THE TEAM

Noa Mendelsohn Aviv joined the CCLA in 2002 and has directed both CCLA’s Equality and Freedom of Expression programs, writing, appearing and advocating on such issues as refugee protection, 2SLGBTQI+ rights, racial profiling, reproductive justice, freedom of expression, religion, and the intersection of rights. Noa has stewarded litigation for the organization, including CCLA’s Bill 21, abortion access, and solitary confinement challenges, and dozens of interventions in courts across the country. She has appeared before Parliamentary and provincial legislative committees and other public bodies. Noa has also initiated creative advocacy projects to support, engage and empower marginalized communities, and provided guest lectures and workshops through CCLET’s public education project. She frequently engages the public through opinion pieces, blogs, and commentary in the media.

Noa obtained her LL.B. and LL.M. (cum laude) from the Hebrew University in Israel, and her B.A. (with distinction) from York University. She completed her legal articles at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, and was called to the Israeli Bar in 1998. Noa has also practiced litigation, labour, and commercial law in Jerusalem, and served as Acting Administrative Director of Hebrew University Law Faculty’s Center for Human Rights.

Akwasi Owusu-Bempah BA (Carleton) MA, PhD (Toronto) is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto and a Senior Fellow at Massey College. His work examines the intersections of race, crime and criminal justice, with a particular focus in the area of policing. Prof. Owusu-Bempah began his academic career in the United States at Indiana University, Bloomington. Prior to becoming a professor, he held positions with Canada’s National Judicial Institute, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Prof Owusu-Bempah is frequently sought out to provide commentary and advice to police agencies, government bodies, community organizations, and media outlets on matters relating to policing, justice and social inequality. He also publishes regularly in both academic and popular forums. He is the author (with Prof. Shaun Gabbidon) of Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice: An International Dilemma.

“I strive to advance equality and access to justice for marginalized communities across Canada who seek to use law, policy, and advocacy as a tools for social justice and addressing systemic inequalities.”

Harini Sivalingam is Director of the Equality Program at the CCLA. She oversees and executes advocacy strategies to marginalized individuals and groups whose right to full equality has not been realized.  Her work at CCLA includes monitoring significant equality issues and egregious violations across Canada, strategizing on litigation interventions, public outreach and education, and engagement with policymakers of issues concerning equality.

Harini was called to the Ontario bar in 2006.  She has political science undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and law degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School (LLB) and McGill University (LLM). She is in the process of completing a PhD in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, pursing research on the lived experiences of maritime forced migrants as they navigate legal and non-legal governance over borders and mobilities.

Harini is also an adjunct instructor in the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law at Queen’s University teaching courses on the Foundations of Canadian Immigration Law and Refugee Protection Law.

Harini has advocated for low-income communities as a law student and lawyer working in community legal aid clinics focusing on advancing access to justice in the area of worker’s rights, tenant’s rights, advocating for social assistance and ODSP recipients, and newcomer and refugee communities.

For over two decades Harini has been involved in anti-racism activism and community organizing on domestic and international human rights issues. She was an intern at the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva, monitoring and reporting on various United Nations human rights bodies. Harini has also served on the Board of Directors for Lawyer’s Rights Watch Canada.

“I believe that upholding the rights of persons suspected, charged, or convicted of criminal offences is fundamental to our societal commitment to civil liberties.”

Shakir Rahim is the Director of the Criminal Justice Program at the CCLA. He oversees and executes advocacy strategies to protect and develop Charter rights in criminal law, hold police accountable, and defend prisoners’ rights. His work includes strategic litigation management, public outreach and education, and engagement with policymakers in a range of fora. Most recently, Shakir played a key role in the civil society response to Bill C-48 (bail reform).

Prior to joining the CCLA, Shakir practiced criminal law at Presser Barristers and Kastner Lam LLP at both the trial and appellate level. He also acted on significant public interest matters. Outside of court, he co-led the campaign to establish the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations, advised public interest coalitions on advocacy strategy, and regularly provided media commentary on criminal justice and human rights matters.

Shakir is a member of the board of the HIV Legal Network. He received his J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he graduated with distinctions in criminal law, legal ethics, and community service.

Anaïs Bussières McNicoll is Director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program and Interim Director of the Privacy, Technology and Surveillance Program at the CCLA. She is responsible for developing and implementing the advocacy strategies for these programs, in addition to monitoring significant issues and developments with respect to, inter alia, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, protest rights, democratic rights and government accountability.

Anaïs was called to the Quebec bar in 2015 after completing her law degree at the University of Montreal (L.L.B.). She then completed a 2-year long clerkship at the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Prior to joining the CCLA, Anaïs was a partner at a national law firm where she practiced litigation. Her work focused on public and constitutional law, as well as civil law. She was particularly solicited to contribute in complex cases at the appeal stage, including before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Growing up in northern Quebec, with Indigenous and French roots, has given me a greater understanding of the issues surrounding Indigenous and language rights in Canada. Being part of the CCLA team, and the mission to stand up for human rights, aligns with my values. The work that is being done makes me hopeful that we can address and bring awareness to these ongoing issues.

