Two alumni honoured with NS Human Rights Awards
Angela Simmonds (JD’17) and Nicole Doria (BScHP’14, MA’17) are among the Nova Scotians honoured with 2017 Human Rights Awards, each receiving a Dr. Burnley Allan “Rocky” Jones Individual Award. Christine Hanson (BA’94, LLB/MPA’98), director and CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC), presented the awards while commemorating the commission’s 50th anniversary.
The NSHRC recognized recent Schulich School of Law graduate Simmonds for her work in helping African Nova Scotian communities obtain titles to the land their families have inhabited for generations. Doria, a two-time health promotion alumna of the Faculty of Health, was honoured for her efforts to promote the health of Indigenous peoples in the province.
Each year, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission recognizes Nova Scotians nominated by their peers for work in the field of human rights, social justice and advocacy. This year is particularly special, given it is the commission’s 50th anniversary – the organization was established in 1967. The theme of the 50th anniversary is “Learning from our past, building for our future.”
“We’ve come a long way since 1967, and we recognize that more progress is needed to ensure respect for human rights. This can only be realized in partnership with Nova Scotians,” said Christine Hanson, commission director and CEO. “We are fortunate to live in a province where we not only have human rights protections in law, but we also have passionate and engaged people like the individuals and organizations we honoured today.”
Angela Simmonds, Cherry Brook, Halifax Regional Municipality, recognized for her commitment to human rights by helping African Nova Scotian communities to obtain titles to their land.
Nicole Doria, Halifax, a recent graduate of Dalhousie University, honoured for her commitment to promoting human rights in support of the health of Indigenous peoples.
Read more in “2017 Human Rights Awards – Recipients” on humanrights.novascotia.ca.