The Canadian Human Rights Commission was established in 1977. It is made up of two full-time members and up to six part-time members. The Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Commissioner are appointed for terms of up to seven years and the other Commissioners for terms of up to three years. The following are brief biographies of the members who served on the Commission in the course of 1997.

MICHELLE FALARDEAU-RAMSAY

Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay, Q.C., was appointed Chief Commissioner in January 1997. After receiving a law degree from the University of Montreal and being called to the Quebec Bar, she pursued a career in labour relations law. She worked as a lawyer with the firm of Massicotte, Levac and Falardeau and later became a senior partner with the firm of Levac and Falardeau. In 1975, she joined the Public Service Staff Relations Board as Deputy Chairman and in 1982 became Chairman of the Immigration Appeal Board. She was appointed Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in September 1988, and served in that capacity until taking up her present post.

SIGMUND REISER

Sigmund Reiser, C.M., C.L.U., is the sole survivor of a family of 21 whose members perished in the Holocaust. Emigrating to Canada after World War II, he worked for 35 years for the London Life Insurance Company, retiring as its Regional Manager. He was also Director of the Life Underwriters Association of Canada. After retirement, he served as a Council Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, holding positions on its Discipline Tribunal and the Peer Assessment Committee. He is presently a member of the cabinet of the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada, a member of the executive of the Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, and a member of several other human rights organizations. He also serves on the editorial board of the Jewish Tribune and is the National Membership Chairman of B'nai Brith Canada. Appointed to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1994, Mr. Reiser is a member of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation for service to Canadians.

GEORGES CLICHE

Georges Cliche of Val d'Or, Quebec was appointed to the Commission in October 1995. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1971 and later worked for four years as Crown Counsel in the Youth Court and the Court of Quebec. A member of the firm Cliche, Lortie and Ladouceur, his areas of expertise include litigation, negotiation of contracts and family and criminal law. He has also done arbitration work and helped to negotiate collective agreements, as well as appearing before various administrative tribunals.

ROBINSON KOILPILLAI

Robinson Koilpillai, C.M., joined the Commission in October 1995. A resident of Edmonton, Alberta, he is a retired teacher and high school principal who has been involved in multiculturalism, race relations and human rights issues for more than 30 years. From 1978 to 1982, Mr. Koilpillai was President and Director of the Edmonton Race Relations Council. He also chaired the Human Rights Committee of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council from 1981 to 1983, and from 1985 to 1988 he was Chairman of that Council. From 1987 to 1992 he was a member of the Canadian Multiculturalism Advisory Committee. In October 1995 he was elected President of the Alberta Council for Global Co-operation. In 1996 he joined the National Executive Board of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation. Mr. Koilpillai was named a member of the Order of Canada in July 1996.

MARY MAC LENNAN

Mary Mac Lennan of Halifax, Nova Scotia became a member of the Commission in November 1995. She was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1979 and pursued a career as a sole practitioner until 1990. In 1981-82, Ms. Mac Lennan was Provincial Co-ordinator for the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities. She played a similar role for National Access Awareness Week in 1988 and served as the City of Halifax's Multicultural and Race Relations Co-ordinator from 1990 to 1992. A recipient of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Award in 1993, Ms. Mac Lennan served two terms as a member of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and was appointed Chair of that Commission in 1996. She has also served on the editorial board of Just Cause, a law journal for people with disabilities and legal professionals.

Return to Table of Contents