Mr. Baker has provided training for judges and has lectured at law schools and to seminars for the legal profession. At the international level, Mr. Baker has served on the UNESCO Panel of International Human Rights Experts. For his work at ARCH and his contribution to the legal profession, Mr. Baker was awarded the Law Society Medal in 1998.

Mr. Baker continues his active government relations practice and he serves as an advisor to boards and commissions. Mr. Baker also designs and presents seminars for trade unions, equality-seeking groups and professional organizations on a wide range of equality rights and workplace topics, including the duty to accommodate.

Mr. Baker's legal practice is focused in the areas of human rights, employment law, Charter litigation, health law, civil litigation and education law.

Bhabha, Faisal (B.A., LL.B., LL.M.)

Faisal Bhabha works in the areas of human rights and constitutional law. He represents clients who are disadvantaged by disability, race, gender and/or poverty in issues related to employment, education and health.

Faisal has also advised or represented numerous public interest organizations and NGOs, including Amnesty International, the University of Toronto International Human Rights Law Clinic, the National Anti-Poverty Organization, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association, the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and CARP – the national seniors’ association, in matters related to constitutional law and human rights.

He has published law review articles on equality, access to justice, national security and terrorism. He is also a frequent commentator in the press, having published op-eds in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and National Post.

Bourque, Jimmy (B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.)

Jimmy Bourque is an assistant professor with the Faculty of Education Science at the Université de Moncton, and Director of the Centre de recherche et de développement en éducation (CRDE). He is an expert in quantitative research methods in the social sciences and has an interest in intercultural and Aboriginal issues.

Dr. Bourque is a graduate of the Université de Sherbrooke, where he also completed post-doctoral work (2005) on statistical analysis in the social sciences. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics (1995), a master’s degree in education science (2000) and a doctoral degree in education (2004).

Marie-Claude Chartier has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1997 and obtained her master’s degree in social and labour law from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2000.

From 2000 to 2005, Ms. Chartier worked as a legal expert at the International Labour Office, mainly in the Global Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work. In particular, she was involved in labour law reforms during various missions in Africa and Asia.

Ms. Chartier is currently working as a staff relations officer at the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, where she represents labour rights of its members.

Chepesiuk, Caleb (B.A., M.A.)

Caleb Chepesiuk received a M.A. in Legal Studies from Carleton University in 2009.  His research interests include human rights, drug policy, security issues, and labour. His research focus was on labour and human rights within Canada. Caleb also holds a B.A. in Law (Honours) with a concentration in business law.

Currently, Caleb is the executive director at Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP), a national youth and student group working against the criminalization of drugs and drug users and toward sensible drug policies in Canada and around the world. 

Chrolavicius, Nicole (B.A., LL.B., B.C.L.)

Nicole Chrolavicius works in the areas of human rights and constitutional law. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and literature before attending the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law. In 20 04, she left Canada to pursue her B.C.L. degree from Oxford University in 2004, with a specialization in human rights.

For two years, she ran the charity arm of one of the UK’s leading human rights organizations, providing free legal advice to members of the public and winning an award for coordinating the Pro Bono Activity of the Year in 2005. She also worked as an HIV and AIDS campaigner and activist at an international development organization.

Nicole has co-authored a book on privacy law in the UK, entitled Blackstone’s Guide to the Identity Cards Act 2006 published by Oxford University Press.

Cornet, Wendy (LL.B.)

Wendy Cornet, policy analyst and legal researcher, has focused primarily on human rights and gender equality issues in the Aboriginal community. In addition, Wendy has also worked on a broad range of Aboriginal and Treaty rights matters. She is the author of several major reports, journal articles and book chapters respecting human rights and Aboriginal peoples. Her work has often focused on the theory and practice of balancing, and fully recognizing, the individual and collective rights of Aboriginal peoples. Her work consistently reflects an intersectional analysis of discrimination issues affecting Aboriginal women. She has carried out gender-based analysis, including culturally relevant gender-based analysis for the federal government and Aboriginal women’s organizations. Wendy has received several awards for her work relating to gender equality issues with the Women’s Issues Directorate at the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. She is highly respected within the Aboriginal community and has worked for over thirty years with diverse Aboriginal peoples’ organizations at the national, regional and community level.  

Eliadis Pearl  (B.Sc., B.C.L., LL.B., B.C.L. (Oxon.))

Ms Eliadis is a Montreal-based human rights lawyer whose practice focuses on national human rights institutions and democratic governance. She has more than 20 years of experience in human rights, in public administration related to national institutions, as well as in civil and political rights, immigration law and equality law. She is a member of the specialist human rights committees of both the Quebec Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association (Quebec Section), and has published and edited numerous scholarly books and articles. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Charter and Human Rights Litigation. She works in Canada and internationally in an advisory capacity for intergovernmental organizations, national governments and international consortia.

Ms Eliadis teaches Civil Liberties at the Faculty of Law, McGill University, and has been appointed Full Member of McGill's Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. 

Green, Karen  (LL.B.)

