Presenter – Barbara Hall

Barbara Hall has more than 40 years of experience as a community worker, lawyer and municipal politician. She served three terms as a Toronto city councillor from 1985 on and as Toronto’s mayor from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 to 2002 she headed the Canadian government’s National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention.

She was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Province of Ontario’s Human Rights Commission in 2005. She is currently President of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), a network that brings together Canada’s territorial, provincial and federal human rights agencies to protect, promote and advance human rights across the country.

Ms. Hall has also practised criminal and family law, been a member of the Province of Ontario Health Ministry’s Health Results Team, and lectured nationally and internationally on urban and social issues. She has extensive experience on non-profit boards and committees, and has a strong record of bringing diverse groups together to build safe and strong communities.