The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

Reduce temperature in national debate, Karen Mock (New Chair)

By

September 1, 2022

Reduce temperature in national debate, Karen Mock (New Chair)

By Andrew Cardozo

Karen Mock to Chair Pearson Centre

Says, time to reduce the temperature in our national debates

 September 1, 2022- Ottawa… The Board of Directors of the Pearson Centre is pleased to announce that Dr. Karen Mock, a nationally and internationally recognized expert in human rights, is the new Chair of the Pearson Centre.  Dr. Mock has dedicated her life to bringing people of different backgrounds and views together to create conversations among Canadians to increase mutual understanding and effect positive change.

“I am honoured to have been asked to lead this important think tank into it’s 2nd decade, as the Pearson Centre is focused on social and economic policy solutions to the many challenges facing Canadians today. With growing divisions and tensions in society, there is a great and urgent need to bring people together to dialogue and find common ground.  Lester B Pearson was about accommodating difference and enhancing dialogue, whether within Canada or internationally through the United Nations.  At this crucial time, with democracy and democratic institutions under threat, and political debates becoming increasingly heated, it is important we step up our efforts to find ways to reduce the temperature in our national debates,” said Dr. Mock.

“The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy was formed to bring people and ideas together, to deal with the pressing economic, social and political issues of the day. It is the only think tank that regularly invites reps from all five political parties in Parliament, and brings together business, labour, NGOs, experts and other concerned Canadians.  We are thrilled that Karen Mock, one of our founding members, with such a strong track record in community work, research and organizational development, has agreed to take the helm to take us into our second decade,” added Andrew Cardozo, the Centre’s founder and president.

Dr. Mock’s first official task as Chair will be to welcome participants to the Pearson’s Annual Awards Gala, to be held on September 13th in Toronto at the Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, (8th Floor) Toronto.  More info here.

 

For more information or to arrange an interview contact:

Andrew Cardozo, President  (613) 295-1260;  acardozo.art@gmail.com

Dr. Karen Mock, Chair (416) 433-0343;  karenrmock@outlook.com

See backgrounder below on the Pearson Centre and current Board Members)

 

Background on the

Pearson Centre and Board of Directors

Founded in 2013, the Pearson Centre is a progressive think tank “that brings people and ideas together”, to find bold solutions to Canada’s economic and social challenges including: the Economy for Tomorrow, the future of work, the caring agenda and combating hate and polarization. The executive and board members are noted below. For more info: www.thepearsoncentre.ca

Karen R. Mock, CM, Toronto, ON (Chair)

Dr. Karen Mock, a founding member of the Pearson Centre, is a human rights consultant, psychologist and teacher educator. She is former Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and of the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada. Among her many board and volunteer positions, Karen has served on the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Ontario Antiracism Multicultural Educators’ Network of Ontario and its Equity Summit Group, and was co-chair of the Canadian Arab Jewish Leadership Dialogue. She is immediate past president of JSpaceCanada.

Prior to devoting herself full time to human rights, Karen taught at the University of Toronto, Ryerson Polytechnical University and York University. Considered a pioneer in the field, she developed and taught the first course in Canada on multicultural teacher education.  She is published widely in the field, and has written courses and manuals for intercultural and race relations training, as well as practical strategies for implementing multiculturalism, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and for taking action against hate. Karen has been qualified by the Canadian courts and human rights tribunals as an expert on human rights, discrimination, racism, antisemitism and hate crime. She has  received several awards and honours for her work, most recently the Order of Canada and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal “for service to her peers, community and country”.

Celso Boscariol QC, Vancouver, BC (Vice Chair) has been actively involved in business, trade and economic affairs, practicing commercial law since graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1981. He was called to the Bar in Alberta in 1982 and British Columbia in 1985. He organized the unity flight from Western Canada to the Unity Rally during the 1995 Québec referendum and co-chaired the National Convention of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1996. Some of his most notable roles include serving as the President of the National Federation of Canadian-Italian Business and Professional Associations Inc., President of Vancouver’s Italian Cultural Centre Society  and as President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Canada – West. Currently, Celso is a Partner at Watson Goepel LLP.  He is a founding member of the Pearson Centre.

Carl Nicholson, Ottawa, ON (Secretary/Treasurer) has been executive Director for the Catholic Centre for Immigrants in Ottawa, Ontario for 28 years and retired from that position this summer.. He is active in immigration policy nationally, including refugee policy, foreign credential recognition, employment of immigrants and racialized Canadians, and is well regarded for his leadership by government leaders and stakeholders alike.  He has provided advice to the Pearson Centre on fundraising strategy before joining the board in 2020, including advice on the Pearson Foundation.

The other members of the Board are: Donald Arsenault, Fredericton; Hon. Herb Breau, Ottawa; Prof. Jonathan Calof, Ottawa; Francesca Iacurto, Ottawa; David Miller, Ottawa; Yasmin Shaker, Toronto; and Andrew Cardozo, Ottawa (President; ex officio).

www.thepearsoncentre.ca

Filed Under: Uncategorized