News Release

For Immediate Release
April 18, 2005

Ottawa Lawyer Michael Gottheil Brings Extensive Experience

TORONTO — A prominent Ottawa lawyer, Michael Gottheil, has been appointed chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.

"Michael Gottheil's extensive experience in the field of human rights makes him the ideal person to lead the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario," said Bryant. "His understanding of and work on behalf of the disadvantaged are a testament to his commitment to seek justice for all Ontarians."

Gottheil graduated from Osgoode Hall law school in 1985. He co-founded the law firm of Engelmann Gottheil in 1991, which focuses primarily on the fields of labour relations, human rights and employment law. He has also been counsel for the United Steelworkers of America, a professor of law at Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa, and vice-president of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers.

Gottheil has been actively engaged in professional and volunteer activities focused on improving the lives of the visually impaired. He is currently a member of the Canadian Association of Visually Impaired Lawyers and serves as the vice-chair and director of the Ontario division board of directors for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario is an independent, quasi-judicial body, which hears and decides complaints under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

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