The Human Rights Commission is comprised of two components: the Commission itself, which consists of the Chairperson and several commission members, all appointed by Executive Council; and a Director and staff, who are civil servants and are responsible for the day to day operation of the Commission.

The Commission staff is responsible for outreach and education, as well as for the receipt, investigation and mediation of complaints of discrimination. It also prepares reports on complaints for presentation at Commission meetings, which are held several times per year.

The Commission itself does not conduct hearings into discrimination complaints, but only determines, with the recommendation of the staff, if a complaint should be dismissed, conciliated or recommended for a Board of Inquiry hearing. Board of Inquiry hearings are conducted by independent tribunals.

Members of the Human Rights Commission are appointed through an open merit-based competitive process. Vacancies are announced on this website and on the Agencies, Boards and Commissions website.

These are the members of the Human Rights Commission as of June 1, 2011:

Randy Dickinson, C.M., Chairperson

Randy Dickinson, C.M., was born and raised in Upper Woodstock, New Brunswick. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Political Science from Acadia University and successfully completed first year law school studies at the University of New Brunswick. However his on-going summer employment at Camp Rotary led to a permanent job offer from the Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled (now known as Easter Seals NB) in 1977.

In January of 1983, Mr. Dickinson was hired as the first Executive Director of the Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons. In 1990, he was asked to become the Executive Director of the Premier's Council on Health Strategy. When he completed that assignment, Mr. Dickinson briefly headed up the Canadian Paraplegic Association in New Brunswick before returning to the Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons in 1992. In November of 2009, he retired from the Premier's Council due to the progression of his physical disability.

As part of his job and volunteer activities, Mr. Dickinson has been involved with many committees, boards, and projects around such topics as employment equity, inclusive education, human rights, social housing, poverty, mental health issues, reducing violence against women, barrier-free access to public services and facilities, accessible transportation options, inclusive recreation, access to rehabilitation equipment and programs, and sustainable health care, amongst other social and economic issues.

Mr. Dickinson has been honoured for his professional and community activities with a number of awards including being appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999. He has also received two Paul Harris Fellowships from Rotary International, two National Citations from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, the Royal Jubilee Medal from Queen Elizabeth, the provincial New Brunswick Day Award of Merit, the Jack Sarney Award from the Easter Seals / March of Dimes National Council, and the Champion of Inclusion Award from the NB Association for Community Living in 2009 amongst others.

Mr. Dickinson is currently active with the New Brunswick Disability Awareness Week Committee and the New Brunswick Health Council. In May 2010, he was appointed as the Chairperson of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Dickinson and his wife Karen live in Fredericton. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

Patrick Barbour

Patrick Barbour, B.A., B. Ed., M. Ed., earned his masters of education in counselling in 1999, with an expertise in crisis counselling. He currently works as a Guidance Counsellor at Dalhousie Regional High School. Prior to this, he was a Methods & Resource teacher and in an Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority elementary classroom for the hearing impaired.

He has researched and made many presentations on the underlying causes of underachievement and its long-term impact on adolescents. His written comprehensive approach to counselling underachievers is now used in several provinces.

Mr. Barbour is the author of several one-act plays regarding bullying and harassment. He is also founder of the high school's ambassadors program, which is designed to establish relationships between youth and communities through volunteerism.

He resides in Dalhousie with his wife of 28 years, Theresa. He has two sons, Mark and Justin. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

Huberte Gautreau

Huberte Gautreau is a nurse and a graduate from the University of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she earned her masters degree in community health. She was hired by the World Health Organization and by CUSO to work abroad in the field of health care. She also was a professor at the nursing school at the University of Moncton, a project co-ordinator of education for international solidarity, and an advisor on sexual and sexist harassment.

Since her retirement Ms Gautreau has dedicated herself to the passing of legislation on pay equity for both the public and private sectors, and involved herself with Conscience Canada, an organization that seeks to have laws enacted to allow conscientious objectors to direct a portion of their taxes toward peace. In 2000 she co-chaired the committee of the World March of Women, from which emerged the Coalition for Pay Equity, which she has chaired twice. Active on the Coalition stil today, she seeks pay equity legislation that would apply to the private sector.

In 1995 Ms Gautreau received the New Brunswick Human Rights Award, and in 2004 she received a Governor General's Award in commemoration of the Persons Case. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

René Landry

René "Pepsi" Landry was born in Moncton on May 21, 1937, the son of Léonie LeBlanc and Wilfred Landry, into a family of 12. He attended the University of Ottawa where he received a certificate in Physical Education in 1962, and he graduated from the Université de Moncton in 1971 with a Bachelor of Commerce, Administration Major. He received a certificate in practicum counselling from Sir George Williams University in 1971, and in 1972 completed one year toward a Master of Education degree.

