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Marilou McPhedran

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Marilou McPhedran is a Canadian lawyer, professor, progressive feminist, and human rights advocate. She is a member of the University of Winnipeg Global College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and was appointed for a 5 year renewable term as the Principal of the College from 2008-2012. In 2012, she exercised the right to return to the professor ranks, and to an appointment at the criminal justice department; she continues to coordinate courses for the Global College.[1][2] Despite her leadership, successors at the Global College have not been able to solidify formal partnerships with the Canadian Museum of Human Rights [3]. She is committed to community learning, teaching (for stipend) non-credit courses of general interest for senior citizens in the Professional Applied and Continuing Education (PACE) program at the University of Winnipeg.[4] [5]

In 1985, McPhedran was the youngest lawyer to be named a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her co-leadership of the Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Women on the Constitution. The Ad Hoc Committee was a grass roots movement for strengthening equality rights during the drafting of the Constitution of Canada. In 2001, McPhedran was named one of Canada’s 10 most influential women’s rights activists by Homemaker’s Magazine.[6]

Early life and education

McPhedran was born and raised in Neepawa, Manitoba, a small town in Western Manitoba best known as the birthplace of Margaret Laurence. She graduated with law degrees (a bachelors and professional masters) from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and downtown campuses and was called to the Bar of Ontario, Canada in 1978. She was granted an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Winnipeg in 1992.

Career

McPhedran promotes human rights through systemic reform in law, medicine, education and governance in Canada and internationally. She was one of the "founding mothers" of the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF),[7] which has conducted constitutional equality test cases and interventions for over 25 years; the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC); the “always open” Gerstein Crisis Centre for homeless discharged psychiatric patients in Toronto; and the International Women’s Rights Project, which is based on two of her intergenerational models: “evidence based advocacy” and “lived rights.” McPhedran is also affiliated with the Women, Peace and Security Network.

McPhedran was the Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and was the Ariel Sallows Chair in International Human Rights, University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2007.[8]

McPhedran has held positions as a part-time member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and as a consultant providing legal and strategic counsel on ethical conduct and systemic change to public and private sector clients. Between 2001 and 2003 McPhedran held the position of Co-Director and Co-Investigator for the Centres of Excellence for Health’s National Study of Rural, Remote and Northern Women in Canada.[9] In 2000, McPhedran was the Executive Coordinator of the National Network on Environments and Women’s Heath, based at York University, which facilitated a cyber research network (using computers) that linked women’s health and human rights.

In 2000, McPhedran was appointed by the Minister of Health for Ontario to chair the Special Task force on Sexual Abuse of Patients by the Health Professionals in order to review the impact of the Regulated Health Professionals Act, and its related codes and policies, in the response of health professionals to situations involving sexual abuse of patients by regulated health professionals in Ontario.[10] Between 1996 and 1997, McPhedran held the position of Strategic Counsel with the Friends of Women’s College Hospital.[11] From 1994 to 1996, McPhedran was Corporate Director of Health Partnerships and International Liaison at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, where she negotiated the College’s designation as a World Heath Organization Collaborating Centre in Women’s Health in the Pan American region. McPhedran has also held positions as the Corporate Director of Healthy City Toronto (1991–1994), Chair of the Independent Task Force on Sexual Abuse of Patients conducted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (1991–1992), and as the Health Advocate for the City of Toronto (1982–1984).

Between 1980 and 1982, McPhedran acted as legal counsel for the Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Women on the Constitution.[12] For her work with the Ad Hoc Committee, McPhedran was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1985.[13]

McPhedran has helped lead and organize a number of national and international conferences and summits, including Chairing the Forum on Women’s Activism in Constitutional Democratic Reform [14] held in the Parliament Buildings of Canada in 2006; Executive Coordinator of the Summit of Women Leaders of the Americas for Mental Health in Washington D.C. in 1996; and Co-Chair of the International Multidisciplinary Teaching to Promote Women’s Health Conference at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto in 1996.[15]

Course Directing

In addition to Directing an Institute at Global College, Marilou McPhedran also directs courses.[16] McPhedran recently directed a course on Human Trafficking at the Global College.[17] The course was taught by Gunilla Ekberg, a human rights lawyer who helped draft Sweden's 1999 prostitution legislation. The Swedish model, which criminalizes the buying of sex, is heralded by Conservative MP Joy Smith. [18] McPhedran "set up the course" and arranged for a number of guest speakers. [19].

Selected works

References

  1. ^ http://uniter.ca/view/global-college-changes-hands
  2. ^ http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/global-college/who-we-are/faculty-staff.html
  3. ^ https://humanrights.ca
  4. ^ http://pace.uwinnipegcourses.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/55%20Plus%20Brochure.pdf
  5. ^ http://pace.uwinnipegcourses.ca/55-plus-program
  6. ^ "2003 Recipients of the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case". Status of Women Canada. 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  7. ^ "Right to say 'No', Maternity Leave, Fair Pensions - LEAF marks 25th anniversary with Equality Day celebration". Canada Newswire. CNW Group Ltd. 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  8. ^ "Endowed Chairs". University of Saskatchewan. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  9. ^ "Rural, Remote and Northern Women's Health: Policy and Research Directions - Summary Report". Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  10. ^ Judy Steed (2011-04-08). "Less than zero tolerance on patient abuse". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  11. ^ Ian Merringer (2012-08-23). "Women's College Hospital to stop birthing babies". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  12. ^ Penney Kome (2001-02-06). "women's constitution conference". section15.ca. Nancy’s Very Own Foundation. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  13. ^ "Order of Canada, Marilou McPhedran, C.M., LL.B., LL.D." Governor General of Canada. 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  14. ^ "Canadian Forum on Women's Activism in Constitutional and Democratic Reform". Centre for Global Studies. 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  15. ^ "International Women'S Health Conference To Take Place In Toronto". PR Newswire Association LLC. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  16. ^ http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/global-college/docs/syllabus-hrgs2650-posted-11apr-14.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-course-at-u-of-w-takes-on-tough-questions-of-sex-trade-257773141.html
  18. ^ http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-course-at-u-of-w-takes-on-tough-questions-of-sex-trade-257773141.html
  19. ^ http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-course-at-u-of-w-takes-on-tough-questions-of-sex-trade-257773141.html

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