MILLER THOMSON LAWYER JOINS WORLD DIGNITARIES ON INAUGURAL BOARD OF GLOBAL
CENTRE FOR PLURALISM

Iain Benson joins His Highness the Aga Khan, The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, Kofi Annan and others on board of prestigious international research and education centre

TORONTO, Dec. 3 /CNW/ - Iain Benson, Senior Associate Counsel in the Litigation Practice Group at Miller Thomson LLP, has been appointed to the inaugural Board of Directors of the Global Centre for Pluralism, Canada's new international research and education centre dedicated to the study and practice of tolerance, openness and diversity.

The Global Centre for Pluralism is an international initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, and was established jointly with the Government of Canada. Chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Board consists of leaders from around the world who have been selected for their diverse experiences and backgrounds. Board members include The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada; Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations; and Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Head of the Social Welfare Department with the Aga Khan Development Network.

"Iain's appointment to the board of the Global Centre for Pluralism recognizes his immense contribution to resolving issues involving secularism and pluralism around the world," said Gerald Courage, Chair, Miller Thomson. "As an internationally-respected authority on issues relating to human rights, pluralism, secularism, and constitutional law, Iain brings a wealth of global experience to this prestigious role."

The Global Centre for Pluralism was created to help societies around the world embrace pluralism as a way to avoid costly conflict and as a means to harness the power of diversity in solving human problems. It is hoped that the Centre will become a vital force for research, learning, dialogue and education in the field.

Iain Benson is a Senior Associate Counsel in the Litigation Practice Group at Miller Thomson, practicing in the areas of administrative, judicial review (labour and human rights), and constitutional law with a focus on advice in the area of rights and freedoms.

Benson has appeared before all levels of Court in Canada including the Supreme Court of Canada in cases involving human rights and constitutional law and has been a witness before a wide variety of Professional Organizations, Commissions and Parliamentary committees.

His writing on the nature of the "secular" and "secularism" has been cited with approval by the Supreme Court of Canada and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Benson, who also serves as Professor of Law at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, is one of eight members of a Continuation Committee to create the South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms.

About Miller Thomson

Miller Thomson LLP is one of Canada's most respected national business law firms with more than 450 lawyers working from nine offices across Canada. The firm offers a complete range of business law, advocacy and personal legal services, working regularly with in-house legal departments and external counsel world-wide to facilitate cross-border and multinational transactions and business needs. Miller Thomson offices are located in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Toronto, Markham, and Montréal. For more information please visit www.millerthomson.com

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