David Langtry

David Langtry was appointed as a full-time Commissioner on June 16, 2006 and as Deputy Chief Commissioner on August 3, 2007. In this capacity, he is responsible for three areas of the Commission's work: Case Management; the National Aboriginal Initiative; and leading the Commission's international involvement on the Accreditation Sub-Committee of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions, a United Nations supported body. He is an accomplished senior executive and lawyer with more than 35 years of combined progressive experience in the private practice of law and public sector administration. Mr. Langtry is currently serving as the Acting Chief Commissioner.

In his home province of Manitoba, he has served as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Child and Family Services, where he led five program areas: Child, Family and Community Development, Family Conciliation, Family Violence Prevention, Children’s Special Services, and Child Day Care. Prior to that, Mr. Langtry served as Executive Director of the Multiculturalism Secretariat in Manitoba, responsible for implementation of the province’s Multicultural Policy. In this role, he helped develop the provincial Multiculturalism Act, proclaimed in 1992, as well as the “Multicultural Internship in Government Program” to facilitate the entry into government by individuals from specific ethnocultural communities.

In addition, Mr. Langtry has served as volunteer Vice-President and President of the Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg/Folklorama festival. Other roles have included membership of the Canadian Multiculturalism Advisory Council, Chairperson of the Multicultural Grants Advisory Council, and Treasurer of the Manitoba Bar Association. He earned his LLB from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 1976.

Mr. Roch A. Fournier was appointed as a part-time Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on February 29th, 2008.

Mr. Fournier is a private practitioner in his firm, Roch A. Fournier, Avocats, in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He received his law degree in 1969 and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1970. His expertise has covered several aspects of the law, over the span of his career: criminal and civil rights, medical responsibility, as well as labour employment law and administrative practice. Now a member of the board for the Canadian Bar Association (Quebec section), he served on the Ethics Committee at the Barreau du Québec for ten years. In addition, he was legal advisor to the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services to help structure the organization of health care.

Commissioner Fournier is very engaged in his region. Chairman of the Board for Moisson Estrie, a local food bank, for over 15 years, he is also a member of the Board of Governors for the J.-Armand Bombardier Foundation. Recipient of the Pro-Bono Award for his outstanding service to the community, he was also awarded the title of “Grand Estrien” in 2003 and, recently “Grand Borroméen” by the Seminary in Sherbrooke. He is a regular speaker at “École du Barreau du Québec.”

Ms Sandi Bell was appointed as a Part-Time Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on January 29th, 2008.

Ms. Bell is a highly respected human rights expert with more than 30 years of leadership experience. As an educator, keynote speaker, mediator and board member of community organizations too numerous to list, she has been instrumental in improving the welfare of victims of discrimination. She is currently President of Empowword, a leading consulting firm involved in coaching, mediation and policy development related to equity, diversity and transformative justice.

Her contribution both as a professional and a volunteer has been recognized by several awards and honorary titles. She is keenly aware of discrimination and social justice issues and has a solid knowledge of the legislation in addition to a reputation of excellence in conflict resolution and capacity building.

As a female, an individual of African-Canadian, Aboriginal-First Nations heritage and a person with a physical disability, Commissioner Bell’s passion and sensitivity are both professional and personal.

Commissioner Peter McCreath is a Nova Scotian who has devoted his life and work to public service. He has served as a federal cabinet minister, and is an award-winning educator who has developed innovative course curricula in human rights and multicultural education. Commissioner McCreath has over 40 years of experience as a political strategist. He is also a certified corporate director with experience on over 20 boards, serving a broad variety of organizations including the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education and the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Mental Health Association.  He has served as a Director on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Multiculturalism Council.