Mr. Landry worked for the City of Moncton as a Facilities Coordinator from 1981 to 1998. In this position he planned special events, scheduled recreational activities, and managed the Farmers' Market and the sportsplex multi-purpose playing field. He also worked for the Moncton Boys' and Girls' Club from 1963 to 1981.

Very active in the areas of youth and recreation, he has been a board member for both the Moncton Youth Residences and the Moncton Boys' and Girls' Club, has been on the Volunteer Awards Committee for the City of Moncton, has been a volunteer with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and was a founding member of the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus Booster Club. He has also been involved with the Pine Needle Golf and Country Club, the Recreation Society of Atlantic Canada, the Moncton Lions Minor Baseball Association, and the Greater Moncton Leisure Master Plan Committee.

Mr. Landry has often been recognized for his various accomplishments. He is the recipient of the Builder of Youth Award from the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Canada in 1991 and the Silver Keystone Award for outstanding service to youth in 1991. In 1992 he was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of Canada Commemorative Medal in recognition of significant contributions to his community and to Canada.

As a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2003, Mr. Landry was a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and the Select Committee on Health Care. In the 2004 municipal election, he was elected as a member of Moncton City Council. He was appointed member of the City of Moncton's Finance Committee, the Accessibility Committee, the Environment Committee and the Administration Committee; member of Codiac Transit and Lions Senior Citizens Centre boards; as well as Liaison Councillor to the Moncton Fire Department, and the 400th Anniversary Celebrations.

Mr. Landry resides in Moncton with his wife Jacqueline (Gagnon), a kindergarten teacher. He is the proud father of two grown sons, Michel and Marc. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

Karine Levesque

Karine Levesque, RSW, is a social worker employed by the Extra-Mural Program in Grand Falls since 2000. She was previously a social worker with the Community Mental Health Centre in Edmundston.

Ms. Levesque is the current president of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, her term expiring in June 2011. She is also a member and former President of the Madawaska Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the New Brunswick Division of the CMHA.

She is also a member of the community action network [“Réseau-action communautaire”] of the health and wellness in French society of New Brunswick [“Société Santé et Mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick“].

In 2010, Ms. Levesque received the Distinguished Service Award for New Brunswick given by the Canadian Association of Social Workers. In 2004, she was the Social Worker of the Year of her local chapter of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

Emil Olsen

Emil Olsen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on December 3, 1942. He immigrated to Canada with his mother, a war bride, along with his brother and sister, on the Queen Mary, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia in August 1946. His father, a member of the Canadian Army during the Second World War, met them in Fredericton, where they lived for a number of years before moving to McAdam in 1955.

Mr. Olsen graduated from the McAdam High School in 1961 and the New Brunswick Community College in Moncton in 1963 as a Mechanical Technologist. After a 41 year career in the petroleum industry he retired in December of 2004.

He was the Mayor of Quispamsis from 1983 to 1995. He left politics for a few years, then was elected to Council in Quispamsis in 2004 and re-elected as Deputy-Mayor in 2008.

Mr. Olsen moved to Quispamsis in 1974 and immediately became active in community affairs. His service record is lengthy, having served on numerous municipal, regional and provincial committees.

He is proud to have signed the original Regional Agreements in the Kennebecasis Valley for fire, police, ambulance and library services on behalf of the residents of Quispamsis. He continues to support and recognize the strengths of regional services.

Mr. Olsen was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of Canada Commemorative Medal in 1992, and is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

He and his wife Margot have been married 45 years, and have four children and eight grandchildren. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.

Eva Sock

Eva Sock, who is from the Elsipogtog First Nation, has extensive work experience in various jobs throughout her career.

She has been the Band Manager at Elsipogtog and was involved in the development of the community and the management of its affairs for over 30 years. Her employment with Elsipogtog Band Council was in inter-governmental relations and, more importantly, in community planning to assist the Elsipogtog community in attaining its own Master Plan for the future. She was also a Project Manager in the Integrated Primary Health Care Pilot Project for 4 years.

Ms. Sock has also worked with the First Nation governments in the Atlantic Region under the Department of Indian Affairs.

Currently she is the Executive Director of the Eastern Door Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Center, and is involved within the Community Health field as an advisor in the area of Primary Health Care.

Ms. Sock received her Social Work Degree from St. Thomas University and has been in the helping profession for over 30 years. She is actively involved with her community on a volunteer basis, and has a lot of knowledge and experience in community and individual crises. She loves to share the plight of her community, its aspirations as well as its dreams. Bio up-to-date as of March 31, 2011.