Schulich School of Law
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA | CANADA B3H 4R2 | +1 (902) 494-3495

Esmeralda M.A. Thornhill

B.A. Hon. (McGill), M.A. (U. of M.), Dip. Ed. McGill), LL.B. (UQAM), Dip. Int'l Law (U of San Diego, Paris, France),  LL.D. (CUNY). LL.D. (Concordia),  First James Robinson Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies (1996 - 2002).  2006-2007 Traditional Canada-U.S. Fulbright Scholar.

Appointments
Full Professor, Dalhousie Law School

Cross appointments held in Canadian Studies, Russian and Women's Studies.

Telephone: (902) 494-2967
E-mail: esmeralda.thornhill@dal.ca

Biography

Professor of Law at Dalhousie Law School since July 1996; 2006-2007Canada-U.S. Fulbright Visiting Scholar (Temple University); First holder of the James Robinson Johnston Endowed Chair in Black Canadian Studies, 1996-2002; Member of Le Barreau du Quebec (since 1987) and Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (since1998); and convenor of the 2001 International Symposium, Racism and the Black World Response, Halifax, Nova Scotia, posted at: <http://first.jamesrobinsonjohnstonchair.dal.ca/symp_proceedings.pdf >

International Training: Educator and Lawyer by training and seasoned Human Rights Educator and Anti-racist Trainer by experience, Professor Thornhill has studied and trained in England (Multicultural Education, 1981) France (Human Rights Law, 1983; Human Rights Education, 1986); Washington, D.C., (Anti- Apartheid Legal Education and Advocacy 1987-1988).

Public and Professional Service: A member called to the provincial Bars of Quebec (1987), and Nova Scotia (1998), Professor Thornhill holds an extensive record of professional and public service that includes: the Panel of Board of Inquiry Chairs for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, 1999-2003; Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Law Foundation, 2000-2003;  Board of Trustees of  the National Film Board of Canada, 2004-2007; and, since 2000, member of Howard University’s External Advisory Panel for the National Human Genome Centre. In 2005, the Province of Nova Scotia named her to the provincial Psychiatric Facilities Review Board, and in 2007 she was invited to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Black Studies (United States).

Other Past Service:  Quebec Council on the Status of Women, 1987-91; Montreal Public Service Commission, 1990-96; le Conseil général du Barreau du Québec, 1981-83; Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Race Relations Committee 1996- 2000; Comité du Barreau sur les Communautés culturelles, 1993-96; Canadian Bar Association Advisory Committee on Racism in the Legal Profession, 1994; Canadian Access to Legal Education Group Executive, 1994-1996; National Conference of Black Lawyers, 1986-1989, 2007; Editorial Board of Canadian Journal of Women and the Law since 1987; Founding Vice-President  and Member of Congress of Black Lawyers and Jurists of Quebec, 1985-88; Founding Member of Congress of Black Women of Canada (1977) and national President, 1989-91; Co-Founder of International Resource Network for Women of African Descent (IRNWAD) (1982).

Areas of Expertise: Professor Thornhill has researched, written, and lectured widely on the "material reality" of Racism in Law, Education, and Public Services to legal, academic, govern-ment, public, and grassroots audiences. She conceptualized, developed and taught the first Canadian university accredited course in Black Women's Studies, Black Women: The Missing Pages from Canadian Women's Studies, (Concordia University, 1983 & 1988), and served as a Faculty member of the Canadian Law Teaching Clinic 1993, 1994. Her writings have been widely employed as core course readings across a variety of disciplines in Canadian higher education. Professor Thornhill’s expertise has been sought after locally, nationally and internationally: Moderator of NGO Briefing for UN CERD  members regarding Canada’s Treaty compliance, Geneva 2002; Presenter at invitational UN Regional Seminar for the UN Sub-Committee for the Protection of Minorities, Montreal, 1999;  International Observer to 1994 Constituent Assembly Elections of Uganda; participant in the UNESCO Institute of Education’s International Invitational Symposium of Experts on ‘Race’, Hamburg, 1991; Advisory Counsel for the drafting of the Ville de Montréal’s 1989 Declaration for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Expert witness before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Prosecution of Donald Marshall, Jr., Halifax, 1988.

Language Fluency (spoken & written): English, French, and Spanish

Selected Awards, Distinctions:

  •  2006-2007 Canada-US Fulbright Award 
  • First James Robinson Johnston Endowed Chair in Black Canadian Studies 1996-2002 
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws LL.D. Concordia 1997 
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws LL.D. CUNY 1996.
  • Profiled in: The Niagara Black History Association's 2008 Black History Calendar, Who's Who In Black Canada 2006, 2002; Those 350 Women Who Built Montreal; L'Agenda des femmes du Québec; 100 Outstanding Black Canadians
  • Recipient of 1991 Quebec Woman of the Year Award for Humanitarian and Social Action.