Karen Green, as CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, acted as Project Manager and advisor to the project. Karen held several policy and managerial positions in government and Aboriginal organizations in the field of gender equality, diversity, gender-based analysis and conflict resolution. She also has an expertise on a broad range matters relating to Aboriginal affairs, specifically issues affecting Aboriginal women. She is uniquely qualified to provide project management oversight and direction on policy issues respecting the individual and collective rights of Aboriginal peoples.  She has considerable research experience relevant to the following project, which includes contributions to the work of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples on issues affecting Aboriginal women. 

Groves, Robert K.

Robert Groves is Principal of The Aboriginal Affairs Group Inc., an Ottawa-based consulting firm involved in Aboriginal rights and governance.   Robert has been involved in Aboriginal policy issues since 1976, and participated in the drafting of section 35 and other Aboriginal rights provisions of the Constitution Act, 1982.   He has been involved in almost all Indian Act reform efforts from 1984 to the present, and advised the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.  His firm provides self-government, land claims and negotiation advice to Aboriginal governments and groups at the regional and community level, and to the federal government on policy and legislative reform.

Karpinski, Maciej Mark (B.A., M.A.)

Maciej Karpinski received his M.A. from Carleton University in 2006 and his B.A. Hons. from Trinity College in the University of Toronto. During this time, he worked for numerous units at the Department of Canadian Heritage including the Strategic Research and Analysis directorate. He has also worked as an intern for the Canadian International Development Agency and the Parliamentary Centre.

As a Senior Research Analyst, Mr. Karpinski conducts internal research and analysis on issues related to human rights. 

Kim, Natasha (LL.B., LL.M.)

Natasha Kim received her LL.B. from Dalhousie University and her LL.M. from Harvard University Law School. Her research interests include constitutional law and theory, human rights, and socio-economic rights and policy. During her Master’s studies, she completed a thesis that explored the intersection of race, gender and class in American welfare policy and, as a Reginald Lewis Fellow of Harvard University, conducted a case study in South Africa on the implementation of constitutional rights to housing.

Leblanc, Stefanie Renée (B.Ps., M.A. Ps.)

Stefanie Renée Leblanc has a master’s degree in psychology from the Université de Moncton (2008) and has been a research officer at the Centre de recherche et de développement en éducation (CRDE) since 2007.

Ms. Leblanc has worked in the field of industrial-organizational psychology, and she currently specializes in quantitative research methods. Her research interests are in social psychology and intergroup relations.

MacKay, Wayne (C.M., B.A., M.A., B.Ed., LL.B.)

Wayne MacKay has had a distinguished career as a university administrator, legal
scholar, respected teacher and constitutional and human rights expert. He has served as President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University, an advisor to governments, national agencies and tribunals on Canadian diversity issues, constitutional issues, and civil rights and human rights initiatives. Most recently, he has returned to teaching as Professor of Law at Dalhousie University. In June 2005, he was appointed a member of the Order of Canada.

Noted for his teaching, innovative research and writing, Professor MacKay has been honored by universities, faculty and colleagues for his outstanding contributions to academic excellence. He is Canada's leading authority on Education Law, and has written several books on this complex subject. He has written more than 75 academic articles in the fields of Constitutional law and human rights.

McKay, Céleste  (LL.M., LL.B.)

Céleste McKay, the Lead Researcher, has worked on many human rights related initiatives for the Native Women’s Association of Canada. She has advanced policy and legal skills in the areas of women's and Indigenous Peoples' human rights, social, economic, cultural, political and civil rights.  She also possesses human rights advocacy experience in a national and international context, on matters relating to individual and collective rights and interests of Indigenous peoples. This work includes researching, writing and negotiating policy and legal documents related to the gender equality rights of Indigenous women. She has been active in initiatives that ensure that the distinct needs, perspectives and rights of Indigenous women are adequately recognized and applied in various legislative instruments. She also has extensive experience in social policy analysis related to Aboriginal women, including the areas of legislative reform that deal with matrimonial real property laws, Indian status and membership, equality rights related to housing, health, education, employment, sexual orientation, disability and numerous other areas.   

Morse, Bradford W.

Bradford W. Morse is Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Waikato School of Law in Hamilton, New Zealand. He is also a Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law, at the University of Ottawa (on leave) where he served in the past as Vice-Dean and Director of Graduate Studies. He has taught a wide variety of courses concerning Canadian and comparative Indigenous law issues, Labour and Employment Law, Trusts, Property Law, Intergovernmental Relations, Civil Liberties and Legal Systems.  His career includes appointments as Executive Director of the Native Legal Task Force of British Columbia (1974-75); Research Director of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba (1988-91); and Chief of Staff to the Hon. Ronald A. Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1993-1996). He has also served as legal advisor to many First Nations as well as national and regional Aboriginal organizations in Canada and New Zealand since 1974. He has been a consultant to various royal commissions, law reform commissions, government departments and Indigenous peoples’ organisations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand and as a Chief Federal Negotiator on several land claims and treaty issues in Canada. Professor Morse has been a visiting scholar to a number of law schools over his career including the Universities of New South Wales, Hong Kong, Auckland and Queensland, Macquarie University, Monash University and the Victoria University of Wellington as well as Senior Fulbright Scholar at the Native American Legal Research Centre at the Oklahoma City University. He has authored over 100 books, articles, book chapters and commission reports. 

