Nova Scotia Human Rights Inquiry Awards Damages for Forced Retirement

An independent board of inquiry awarded Robert Theriault $64,515 for financial losses and damages resulting from his forced retirement from Conseil scolaire acadien provincial.

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial discriminated against Mr. Theriault when it forced him to retire in 2005. When considering losses suffered, board chair Don Murray accepted that Mr. Theriault felt betrayed, bitter, disillusioned, upset and frustrated by his forced retirement.

"This decision recognizes the impact that a discriminatory act -- whether on the basis of race, sex, or age or any protected characteristic -- can have on an individual's sense of self-worth," said Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission CEO Krista Daley. "It is gratifying to see that the board chair found that age discrimination is no different than any other discrimination.

"Whenever a person is affected by decisions that are based on irrelevant personal characteristics there is harm done."

Boards of inquiry are the final stage in the human rights complaint process.