1999 - 2000: Louise Arbour

The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Arbour

The second annual University of Alberta Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights was delivered by The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Arbour on Thursday, March 9, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at the Winspear Centre.

About The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Arbour

Madam Justice Louise Arbour, B.A., LL.L. was born in Montréal, Québec on February 10, 1947. She is the daughter of Bernard Arbour (deceased) and Rose Ravary. Justice Arbour has three children: Emilie, Patrick and Catherine Taman.

Madam Justice Arbour was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada effective September 15, 1999. For over two-and-a-half years prior to this appointment the Security Council of the United Nations appointed her as Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda. She served in this position from 1996 through to June 1999.

Madam Justice Arbour has served on the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Ontario. Prior to this, Madam Justice Arbour taught at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, first as a Lecturer (1974), then as an Assistant Professor (1975), then as Associate Professor (1977 to 1987) and then as Associate Professor and Associate Dean (1987).

In April 1995, Madam Justice Arbour was appointed as a single Commissioner by the Order-in-Council to conduct an inquiry into events at the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario.

Education and Degrees:

1967 B.A. Collège Regina Assumpta, Montréal, Québec
1970 LL.L Faculté de Droit, Université de Montréal (mention: Distinction)
1970-1971 Québec Bar Admission Course
1971 Called to the Québec Bar
1977 Called to the Ontario Bar