On September 23, we had the pleasure of celebrating with our members, colleagues, friends, and partners the beginning of an exciting new chapter at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC). We were touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement!
Our new Director, Professor Penelope Simons and Associate Director Viviana Fernandez warmly welcomed our guests and introduced three researchers who have recently joined the Centre:
- Professor Anne Levesque, holder of the Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Human Rights (2025–2028), whose ambitious research program will strengthen our commitment to justice and equity by rethinking the Canadian human rights system in light of 21st-century challenges.
- Professor Mary Helen McSweeney, Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice, who brings a rich comparative and cross-border perspective through her research on the impact of medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation on primary care providers in Canada.
- Ratana Ly, Gordon F. Henderson Postdoctoral Fellow (2025–2026), whose work on Canadian mining companies in Southeast Asia will shed new light on Canada’s foreign policy regarding sustainable development, human rights, labour rights, and the environment.
We also expressed our sincere thanks to Professor John Packer for his two terms as Director of HRREC. Under his leadership, the Centre expanded its reach, strengthened its impact, and addressed urgent human rights challenges both locally and internationally.
Finally, we are grateful to Martine Lagacé, Associate Vice-President, Research Promotion and Development (OVPRI), and Dean Kristen Boon (Common Law Section), who also represented Dean Sophie Thériault (Civil Law Section), for their steadfast support of the Centre and its initiatives.