News Release Archive
JUSTICE/HUMAN RIGHTS--MARY MACLENNAN APPOINTED CHAIRPERSON ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mary MacLennan of Halifax, a commissioner with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission since 1994, has been appointed chairperson of the commission. Ms. MacLennan succeeds Dr. Kenneth Ozmon, whose term expired at the end of February. She is the first woman to be appointed as chairperson of the commission. Ms. MacLennan received a master of public administration degree and a bachelor of law degree from Dalhousie University, as well as a bachelor of arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University. She was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1979, and practised as a sole practitioner of law from 1982 to 1990. She is now a private consultant. Ms. MacLennan has extensive experience in the area of human rights, having worked with the community, the universities and three levels of government. In 1981 - 1982 she was provincial co-ordinator of the Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunity. From 1990 to 1992 she served as the City of Halifax's co-ordinator of multiculturalism and race relations. In 1995, Ms. MacLennan was appointed a commissioner with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. In addition to her professional career, Ms. MacLennan has chaired or spoken at various human rights, sensitivity and diversity workshops. She has also served as a resource person at human rights. She is a director with Wee Care Developmental Centre, and this year was appointed as a member of the (National) Advisory Committee on the Interim Moratorium on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies. "Mary MacLennan brings a solid background to the position of chairperson," said Justice Minister Bill Gillis, minister responsible for the administration of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. "Her interest and involvement with human rights issues are well known. I am confident she will provide active leadership in her new role with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission," he said. -30- Contact: Justice Minister Bill Gillis 902-424-4044 trp Mar. 26, 1996 - 2:30 p.m.