Dr. Nierobisz is a Senior Researcher in the Research and Statistical Analysis Division at the Canadian Human Rights Commission and an Associate Professor of Sociology at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Her two-year position at the Commission has been arranged through Interchange Canada. As the Senior Researcher at the Commission, Dr. Nierobisz coordinates the research function of the Knowledge Centre and conducts internal research.

Dr. Nierobisz received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Toronto. She completed her M.A. in sociology at Queen’s University and her B.A., Hons. in sociology and criminology at the University of Winnipeg.

Rexe, Kate (M.A.)

Kate Rexe has worked on initiatives involving gender-based analysis in various Aboriginal social and cultural contexts. She has also authored publications in this area and has written on social justice issues affecting Aboriginal women. Her accomplishments on matters of social policy and her knowledge of gender-based analysis are highly regarded. 

Searl, Mark (B.A., LL.B., B.C.L., LL.M.)

Mr. Searl obtained his LL.B. and B.C.L. degrees from McGill University Faculty of Law, and his LL.M. in international law from the University of Cambridge. He currently works as a legal counsel in the Legal Advisory Services Division at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Sears received her Masters of Engineering and Doctoral degrees from McGill University. She is currently a research consultant and an Adjunct Investigator with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.

Dr. Sears has diverse laboratory and field experience in chemical engineering and applied chemistry, and has experience writing scientific literature in a wide variety of fields including biology, chemical engineering and medicine. She has particular interest, knowledge and experience in health and environmental matters.

Dr. Sears has prepared and peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, conducted consultation among citizens' groups, made government committee and tribunal submissions, written articles for the popular press and appeared on radio and television.

Théroux, Charles (Ph.D.)

Dr. Théroux completed his Ph.D. in clinical and community psychology at the University of Manitoba. During this time, he also taught in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. In 1982, Dr. Théroux left academia to pursue a career in the Canadian public service. Most of his time spent in the public service has been with the 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.

Utzschneider, Anouk (M.Sc.)

Anouk Utzschneider received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the Université Laval in 2000 and a master’s degree in geographic sciences, also from Laval, in 2004.

She is currently a doctoral student at the Faculty of Education Sciences, Université de Moncton. She is studying decision-making, with a particular interest in decision-making by youth. She is also a lecturer in the departments of history and geography at the Université de Moncton.

Vermette, D'arcy (B.A., LL.B., LL.M., LL.D. candidate)

D’Arcy Vermette (of the Métis Nation) is currently teaching in the Native Studies Programme at St. Thomas University.  He teaches courses on Canadian Aboriginal law and Métis issues. 

Mr. Vermette is a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Law, Common Law section at the University of Ottawa.  His published scholarship examines issues arising from the continuing colonial imposition of Canadian law on Aboriginal peoples.

Ms. Victor is a member of the Stó:lo Nation, and her community is Skowkale which is located in Chilliwack, British Columbia. She is married to Ernie Victor (Tsimalanoxw, Cheam) from the Pilalt tribe and together they have three children.

Ms. Victor is a PhD candidate in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University. She spent eight years assisting with the development and implementation of Qwi:qwelstóm – a Stó:lo dispute resolution process based upon Stó:lo custom, tradition and culture.

Dr. Wark is an Associate Professor in the Department of History of the University of Toronto, a Fellow of Trinity College and an Associate of the Munk Centre for International Studies. He is an expert of Canadian and international intelligence and security issues, has published numerous books and articles on this subject, and has served as a consultant to the Privy Council Office of Canada on intelligence policy.

Dr. Wark is the Past-President of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies (1998-2000). He is also the co-editor of the London-based journal, Intelligence and National Security and editor in chief of the Oxford University Press encyclopedia, The Companion to Modern Espionage.

Ms. Wilkie completed her B.A. in political science at the University of Winnipeg and her LL.B. at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Ms. Wilkie articled with ARCH, a legal aid clinic concentrated on the rights of persons with disabilities under the law, where her efforts focused on the areas of violence, taxation and immigration. She worked on a case before the Supreme Court of Canada involving the immigration rights of persons with disabilities. She also analyzed and presented before public hearings on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005).

Ms. Wilkie is on the Board of Directors of Community Outreach Programs in Addiction (COPA), a harm reduction organization assisting older adults living with addiction, and is the vice-Chair and Governance Chair of COTA Health, an organization providing health services through Community Care Access Centres.

Wright, Christopher (B.Ps.)

Christopher Wright is currently working toward his master’s degree in psychology at the Université de Moncton. His interests cover a range of issues in industrial-organizational psychology and mental health in criminal justice and corrections.

He completed a MITACS internship (January to September 2007) as a researcher in a joint research project with the New Brunswick government on work and learning opportunities in New Brunswick.

He is interested in a career as a researcher in psychology.