly respected educator, public speaker, mediator and coach. For 30 years, she has gained extensive knowledge of the legislation and a reputation of excellence in conflict resolution and capacity building. Ms Bell is also president of the consulting firm, EMPOWWORD Inc.
Shirley Sarna, Interim director, Direction de l’éducation et de la cooperation, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Director of Education, Canadian Human Rights Foundation, 1988 –1991. Taught for twelve years within the Montreal public school system.
Has published human rights education materials for the elementary and secondary grades, for literacy groups. Has delivered workshops throughout Canada, in the U.S., France, Indonesia, Finland and Cameroon, in the areas of peaceful conflict resolution, anti-harassment, human rights education methodology, human rights advocacy, racism, special needs, homophobia, religious diversity and other human rights-related subjects.
Holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education (Administration and Policy Studies) from McGill University. Has been active in several grassroots organisations.
Fo Niemi, Center for Research-Action on Race Relations
Fo Niemi is the co-founder and since 1983, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), a non-profit civil rights and social justice organization based in Montreal. Fluently bilingual and multicultural, and a graduate in social work from McGill University, Fo also studied political sciences at Concordia University. He was a member of the Quebec Human Rights Commission from 1991 to 2003 and a member of numerous committees of federal, provincial, municipal and private agencies working in justice, law enforcement, civil rights and media.
Cherie Robertson,LL.B Ontario Human Rights Commission
Cherie has been working as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ontario Human Rights Commission in the Policy and Education Branch since 2002.
Cherie is involved in the development of public policy statements, formal guidelines and research on a broad range of human rights and social justice issues at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She delivers public education and undertakes consultations with stakeholder groups. Since 2002, she has been leading the Commission’s initiative into human rights issues related to disability accommodation in the education sector.
Philippe Dufresne, Director and Senior Counsel Canadian Human Rights CommissionPhilippe is responsible for the Commission's representation before courts and administrative tribunals in precedent-setting cases raising issues of human rights law. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on a number of occasions, including in cases dealing with the duty to accommodate, parliamentary privilege, and the independence and impartiality of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. He has also appeared before the Senate subcommittee on Human Rights on the issue of employment equity. Philippe is a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa where he teaches human rights law and appellate advocacy. He is currently writing a book on human rights law in Canada.
Jennifer Ross, Burchell Hayman Parish/ Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Jennifer was called to the Bar in Nova Scotia in 1999 and is a partner at Burchell Hayman Parish. Jennifer practises civil litigation with a strong focus on administrative law, primarily in the areas of human rights and professional regulation and discipline. Jennifer has worked extensively with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for the last seven years, and has represented the Commission at boards of inquiry hearings, as well as appeared in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada on human rights-related issues. Jennifer has attended as a panelist and speaker at various CBA and other conferences on issues of human rights and employment law.
Thérèse Boullard, Director North West Territories Human Rights Commission
Thérèse previously worked for the BC Human Rights Commission and its predecessor, the BC Council of Human Rights (1993-2002). In addition to her domestic work, Thérèse coordinated international electoral observation missions to Guatemala (1999), Mexico (2000), and El Salvador (2003 & 2004).
Regina Thompson, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Regina Thompson has ten years’ experience mediating disputes for the Ontario Human Rights Commission. In 2006, Regina developed a culturally-appropriate training program for UHRC Mediation staff. Regina also created policy guidelines and procedural manuals to support the implementation of the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s mediation system.
Regina also trained Legal staff of War Child Canada in, Gulu, Northern Uganda in the conduct of culturally appropriate mediations and the use of universally accepted approaches, techniques, concepts and formats to resolve issues in mediation specific to children in situations of war.
Maina Kiai, Chairman, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)
Prior to taking up his position with the National Commission, Maina Kiai was the Director of Africa Programs at the International Human Rights Law Group (now Global Rights. The International Human Rights Law Group is a capacity building and strengthening organization that works with civil society organizations across the world on the basis that defending human rights is best done on the ground and in the respective countries.
Mr. Kiai was the Africa Director at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, UK from 1999 to 2001 where he was a leader in change management, including increasing the scope of AI’s work to include economic and social rights.
Among his major achievements in KHRC was the revitalization of the constitutional reform process. In 2003, he was honored by being installed as a Chief of the Mende community in Sierra Leone for services in human rights to the community including capacity building on human rights and democracy and support for human rights in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Kiai was named Jurist of the Year in 2005 by the International Commission of Jurists and is a member of the Management Committee of the African Democracy Forum, the World Movement's Africa regional network.
