She was Be the Peace Institute’s legal counsel at the Mass Casualty Commission public inquiry
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission has named licensed, registered private practice social worker Shawna Paris its new chair.
She is part of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and acted as Be the Peace Institute’s legal counsel at the Mass Casualty Commission public inquiry. She was also on the governing council for the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children restorative inquiry.
In 2020, Paris was named to the Order of Nova Scotia. Last year, she was appointed executive director at the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.
She has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also tackled human right cases within the African Nova Scotian community pro bono.
Paris was part of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Health Professions at Dalhousie University.
Moreover, she is on the Africville Heritage Trust board.
“I want to welcome Ms. Paris to this important role. Nova Scotians expect that their rights and freedoms will be protected, and Ms. Paris has the expertise and commitment to safeguard the human rights of everyone in our province,” said Becky Druhan, the province's attorney general and justice minister, in a statement.
In the role, Paris will receive $6,000 a year in compensation in addition to $100 per half day plus expenses.
Druhan confirmed that commissioners Diana Brothers, Fola Adeleke, Julien Matte and Sharon Ross would be departing the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Dr. Muhammad Khan and litigator Quy Linh will have appointed to two-year terms as new commissioners.
Linh focuses on criminal, civil and corporate litigation. She has sat on the boards of the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia and the Vietnamese Association of Nova Scotia. Khan is part of the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders.
Jenifer Tsang has been reappointed as commissioner. She first took the role in 2022.
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission enforces the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. It concentrates on progressing equity and dignity, cultivating positive and respectful relationships, and human rights protection.
