CCLA Announces New Executive Director

TORONTO – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust (CCLET) today announced the appointment of Howard Sapers as their new Executive Director. Sapers, former Correctional Investigator of Canada, brings extensive experience in both the public and not-for-profit sectors and has made it his life’s work to defend basic freedoms and rights in Canada.

“This is a critical time for the defense of rights and freedoms in Canada ,” said Dr. Simron Singh, Chair of CCLA’s Board of Directors. “The moment requires strong leadership and we are thrilled to announce Howard Sapers will be leading the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Howard has the experience, knowledge and passion to hit the ground running.”

Prior to joining CCLA/CCLET, Sapers served as the Correctional Investigator of Canada for more than a decade, conducting independent, comprehensive investigations and analyses, delivering recommendations and championing significant policy and operational changes within the federal prison system.  He has taught Criminology courses at the University of Ottawa and is an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University. He served as the Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Alberta, an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Director of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Centre Investment Fund and Vice Chairperson (Prairie Region) of Parole Board Canada. Sapers currently holds governance positions on the boards of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the CanFASD Research Network, and the Canadian Juries Commission.

Sapers has received numerous awards and accreditations for his contributions, including a Canadian Criminal Justice Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sapers inherits a talented team who work to educate Canadians about their rights and have filed legal challenges across the country to defend their civil liberties.

“You don’t need to look very far to see the curtailment of rights and liberties,” said Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the CCLA/CCLET. “This is happening all around us. We see Canadian governments increasingly using of the notwithstanding clause, attacking the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ community, and cities enacting overbroad restrictions on peaceful protests. These are threats to the rights and freedoms that people should enjoy in a healthy democracy.”

CCLA is Canada’s oldest national civil liberties organization. “I’m proud to lead an organization with a history of standing up and speaking up. The CCLA is a mission-driven organization that will always work to hold the powerful to account”, said Sapers.