Penelope Simons named human rights chair at uOttawa Common Law Section

Penelope Simons, associate professor and vice-dean for research at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law’s Common Law Section, is the law school’s new Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Human Rights, in which role she will serve a three-year mandate.

In this position, her research will cover access to effective remedies for those impacted by resource extraction in Canada and will be benefited by her knowledge in the areas of resource extraction and human rights.

“Professor Simons is a distinguished scholar, mentor and communicator whose research agenda continues to advance the research clusters within the University of Ottawa’s Strategic Areas of Research,” said Adam Dodek, former law dean, in the news release.

Simons has taught courses on human rights, public international law and business organizations in the law school. As a long-term member of the University of Ottawa’s Human Rights Research and Education Centre, she has served as its interim director, as a member of its management committee and as academic advisor to its Human Rights Clinic’s Business and Human Rights in the Americas Project.

“The Common Law Section is exceptionally proud of her appointment as the Gordon Henderson Chair in Human Rights, and we look forward to supporting her ongoing research and advocacy on corporate accountability and access to justice for victims of corporate-related violations of human rights,” said Alain Roussy, interim dean.

Simons previously practised corporate and commercial law at McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Vancouver and worked on peace and disarmament-related matters in the nongovernmental sector. Admitted to the B.C. bar, she obtained her LLB from Dalhousie University and her LLM and PhD in international law from the University of Cambridge in the U.K.

The Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Human Rights, established in 1991 in honour of a long-time supporter and adviser of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre and a former chancellor of the university, features an endowment seeking to support the centre’s efforts in fulfillment of its mandate and in the field of human rights.

The Common Law Section has also congratulated the 2020-2021 winners of its seventh annual internal awards, created by its office of the vice-dean for research.

Excellence in Teaching Awards

• Lynda Collins — The Excellence in Teaching Award, English Common Law Program
• Jamie Benidickson — The Excellence in Teaching Award, English Common Law Program
• Anne Levesque — The Ian Kerr Award for Excellence in Teaching, French Common Law Program
• Samuel Singer — The Ian Kerr Award for Excellence in Teaching, English Common Law Program
• Danielle Lussier — The Part-Time Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Caroline Thibault — The Part-Time Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Suzie Dunn — The Part-Time Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Joshua Sealy-Harrington — The Part-Time Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Chidi Oguamanam and Jeremy de Beer — The Excellence in Graduate Supervision Award

Excellence in Research Awards

• Nathalie Chalifour — The Excellence in Research Award
• Yan Campagnolo — The Emerging Researcher Award
• Suzie Dunn — The Greenberg Prize for Feminist Research

Excellence in Service Awards

• John Packer — Public Engagement Awards: Public Education and Outreach
• Nathalie Chalifour — Public Engagement Awards: Media Relations
• Anne Levesque — The Community Service Award
• Karine Laframboise — The Outstanding Staff Service Award
• Jennifer Nadon — The Outstanding Staff Service Award
• Rachel Leck, Naomi Telfort, Jessica Simon, Chrystine Frank and Nathalie Gravelle — The Outstanding Staff Service Award
• Vanessa Gruben and Daphne Gilbert — The Nicole LaViolette Distinguished Service Faculty Award