Ena Chadha

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Ena Chadha, is an Indo-Canadian human rights lawyer, investigator, author and educator, known for her equality rights litigation and adjudication. [1] She was appointed as the interim Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on July 22, 2020. [2] Chadha was the 2019 recipient of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce's Female Professional of the Year Award. [3] She was a co-reviewer of allegations of racism within the Peel District School Board, the second largest public school board in Canada, in 2019. [4]

Contents

Biography

Ena Chadha was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to Canada at 2 years of age. She first lived in the Regent Park area of Toronto, Ontario, and later settled in Brampton, Ontario, where she attended elementary and high school, graduating from North Park Secondary School in 1986. Chadha has a journalism degree from Ryerson University, a law degree from University of Saskatchewan, and a Masters of Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. [5]

Family

Chadha's parents are Rajinder and Mohinder Chadha and she has a sister, Meena Chadha. After her mother's death, Chadha and her family established an entrance scholarship at the University of Saskatchewan for a first year female law student of indigenous background to honour her mother's legacy of community service and belief in supporting disadvantaged women. [6]

Career

Chadha was appointed as the interim Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission on July 22, 2020. [2] Her appointment came at a critical moment as the OHRC sought to address human rights issues emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, while initiating a Right to Read public inquiry [7] and a systemic racism inquiry into the Toronto Police Services. [8]

Highlights of Chadha's career include being the chair of the board of directors of the Human Rights Legal Support Center (2018-2020), [9] Director of Litigation of ARCH: Disability Law Centre (2000-2007) and her appointment as vice-chair at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (2007-2015), [10] where she was a mediator and adjudicator rendering important rulings in the areas of race discrimination and sexual harassment. [11] Chadha has been recognized by the Canadian Bar Association as a "Leader of Change" for her work in challenging institutionalized inequality and racial barriers.[ citation needed ]

Publications

Chadha has written extensively on the topic of human rights. Her articles have been published in the Supreme Court Law Review, National Journal of Constitutional Law and Journal of Law and Social Policy. She has contributed to equality rights books and co-wrote a chapter in a 2018 Oxford University Press treatise about international human rights law for women with disabilities and is a frequent public speaker promoting human rights. [12]

List of articles

Book chapters

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References

  1. ↑ Kirk Makin (February 7, 2005). "Disabled immigrant cases reach top court". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    - Owens, Anne-Marie (January 8, 2002). "Woman with MS challenges ban on immigration". The National Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "OHRC welcomes Interim Chief Commissioner". The Ontario Human Rights Commission. July 23, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ "ICCC Award Winners 2019". Weekly Voice. June 8, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kristin Rushowy (November 27, 2019). "Human rights lawyer, veteran public servant tapped to review troubled Peel school board". The Star. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    - Katherine DeClerq (November 27, 2019). "Deputy minister, human rights lawyer appointed to review racism allegations at Peel school board". CTV News. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ena Chadha, LL.B., LL.M.: About". Ena Chadha. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ Trefiak, Sarah (January 15, 2019). "New Award Celebrates a Mothers Legacy". University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ "OHRC launches Right to Read public inquiry". The Ontario Human Rights Commission. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Public inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police Service". The Ontario Human Rights Commission. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ Anita Balakrishnan (June 6, 2019). "Tribunal delays and privacy rules impacting clients with disabilities". Law Times News. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  10. ↑ "HRTO Annual Report 2008/2009" (PDF). Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
  11. ↑ Peter Edwards (March 22, 2011). "Aboriginal man subjected to racial profiling by Toronto cops". The Star. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
    - Brendan Kennedy (July 1, 2010). "Home Depot discriminated against Sikh man". The Star. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  12. ↑ "National AccessAbility Week 2019". Law Society Gazette. June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
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