Mary-Woo Sims
Encyclopedia
Mary-Woo Sims is a Canadian
politician and social justice
activist. Best known as a former chief commissioner of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission, Sims was also a candidate for the New Democratic Party
in the electoral district
of Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
in the 2006 federal election
.
Born in Hong Kong
, Sims first came to Canada as an exchange student
in 1970. She became a Canadian citizen in 1978.
A longtime community activist in Toronto
, Sims was associated with a significant number of government and non-profit human rights agencies and commissions, including the Ontario Human Rights Commission
's board of inquiry, the provincial pay equity tribunal, the Campaign for Equal Families and the Canadian Human Rights Commission
. An out
lesbian
, she won the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
’s “Honouring our Heroes” Award in 1993, as well as awards from Gay Asians of Toronto and the Chinese Canadian National Council
.
In 1997, Sims was named chief commissioner of the BC Human Rights Commission. Her tenure with the commission was controversial, most notably when the commission chose to defend a Jehovah's Witness who filed a complaint against an employer who forced him to help put up Christmas decorations in the office. In 2001, she was controversially fired from the position by Premier
Gordon Campbell a year before the end of her appointed term.
Sims is currently a partner in Ardent Consulting, a firm that does human rights mediation, adjudication and education work for corporate and government clients in Canada. She is also a board member of Vancouver Co-op Radio
, IAM Cares, the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund
and Canadians for Equal Marriage
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
activist. Best known as a former chief commissioner of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission, Sims was also a candidate for the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Consisting of the following parts of the Greater Vancouver Regional District:...
in the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
.
Born in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Sims first came to Canada as an exchange student
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
in 1970. She became a Canadian citizen in 1978.
A longtime community activist in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Sims was associated with a significant number of government and non-profit human rights agencies and commissions, including the Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in the Canadian province of Ontario on March 29, 1961 to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code...
's board of inquiry, the provincial pay equity tribunal, the Campaign for Equal Families and 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...
. An out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, she won the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto is a congregation of the worldwide Metropolitan Community Church movement located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is an welcoming congregation openly affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual and transgender people...
’s “Honouring our Heroes” Award in 1993, as well as awards from Gay Asians of Toronto and the Chinese Canadian National Council
Chinese Canadian National Council
The Chinese Canadian National Council , known in the Chinese-Canadian community as Equal Rights Council , is an organization whose purpose is to monitor racial discrimination against Chinese in Canada and to help young Chinese Canadians learn about their cultural history.The organization was...
.
In 1997, Sims was named chief commissioner of the BC Human Rights Commission. Her tenure with the commission was controversial, most notably when the commission chose to defend a Jehovah's Witness who filed a complaint against an employer who forced him to help put up Christmas decorations in the office. In 2001, she was controversially fired from the position by Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
Gordon Campbell a year before the end of her appointed term.
Sims is currently a partner in Ardent Consulting, a firm that does human rights mediation, adjudication and education work for corporate and government clients in Canada. She is also a board member of Vancouver Co-op Radio
CFRO-FM
CFRO-FM, licensed and owned by Vancouver Co-operative Radio, is a non-commercial community radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Coast Salish territory. It is a legally registered co-operative and is branded as Co-op Radio. They broadcast on 102.7 megahertz FM...
, IAM Cares, the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund
Women's Legal Education and Action Fund
Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, referred to by the acronym LEAF, is a Canadian legal organization that performs legal research and intervenes in appellate and Supreme Court of Canada cases on women's issues...
and Canadians for Equal Marriage
Canadians for Equal Marriage
Canadians for Equal Marriage is a Canadian public interest group representing Egale Canada, PFLAG Canada, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and the Canadian Association of...
.