Jennifer Lynch, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Jennifer Lynch, Q.C. is Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Chair of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions, a United Nations-supported body. Ms. Lynch brings to the Commission an outstanding combination of skills and experience gained over 30 years in law, human rights, organizational conflict competence and corporate governance.
Anita Bromberg, LL.B, B’nai Brith Canada
Anita Bromberg is in-house Legal Counsel for B'nai Brith Canada. Her legal education and career has focused on the cause of human rights. She has lectured on human rights issues for many years. She joined B'nai Brith Canada in 2002. As human rights coordinator for B'nai Brith Canada's League for Human Rights, she is responsible for coordinating the activities of the League, its publications and educational initiatives. In particular, she has been responsible for the operation of its Anti-Hate Hotline and responding to incidents of antisemitism and security concerns across Canada.
Cynthia Pay, Staff Lawyer/Clinical Instructor, Parkdale Community Legal Services
Cynthia served as President of the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC), a national anti-racism group advocating for equality for Chinese Canadians. Cynthia worked for over 10 years on issues including racism in media, immigration policy, redress for the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act, impact of SARS on Asian Canadians, and most recently, hate attacks against Asian Canadian anglers.
Cynthia was CCNC’s representative at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. Cynthia is now Chair of the Strategic Issues Committee of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.
Jeff Poirier, Manager of Communications and Public Education, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Jeff Poirier first joined the Commission in 1997 as a Senior Policy Analyst. He is currently involved in partnership initiatives such as Seneca College’s marketing for social change and UNESCO’s Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination. Jeff also worked for the Equitas, the International Centre for Human Rights, on capacity building with human rights commissions in South East Asia, and wrote the UN publication Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions.
Cassie Palamar, Director of Education and Community Services, Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission.
Cassie works with community organizations, public institutions, businesses, and government to advance efforts to reduce discrimination, foster equality, and build welcoming and inclusive communities and workplaces. Cassie is a member and current chair of CASHRA's Public Education Partners. She is a member of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO Sectoral Commission, Natural, Social and Human Sciences, and the Pan-Canadian Working Group for the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination.
Ted Shaw, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ted Shaw is the Education Officer in the Policy and Education Branch of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, where he has worked for over 10 years. Ted holds a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta (Edmonton) and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Theology.
Gary Malkowski, M.A. The Canadian Hearing Society
Gary is currently Special Advisor to the President, Public Affairs at The Canadian Hearing Society. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of the ARCH Disability Law Centre, Ontario Association of Education Advocates, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Prior to joining The Canadian Hearing Society, Gary became the first elected Deaf politician in the world. During his term as MPP for York East (1990-1995), he was the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship. He was also Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and Training.
Susan Butterfield, Director, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission
Susan has over 30 years experience as a provincial civil servant, in a variety of Departments. Her career has included positions in the Departments of Finance, Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs. Susan is an immigrant to Canada arriving from Britain in 1967. She obtained a degree in economics from the University of New Brunswick. Susan is currently the Treasurer of CASHRA, the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies.
Paul Shecter, R.G.D., Seneca College
Professor Shecter has developed a course, unique in Canada that teaches young designers social marketing from the perspective of behavior change. In its eight year history, his course has created effective campaigns dealing with: family status, racism, teenage prostitution, child abuse, child delinquency, elder abuse, intimate partner violence and understanding food labeling. Most recently, the course has taken on challenges presented by and for the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Professor Shecter’s teaching style involves the students in developing the key messages for each campaign. It also poses the question, “Can young people make a difference in their communities? And, the answers coming forward from his students have consistently been an overwhelming and resounding, “Yes!”
Lyndsey Dyament, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Lyndsey Dyament is currently working as the Web Communications Specialist at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. In addition to her communications role, Lyndsey has been working with the Public Education partners of CASHRA to develop a youth focused web based awareness campaign for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Previously Lyndsey worked for Argent Solutions, an IT and Communications Solutions Company based out of Novato California.
Raj Anand, LLP, Chair, Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre
Raj is a former Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He has acted as a Board of Inquiry under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Police Services Act, as Co-Chair of the University of Toronto Tribunal and as counsel to a number of administrative tribunals.
He severed as the Advocates’ Society representative on the Equity Advisory Group of the Law Society. He also served on the Equality Rights Panel of the Federal Court Challenges Programme, and the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Boards of Directors of two community clinics, the Advocates' Society and Pro Bono Law Ontario, and as President of the latter organization. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Ontario In 2003, he received the Law Society Medal.
CASHRA 2008 National Human Rights Conference, presented by the
Ontario Human Rights Commission
© 2008, Queen's Printer for Ontario