Appointments for Human Rights Commission Announced

A former mayor of Bridgewater has been named the new chair of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

Ernest Bolivar is one of six individuals recently appointed to three-year terms on the commission, Michael Baker, Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act, announced today, Aug. 10.

"Nova Scotia is fortunate that such dedicated people have agreed to take on this major responsibility," said Mr. Baker. "They come from varied backgrounds and regions, which means they will bring unique perspectives to the important work of the commission."

Mr. Bolivar succeeds former chair James Dewar.

Mr. Bolivar is the past president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Nova Scotia Association of Police Boards, past chair of the Bridgewater board of school commissioners and a past executive member of the Resource Recovery Fund board. He was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to community.

Five commissioners have also been appointed:

• Ron Dawson of Dartmouth was appointed for his second term. He previously served as a commissioner for a two-year term from 2001-03. He is a former regional director for the RCMP Public Complaints Commission in the RCMP's Prairie regional office. He was a regional director for the Department of Indian Affairs with responsibility for social development and then for the department's executive secretariat. He is a past deputy director for operations for the Alberta solicitor general.

• Prem Dhir is an author and retired teacher who lives in Truro. He is a past president of the Multicultural Association of Colchester County and the Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia. He remains an active member of the management committee for the annual Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival and currently serves as president of the Nova Scotia Community Links Association. He has received the Pettigrew Recreation Leadership Award from the Municipality of Colchester.

• Eunice Harker of Sydney served for a number of years as a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board and consulted on immigration and international labour issues. She was a member of the working group that developed the board's guidelines on gender-based persecution. These guidelines set a global precedent in women refugee protection. She has worked as program officer with Amnesty International and has a background in special education. She has been a researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, a grievance officer for the Research Council Employees Association, a private consultant on discrimination in the workplace, and a mediator in the province's restorative justice program.

• David Samson, of Louisdale, served as superintendent of schools in Richmond County for 20 years. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority. He is a former member of the board of governors of St. Francis Xavier University and the University College of Cape Breton. He began his educational career as a teacher at Isle Madame District High School in Arachat.

• Narayana Swamy of Bedford was first appointed to the commission for a three-year term in July 2002. He is a past president of the Indo Canadian Association of Nova Scotia and helped to found the annual Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival. He was a founding member of the federal government's Multicultural Business Advisory Committee. Mr. Swamy has operated his own businesses in Nova Scotia which included property management and accounting.

Commissioners of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission are responsible for policy and have the authority to approve settlements of complaints, discontinue matters, or refer them to a board of inquiry for an independent hearing. Commissioners are not appointed to represent particular groups but uphold all the protected characteristics set out in the Human Rights Act.

Staff of the commission investigate complaints of discrimination and promote settlement at all stages of the complaint process. Public outreach and training by staff complement the commission's mandate to promote equality for Nova Scotians.

"Nova Scotians can be assured that the human rights commission will continue to promote positive change and respect for difference," said Mr. Baker.