Randi has over 10 years experience in Corporate Finance where she worked in the Food and Beverage Industry for companies such as Kraft Foods and Starbucks Coffee Canada. Randi made the transition to the not-for-profit sector 15 years ago, where she has been using her skills in Finance to support children’s causes, with organizations like Children’s Miracle Network and Jays Care Foundation. More recently, Randi was the Finance Manager with Camp Quality Canada. In her personal time, she enjoys volunteering and giving back to her community.

Nat Paul comes to the CCLET and CCLA with a theoretical background informed by critical pedagogy, a deep commitment to emancipatory education and over a decade supporting Ontario teachers engaging with the law in their classrooms. As Director of Education, Nat oversees rights-focused programming in school and community settings and joins his colleagues in presenting to a variety of audiences to build a sense of ownership and agency with respect to the justice system and the rights and freedoms of people in Canada. Firm in the belief that eventually, teachers will change the world, Nat is grateful for the chance to do good work with outstanding colleagues and audiences.

Erica Petkov is the National Education Project Manager at the CCLA/CCLET. Together with the CCLET team, Erica oversees rights-focused educational programming in school and community settings.  She is a strong believer in the importance of civic education for building a healthy and resilient democracy.

Erica has over a decade of experience in pedagogical training, classroom instruction, curriculum design, and research in democracy and human rights. Prior to joining the CCLA, Erica was a Research Associate at the Samara Centre for Democracy and a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.  She was also a policy and research analyst across various ministries in the Ontario Public Service, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Cabinet Office.

Erica completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Toronto with a focus on youth political participation and civic engagement.  She also holds a Master’s degree in International Studies (with a concentration in human rights) from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto.  She is grateful for the opportunity to work with the CCLA/CCLET team to expand access to rights-focused educational programming across Canada.

At CCLET Megumi delivers civil liberties programming and works together with the CCLET team to manage rights-based educational outreach in schools and communities.

Megumi has over a decade of experience both as an educator, and in working to support human rights. Prior to joining the CCLET, Megumi headed public policy and research at Habitat for Humanity in Hong Kong, SAR, where she developed and implemented public policy strategies to promote a rights-based approach to housing. Previously, she worked for the U.S. State Department in Beijing, China, tracking the progress and impact of human rights projects across the country and reporting on civil society activity.

Megumi has taught at both high school and community college levels in the US and Asia. Megumi holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an undergraduate degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts, USA. Megumi was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, by immigrant parents. She holds dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship.

Rosemary Oliver has led growing fundraising and donor engagement programs for non-governmental organizations for more than 30 years, serving as fundraising director with both Greenpeace (1992-99) and with Amnesty International (1999-2022). Rosemary has also raised funds for Oxfam and Central Hospital in Toronto. Rosemary has been a frequent speaker at national and international fundraising conferences in Canada, the US and Europe for more than 25 years. Rosemary joined CCLA as our Advancement Director in October 2022.

“I’m excited to be joining CCLA at this time. Fundamental rights and civil liberties are under attack all over the world and also here at home in Canada. I’m proud to be able to join the principled and hard-working team at CCLA in fighting for the rights and freedoms of all people in Canada.”

“I have lived my entire life as a sufferer of mental illness, and I have seen first-hand the prejudice and systemic issues that sufferers can face. As I find myself in a fortunate position, I want to do my part to improve the lives of others facing these challenges. The work done at the CCLA to stand up for their rights is just one reason I am so excited and proud to work here.”

A graduate of the University of Toronto and later McMaster University, Michael brings over five years of fundraising experience into his role at the CCLA. He has been lucky enough to work in organizations that promote various great causes ranging from cancer support to international development and animal welfare during his career.

I am a passionate and goal oriented professional and proudly identify as a South Asian woman. As an outspoken feminist and equalist, I strongly support the CCLA’s and am particularly passionate about equality and fundamental freedoms.

With over seven years of experience working in non-profit, Aliya has extensive experience working with women’s organizations including Girls 20 Summit, Plan International Canada, and the Spark of Hope Foundation.

In 2013, Aliya received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa in International Development & Globalization and Women’s Studies, with specialization in Feminist Theories; Women, Gender and Development, Feminism, and Justice and the Law.

For the past two decades, I have been working in the area of equity, diversity and human rights for government and non-profits.  When I started working in this field, I had come to realize there were so many more issues than I realized in human rights even though my main role was administrative support and project coordination.

More recently, I was the Office Manager/Executive Assistant for Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) who advocate for rights in housing. Prior to this I had worked for Egale Canada Human Rights Trust as well as the City of Toronto’s – Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Division. During my time with the city, I had great experiences as the Program Coordinator for Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards, Grant Administrator for the Access, Equity and Human Rights Grants Program and Project Coordinator for the Profession-to-Profession Mentoring Program (in partnership with TRIEC).

All these programs gave me invaluable insights in connecting with people and organizations working in human rights. Colleen has a business administration diploma from CDI, project management from Centennial College and accounting certification from Simply Accounting.