New chair appointed to New Brunswick Human Rights Commission

Release

New Brunswick Human Rights Commission

September 24, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Amber Chisholm has been appointed chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission for a three-year term that began Aug. 19.

Chisholm worked as a lawyer with a private firm until 2018, then joined the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, where she currently serves as associate director. She has worked to ensure access to justice rights for vulnerable groups in New Brunswick and provided support to marginalized people and communities in the areas of family law, tenant rights, access to justice in both official languages, sexual harassment in the workplace, and the rights of LGBTQ2IA+ people.

“Human rights are an essential pillar of society, and they have pressing relevance in our present historical moment,” said Chisholm. “The commission has a rich legacy of protecting and promoting human rights in New Brunswick, and, in my role as chair, I will strive to advance its mandate to ensure that the protections of the Human Rights Act are upheld, and all persons are treated with dignity, equality, inclusion and respect in our province.”

Chisholm replaces Phylomène Zangio, who became a member of the commission in 2022 and served as chair since 2023.

“Serving as chair of the Human Rights Commission has been an honour that I have carried with deep gratitude,” said Zangio. “Even in times of polarization and setbacks, the light of human rights never dims; it shines brighter with every choice we make in favour of equality, dignity and solidarity.”