Canadian Human Rights Champions: The Arduous Journey

Canadian Human Rights Champions recounts the inspiring stories of a select group of advocates who have fought to secure civil, social, and political rights for all Canadians. The book profiles thirty-eight remarkable individuals, delving into their motivations, the challenges they overcame, and the opportunities they seized, while underscoring the crucial importance of defending human rights. It reveals how these champions devoted themselves to an often arduous and challenging struggle, making lasting contributions to building a more just and equitable society in Canada.

Adopting a comprehensive approach, the book focuses on a “basket of rights” drawn from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, highlighting fundamental freedoms such as the right to association, expression, and equality protections against discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. It also explores the existing and evolving rights of Indigenous peoples in the context of treaties and international agreements, the Canadian Constitution, reconciliation, as well as the crucial emerging right to a clean environment.

In addition to honouring Canadian heroes, the anthology also highlights those who have championed human rights on the international stage. Canadian Human Rights Champions celebrates the next generation of young activists who are leaving their mark in shaping our collective future and providing hope in these challenging times.

Peter Andre Globensky is a former adjunct professor of political science at Lakehead University, a lecturer at the University of Winnipeg, a Laubach Literacy instructor, and a facilitator and consultant with Indigenous and non-profit organizations.

Beverly Anne Sabourin is a fellow and former vice-provost of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at Lakehead University, an Indigenous education counsellor at the University of Calgary and Confederation College, and director of the Access Program at Red River College.