05 Nov ACDE members meet with Senator David Arnot

November 5, 2024 | ACDE members meet with Senator David Arnot.

ACDE’s annual meeting, which brings together deans, directors, and chairs of Canadian university-based faculties, schools, colleges, and departments of education, creates opportunities for ACDE members to connect with organizations and leaders who are concerned with education.

During last month’s annual meeting in Ottawa, members were honoured to meet with Senator David Arnot, a member of the Independent Senators Group in Canada’s Senate. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Senator Arnot served as Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, the federal Treaty Commissioner for the Province of Saskatchewan, a provincial court judge, a Crown prosecutor, and as Director General of Aboriginal Justice in the Department of Justice Canada.

Discussion points among ACDE members and Senator Arnot included Canadians’ ongoing commitments to truth and reconciliation and treaty obligations with Indigenous peoples.

A growing area of interest for ACDE members is citizenship education and the rights and responsibilities of all Canadians to create and sustain a respectful, inclusive and just society. Senator Arnot spoke in detail about his work with Concentus, which has created a set of citizenship education competencies and related teacher resources, all freely available on the Concentus website.

Senator Arnot also spoke about his work in support of Bill C-40, which among other actions will establish an independent body to be called the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission.

ACDE is grateful to Senator Arnot for generously sharing his time and energy with us.