The Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at our February 2020 Lunch Series with guests, Judge David Arnot, Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission & Norma Gunningham-Kapphahn.

Judge David Arnot was seconded from the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan on January 15, 2009, and was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

David Arnot attended the University of Saskatchewan and received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1975.  In 1978, he became a Senior Crown Prosecutor.  He was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan in 1981.  In September of 1994, Judge Arnot was seconded to the Federal Department of Justice as Director General of the Aboriginal Justice.  In May 1996, Judge Arnot was promoted to the position of Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Justice for Canada.

On January 1, 1997, he was seconded by the Federal Government to be the Treaty Commissioner for the Province of Saskatchewan for a 10 year period.

In 2002, as a voice for reconciliation and with the guidance of Elders, David introduced the phrase — “we are all treaty people” — a phrase that is in the discourse in Saskatchewan classrooms and is now part of the lexicon across Canada.

Judge Arnot’s work on the “Teaching Treaties in the Classroom Project” was specifically cited as a model for Canada by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism in his report presented in March 2004.  In October 2005, the Office of the Treaty Commission was selected by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation to receive its biennial Award of Excellence for education programs in the public and government sector.  

Judge Arnot has produced and directed a number of video education projects.  He has been involved in education for the Judiciary through the National Judicial Institute, the Western Judicial Education Centre, the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges, and the American Judges Association. Judge Arnot was honoured by the Canadian Bar Association Saskatchewan Branch as a recipient of the “Distinguished Service Award” for 2007.

In 2014, David received the Miklos Kanitz Holocaust & Human Rights Award from Congregation Agudas Israel (Saskatoon).

Two years later, Bell Media CTV Saskatoon recognized Judge Arnot as the 2016 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year.

In September 2017, David was placed on the University of Saskatchewan’s Canada 150 Nation Builders as an alumnus who champions human rights and social justice and who has played a role in building our nation by creating, promoting, and defending the laws that safeguard the rights of Canadians.

In June 2018, David was recognized by the Transformation Institute for Leadership and Innovation in Canada as one of the top 150 leaders and innovators in our country.

The following year, in September 2019, David became a TEDx Speaker.

Norma Gunningham-Kapphahn
Norma attended the University of Saskatchewan, receiving her Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1985.  She
was called to the Bar in Saskatchewan in 1986.
Prior to joining Justice Canada in 1997, she enjoyed twelve years in private litigation practice with the
Burlingham Cuelenaere Law Office.
At Justice Canada, Norma Gunningham-Kapphahn was appointed Senior Counsel in 1999 and was a
team leader in the Aboriginal Law Section from 1999 to 2008.  From 2008 to 2011, she was the Manager
of the Specific Claims West, Legal Services Unit.
In her years at Justice Canada, Norma enjoyed a variety of interesting opportunities, including:
 A secondment to the Indian Affairs Legal Services Unit in Ottawa
 Serving as Director of the Aboriginal Law Section
 Serving as a member of Canada’s Iacobucci negotiation team involved in settlement of the largest class
action in Canadian history
 An interchange with Alberta Justice, Constitutional and Aboriginal Law Branch
 Working with the Canada’s Specific Claims Legal Services Unit in the development of the Specific Claims
Tribunal Act Rules of Practice and Procedure
 Serving as class action counsel for the Public Safety Defence and Immigration Section
In 2012, she accepted a position with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission as the Director of
Resolution.  In April, 2014, she was appointed Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Human Rights
Commission.
Norma has volunteered extensively in the community since 1985, currently devoting many volunteer
hours to the YMCA in the promotion of community health and fitness.