Statement made on 06 October 2011 by Senator George Furey
Hon. George J. Furey:
Honourable senators, I rise here today to pay tribute to our Speaker, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella.
On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to human rights, education and civic duty, our Speaker was conferred with an honorary doctorate in literature by his alma mater, University College Dublin. While this was the third such honour bestowed upon our Speaker, following honorary doctorates from St. Thomas University, Fredericton, and the Dominican University College, Ottawa, receiving such recognition from one's alma mater has special significance.
Upon graduating from high school in New Brunswick, Noël Kinsella travelled to Europe and found himself in his ancestral land of Ireland. In Dublin, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program in University College Dublin and from there continued his education at St. Thomas Aquinas University and the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, obtaining doctorates in philosophy and psychology. Returning to his home province of New Brunswick, he joined the faculty of St. Thomas University, establishing programs in psychology, sociology and human rights. Indeed, the Speaker continues as a member of St. Thomas' board of governors.
Taking his inspiration from another great Canadian human rights figure in the shape of his fellow New Brunswicker John Peters Humphrey, the Speaker has been a consistent and determined advocate of human rights throughout his career. For example, he served as Chairman of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission for over 22 years; he was the President of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation; and he played an instrumental role in the drafting of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Speaker's influence is also recognized internationally through such cases as Malcom Ross and Lovelace v. Canada at the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Speaker Kinsella has been a lifetime advocate of human rights.
Honourable senators, please join me today in recognizing yet another tremendous achievement of our Speaker, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!