Human Rights Commissioners Appointed

A distinguished Mi'kmaq educator is among three people reappointed as commissioners of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

The three-year appointments were announced today, Sept. 6, by Michael Baker, Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act.

Sister Dorothy Moore of Sydney will be serving her third term as a commissioner. She is joined by Lou Gannon of Dartmouth, who will also be serving his third term, and Lance Hale of Kentville, who is being appointed for a second time.

"I want to thank all of these appointees for allowing their names to stand in service of their province," said Mr. Baker.

Each appointee brings a unique background to their role as commissioner:

• Lou Gannon is executive director of the North Preston Recreational Centre. He was the first African Nova Scotian to become executive director of the Better Business Bureau of the Maritime Provinces. He served as executive director from 1996 until 2002. He was also the first African Canadian appointed CEO of a Canadian YMCA -- in March 1988 -- and was employed with the YMCA for 27 years. Mr. Gannon has earned numerous awards for his community involvement. He is a committee member of the Black Educators Association, the African Nova Scotian Music Awards, the Racism and the Black World Response Society, and the Advisory Committee of the African Canadian Employment Clinic.

• Lance Hale retired from the Nova Scotia public service in 1999, having served in senior positions in the Department of Development. From 1969 to 1974, he was a human rights officer with the commission. He holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Dalhousie University. Mr. Hale lives with his wife, Carol, in Kentville, in the Annapolis Valley.

• Sister Dorothy Moore was recently named to the Order of Canada in recognition of her contributions as an educator. She was an architect of the Department of Education's Mi'kmaq language curriculum and had a distinguished 22-year career as a teacher and principal. She was also a faculty member at Cape Breton University and worked with the Department of Education in Halifax. Sister Moore has also received the Order of Nova Scotia, the Stephen Hamilton Educator of the Year Award and the Atlantic Canada Innovator of the Year Award in the category of education.

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.