She brings over three decades of experience as a mediator, adjudicator, and arbitrator
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has announced the reappointment of Patricia DeGuire as chief commissioner.
DeGuire brings over three decades of experience as a mediator, adjudicator, and arbitrator in human rights and other areas of law. She was called to the bar in 1993 and was eventually appointed deputy judge with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Throughout her career, she served at the provincial and federal tribunals, including the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal. She also held senior leadership roles with JusticeNet, Legal Aid Ontario, the Ontario and Canadian Bar Associations, and the Women’s Law Association of Ontario.
DeGuire is a constitutional law scholar and holds a Fellow of Chartered Insurance Professionals of Canada. She has co-authored and co-edited the first Canadian Insurance Dictionary.
She has served as Chief Commissioner during the past two years, where she spearheaded several significant projects, including the Right to Read Report for students with reading disabilities. She has also developed an action plan to tackle anti-black racism in Ontario’s publicly funded school system and launched the Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards.
De Guire is a woman of colour who has played a leading role in many equity organizations related to racism, anti-Black racism, gender equality and equity, and the well-being of youth. She was recently honoured with a Toronto Metropolitan University Viola Desmond Award for her “outstanding achievement as a Black woman, a positive role model, and an advocate of Black or African-Canadian communities.” She has served in leading roles with the Black North Initiative and founded the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and the Black Law Student Association Canada.
De Guire was a frequent lecturer at the Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean Bars Association International Law Forum and with the Faculty of Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators.
DeGuire was appointed as chief commissioner in 2021. Her new term will commence on August 19.
