Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré
Encyclopedia
Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, (born March 10, 1942) is the first appointed black judge in the history of Quebec
. She also holds the distinction of being the first black dean of a law school (the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
) in Canada’s history.
Westmoreland-Traoré, was born in Verdun, now part of Montreal
, Quebec
, in 1942, the daughter of immigrants from Guyana
. She studied at Marianopolis College
, and subsequently obtatined a law degree from the Université de Montréal
(1966) and a doctorate from the University of Paris
. She was called to the Quebec Bar in 1969, and began practising law in 1970 with the law firm of Mergler, Melançon. She has also been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1997.
During the 1970s, Westmoreland-Traoré taught at the Université de Montréal
, and from 1976 to 1991 at the Université du Québec à Montréal
.
Westmoreland-Traoré was a member of the Office de protection des consommateurs du Québec from 1979 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985, she was a Commissioner for the Canadian Human Rights Commission
. In 1985, she became the first chair of Quebec's Conseil des communautés culturelles et de l’immigration. From 1991 to 1995, she was Employment Equity Commissioner of Ontario. From 1996 to 1999 she was the dean of the University of Windsor
's law faculty. She was appointed a Judge of the Court of Quebec for the District of Montreal in 1999.
In 1991, she was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec
.
Westmoreland-Traoré has received other awards, including from Canadian Jewish Congress
, the Montreal Association of Black Business Persons and Professionals, and the Canadian Bar Association
.
In 2008, she was awarded the Quebec Human Rights Commission's Rights and Liberties Prize for her career-long fight against discrimination.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. She also holds the distinction of being the first black dean of a law school (the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
University of Windsor Faculty of Law
The University of Windsor Faculty of Law, located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was opened in 1969, and places particular focus on trans-border legal issues, and access to justice....
) in Canada’s history.
Westmoreland-Traoré, was born in Verdun, now part of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, in 1942, the daughter of immigrants from Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. She studied at Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College is a private, subsidized CEGEP in Montreal nestled against the side of Mount Royal in Westmount, Quebec, Canada. It is one of the smallest anglophone colleges, with a student body of fewer than 2,000...
, and subsequently obtatined a law degree from the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
(1966) and a doctorate from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. She was called to the Quebec Bar in 1969, and began practising law in 1970 with the law firm of Mergler, Melançon. She has also been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1997.
During the 1970s, Westmoreland-Traoré taught at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, and from 1976 to 1991 at the Université du Québec à Montréal
Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Basic facts:The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec , a public university system with other branches in Gatineau , Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and...
.
Westmoreland-Traoré was a member of the Office de protection des consommateurs du Québec from 1979 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985, she was a Commissioner for the Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial body that was established in 1977 by the government of Canada. It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal...
. In 1985, she became the first chair of Quebec's Conseil des communautés culturelles et de l’immigration. From 1991 to 1995, she was Employment Equity Commissioner of Ontario. From 1996 to 1999 she was the dean of the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
's law faculty. She was appointed a Judge of the Court of Quebec for the District of Montreal in 1999.
In 1991, she was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
Westmoreland-Traoré has received other awards, including from Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
, the Montreal Association of Black Business Persons and Professionals, and the Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
The Canadian Bar Association represents over 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada.-History:The Association's first Annual Meeting was held in Montreal in 1896. However, the CBA has been in continuous existence in its present form since 1914...
.
In 2008, she was awarded the Quebec Human Rights Commission's Rights and Liberties Prize for her career-long fight against discrimination.