The Barbra Schlifer Clinic announces the departure of its Executive Director
Toronto, February 13, 2019 – The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic Board of Directors regrets to announce that it has received the resignation of the Clinic’s executive director, Amanda Dale, who will be stepping down from her position at the helm of the organization on April 4, 2019. Amanda is leaving Toronto and moving to the National Capital Region to be with family, and to focus on her Post Doctoral Fellowship titled “Forging a Just Equality: The Canadian Charter in Dialogue with Intersectionality,” at York University’s Osgoode Law School.
The Board has appointed Deepa Mattoo Interim Executive Director during the search for Amanda’s replacement.
Since joining the Clinic in 2010, Ms. Dale has propelled the Clinic to the forefront of public attention, advocating at all levels of the government for women’s rights, and particularly those of marginalized women whose rights are at risk of underrepresentation. Throughout her tenure, the Clinic intervened in multiple legal test cases affecting women who experience violence, launched a Charter challenge to Canada’s destruction of the gun registry, and intervened at the
Supreme Court of Canada on the relevance of The Hague Convention for women who experience domestic violence.
Under Amanda’s leadership, the Clinic modernized its intake process, including a best-in-class risk assessment and safety planning protocol that is now the subject of two funded projects. “I feel that now is the time to pass the torch to a new leader, who can lead the Clinic through the continuum of work required to enhance services for women who have experienced violence,” says Amanda. “I have both guided and been guided by, the Board, staff, volunteers and students who bring their enthusiasm and fresh approaches, and of course most of all, the clients, whose strength and right to live free from violence has been the core inspiration for all my work.” Amanda continues, ”Being a custodian of this community treasure has been a
highlight of my career, and I can think of no better way to leave the Toronto service sector than as having counted the Schlifer Clinic as my home.”
Board President, Kathleen Murphy acknowledges Amanda’s significant contributions to the Clinic. “Amanda’s leadership, knowledge and devotion to the protection of women’s rights will be deeply missed at the Clinic,” she says. “But,” she continues, “among her many successes and achievements include building an exceptional team of passionate and determined women who will continue to advocate on behalf of underrepresented women, ensuring those who pass through the Clinic’s doors, leave empowered to live free from violence.”
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About Amanda Dale
Amanda Dale is an International Human Rights scholar, with a specialization in women’s human rights.
She is a recognized spokesperson and expert in women’s rights and violence against women. Amanda
is also an innovative and experienced women’s program developer in international, multicultural,
urban, and remote context.
About the Barbra Schlifer Clinic
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence,
established in the memory of Barbra Schlifer – an idealistic young lawyer whose life was cut short by
violence on the night of her call to the bar of Ontario on April 11, 1980. In her memory, the Clinic assists
more than 5,000 women a year to build lives free from violence through counselling, legal
representation, and language interpretation. Since opening in 1985, the Clinic has assisted more than
67,000 women.
For more information
Pamela Rice, Communications Manager
416-323-9149 x 228
[email protected]