Ms. Johanne Savard
Training and professional experience
After her studies in political science at Concordia University, Ms. Savard obtained her law degree from Université de Montréal, in 1979. She has been a member of the Québec and Canadian Bars since 1980.
Ms. Savard has completed numerous trainings in public
administration at École nationale d'administration publique
(ENAP). She is also a "Certified mediator" recognized by the Québec Bar and by
the Institut de Médiation et d'Arbitrage du Québec
.
Ms. Savard was head of the Labour and Employment law
group and member of the Board of Directors of a major law firm as well
as a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive
Committee of Lex Mundi, the world's largest international
association of independent law firms; she also chaired the Women and the Law
Committee of this association.
In 2003, Ms. Savard left the private practice of
law and became the first Ombudsman of Ville de Montréal. Along with
her team, she has since offered to citizens, a free and accessible last resort
recourse which allows them to obtain an independant assessment of their
situation. When she deems it relevant, her interventions with municipal
officials almost always lead to the resolution of the identified problems. In the fall of 2007, her mandate was unanimously renewed by Ville de Montréal City Council.
Ms. Savard is a member of the Forum canadien des
ombudsmans, the International Ombudsmans' Association,
the International Ombudsmans' Institute, the Association des
Ombudsmans et médiateurs de la francophonie and the Association des
responsables de la gestion des plaintes du gouvernement du Québec.
Expertise
Ms. Savard has solid experience in all
fields related to employment
law, human rights and fundamental rights protected by various charters. For over twenty years now, she has used alternative dispute resolution techniques and has always approached difficult situations with an eye for preventing conflict and/or finding practical and efficient solutions.
Social and professional engagement
Ms. Savard has always been actively involved in community action.
She chaired the Board of Directors of two
daycare centres, including the Centre de la petite enfance
Papillon where handicapped and non-handicapped children share their everyday life and experiences.
She was a longtime member and twice the chairperson of the organizing committee of the annual fundraising ball of the Montréal Alzheimer Society.
Since sat on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Old Montréal for many years and was president of the club in 2005-2006.
Ms. Savard was twice the recipient of the
"Rotarian of the Year" award, in 2002 and 2003, to highlight
her sustained involvement in community action. The Rotary Club of Old Montréal
also handed her, in 2006, the Paul Harris Fellow prize, in appreciation
of her tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of
betterunderstanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world .
In 2005, Ms. Savard received, from the Carrefour des
Communautés, the "Médaille des arts et métiers du
multiculturalisme", for the quality of her work and for her involvement in the following fields: "legal, social and intercultural understanding".
She was, from 2006 until 2008, member of the Conseil
des gouverneurs of Resto Plateau .
