Mayann Francis

Mayann E. Francis

Mayann E. Francis is Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, a post she has held since 1999.  She also served as Ombudsman for Nova Scotia from December 2000 until December 2003, the first woman to be appointed to that post.

Previously, she has been a pioneer in senior positions with the Government of Ontario, Dalhousie University and the District Attorney’s office in Kings County, New York.  Her professional work does not exclude her interest and commitment to communities. 

She has is a past member of  United Way/Centraide Canada, the Mascoll Foundation, the board of governors at University College of Cape Breton, the General Council of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and currently sits on Nova Scotia’s Voluntary Planning Board. Ms. Francis has been recognized for her outstanding achievements with a Harry Jerome Award, an award from the Multicultural Education Council of Nova Scotia and a Golden Jubilee Medal. 

She has been profiled in numerous publications, including Millennium Minds: One Hundred Black Canadians, the Who’s Who in Black Canada, Canadian Who’s Who and the Globe and Mail.  She currently contributes a monthly column to the Chronicle Herad newspaper.  Mayann Francis is a native of Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton island, Nova Scotia.

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