Fiona Crean, ombudsperson and director of York’s Centre for Human Rights, leaves York at the end of the month to take up a newly created position at the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
Left: Fiona Crean
In January, she will assume the job of assistant deputy minister, organizational effectiveness. She will play a critical role in leading the ministry through significant organizational development and cultural change initiatives that will include addressing long-standing cultural issues pertaining to equity, diversity and anti-racism.
Crean has been responsible for undertaking both the establishment and re-organization of the Office of the Ombudsperson and Centre for Human Rights since she was appointed in Oct. 2004. She restructured the Centre of Human Rights to better serve the community in all facets of human rights protection, including all grounds of the Human Rights Code. She was also instrumental in developing education programs on human rights and fair process, and had the capacity to conduct investigations and initiate audits.
Prior to her appointment at York, Crean operated an independent consulting practice, focused on governance, human rights and equity, conflict resolution and capacity building. A career public servant for more than 20 years, Crean was executive director of the Ontario Ombudsman’s office and implemented the first municipal Employment Equity program for the City of Toronto.