Louise Arbour welcomes staff, students at namesake school on official opening
day

Human rights advocate to greet students on red carpet

TORONTO, Sept. 2 /CNW/ - On Sept. 7, students arriving at Louise Arbour Secondary School for the very first time will be greeted on the red carpet, by school staff and their school's namesake—Louise Arbour. Students will begin to arrive at the school at 10:30 a.m.

"Louise Arbour is a passionate and dedicated human rights advocate who has worked to improve the human condition around the world," says Linda Galen, principal at Louise Arbour. "Her philosophy and commitment will be reflected in the school's focus on social justice and in the encouragement of activities to help those in need around the world, and around the corner."

The Peel District School Board's newest secondary school is the first in the world to be named for leading Canadian human rights advocate Louise Arbour.

"I am very honoured, and frankly a bit overwhelmed, to have this splendid new school named after me," says Arbour. "Whatever distant corner of the world my work takes me to, I hope to maintain a close relationship with the staff and students of LASS."

Arbour will tour the building throughout the morning and will speak to the students and staff at an assembly in the gymnasium at 1 p.m. Director of Education Tony Pontes and Trustee Suzanne Nurse will also be on hand to address the assembly.

Arbour is currently President & CEO of the International Crisis Group, an independent non-governmental organization committed to the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict worldwide. Previously she served as United Nations high commissioner for human rights from 2004 to 2008. Arbour, a Canadian national, began her academic career in 1974. In 1987, she was nominated associate professor and associate dean at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Toronto. In Dec.1987, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario (High Court of Justice) and in 1990 she was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In 1995, Arbour was appointed commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the Prison for Women in Kingston. 

In 1996, she was appointed by the Security Council of the United Nations as chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. In 1999, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. 

Arbour graduated from College Regina Assumpta, Montreal in 1967 and completed an LL.L (with distinction) from the Faculty of Law, University of Montreal in 1970. Following the Quebec Bar Admission Course, she was called to the Quebec Bar in 1971 and the Ontario Bar in 1977. Arbour has received honorary doctorates from 37 universities—the most of any Canadians, and has received numerous medals and awards including the Ordre national du Québec (Grande Officière), the Colombian Order of National Merit and the Central European University Open Society Prize. In February 2010 she was also named Commander of the French Legion of Honour.

The Peel board serves more than 150,000 students in kindergarten to grade 12. Operating 233 schools in the municipalities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga, the Peel board is the largest employer in Peel. The board's annual budget is $1.3 billion. For more information, visit the board's website, www.peelschools.org.

Louise Arbour is located at 365 Father Tobin Road in Brampton.

Note to media:

Media are invited to join Louise Arbour as she visits the school. Louise Arbour and staff will greet students as they arrive to school at 10:30 a.m. Once students have settled into their classes, Arbour will tour the new school facilities and then eat lunch with staff at noon. At 1 p.m. Arbour will speak to staff and students.

The Start of the Year backgrounder can be found at www.peelschools.org

For further information:

Media contacts:  Linda Galen, Principal, Louise Arbour Secondary School, 905-793-5451, [email protected]  

Reference: Scott LaMantia, Acting School Communications Specialist, Peel District School Board,
905-890-1010, ext. 2098, [email protected]