Research Grants /Funding 

U.S. State Department 2005 
Fulbright Foundation Traditional Award 2006-2007

Teaching Subjects (Law, Arts and Social Sciences)

  • LAWS 2074.03 “International Human Rights Law: Facing ‘Race’ As A Factor”
  • LAWS 2194.03 “Critical Race and Legal Theory I: A Survey of ‘Race’ and Law in Canada”
  • LAWS 2195.03 “Human Rights Law and Protection in Canada”
  • LAWS 2000.04 “Administrative Law”
  • LAWS 1002.01 Orientation to Law: The Implications of ‘Race’ and Culture for Legal Education and the Legal Profession
  • PRE-LAW Introduction to Property: A Critical Approach  (Module)
  • LAWS 2161.04 Critical Race and Legal Theory: 'Race,' Racism and Law in Canada  (Co-developed and co-taught)
  • CAN 3000.03 “The Evolution of Canadian Identity: Exposing A Negative, Completing the Picture” (A Seminar Module)
  • RUSS 2760.03 “Black Identity in Pushkin”  (Co-developed and co-taught)
  • RUSS 3102.03 “Dostoevsky and Western Literature” - Module on Richard Wright and the Harlem Renaissance (Co-developed and co-taught)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS, INTERVENTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Books

E. Thornhill (Editor). Blacks in Canada: Retrospects, Introspects, Prospects. An unprecedented special thematic issue of the Journal of Black Studies on Blacks in Canada. Vol.38, No.3, January 2008

E. Thornhill. Racism and the Black World Response International Symposium Proceedings. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Dalhousie University, 2002, also posted at: http://first.jamesrobinsonjohnstonchair.dal.ca/symp_proceedings.pdf

 E. Thornhill. Popularizing Pushkin…Globally. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Dalhousie University, 1999, also posted at:  http://first.jamesrobinsonjohnstonchair.dal.ca/pushkin_booklet.pdf

Articles and Publications

  • E. Thornhill, “Editor’s Introduction”  to Blacks in Canada: Retrospects, Introspects, Prospects. An unprecedented special thematic issue of the Journal of Black Studies on Blacks in Canada. Vol.38, No.3, January 2008. R
  • E. Thornhill, “So Seldom For Us, So Often Against Us: Blacks and Law in Canada” in Blacks in Canada: Retrospects, Introspects, Prospects. Flagship article for an unprecedented special thematic issue of the Journal of Black Studies on Blacks in Canada. Vol.38, No.3, January 2008. R
  • S. Small and E. Thornhill, “Harambec!: Quebec Black Women Pulling Together” in Blacks in Canada: Retrospects, Introspects, Prospects. An unprecedented special thematic issue of the Journal of Black Studies on Blacks in Canada. Vol.38, No.3, January 2008. R
  • E. Thornhill,  “Multicultural and Intercultural Education: The Canadian Experience.” (1999) 12:1 La revue québécoise de droit international. R

Guest Teaching, Interventions and Presentations

  • Guest Teaching at Graduate and Undergraduate Levels in: African American Studies, Education, Second Languages, Temple University 2006-2007;  and in Humanities, Cheyney University, the oldest HBCU (historically Black college or university) in the United States, 2006-2007.
  • Guest Teaching at Graduate and Level in: Law, Hugh Wooding School of Law, St Augustine, Trinidad 2005 ;  Education, Faculty of Education, University of the West Indies, Trinidad 2005.
  • Confronting Racial Hostility to Afrocentric Curriculum Change in the Canadian Academy. Paper delivered at the 19th Annual Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference. Philadelphia, October 13th 2007.
  • Realized a Temple University Film Mini Series on Blacks in Canada.  A Series of National Film Board of Canada films with interdepartmental sponsorship. Temple University, May 21st , 22nd , 23rd and 24th  2007.
  • Battle-scarred Lessons from the Canadian Front: Racial Hostility to Curriculum Change in the Academy.  Paper delivered at the 31st Annual Conference of the National Council for Black Studies, San Diego, March 7th 2006.
  • Under the Law and in the Shadow of the Law: Windows on Black Women in Canadian Legal History, Guest Lecture at Beaseley Law School, Temple University, April 16th 2007; Public Lecture. African Liberation/The Brutality of Enslavement Lecture Series, African American Museum of Philadelphia, January 27th 2007.
  • Black Identity in Pushkin: Key to New Thinking in Black and Russia Studies, Guest Lecture. College of Liberal Arts, Temple University,  April 11th 2007.
  • Towards an Enhanced Understanding of the ‘Material Reality’ of Racism.  Guest Seminar  Presentation to  the African American Studies Department NOMMO Lecture Series, November 29th 2006.
  • So Seldom For Us, So Often Against Us: Blacks and Law in Canada,  Public Lecture. “African Liberation/The Brutality of Enslavement Lecture Series”, African American Museum of Philadelphia, November 18th 2006.
  • Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Racism, Racial Discrimination Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Halifax, September 2003.
  • Submission to CERD, the United Nations Committee monitoring Canada’s compliance with the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Geneva, August 2002

Other Selected Publications:

  • “Ethics in the Legal Profession” (1995) 33:4 Alta L.R.
  • “Equality in the Legal Profession”, Roads to Equality. Ottawa: CBA, 1994.
  • Co-edited "Racism ... Talking Out" 6:1 Canadian Journal of Women and the Law (1993).
  • “Regard sur le racisme: perspectives juridiques à partir d'un vécu noir” 6:1 Revue femmes et droit (1993) flagship article for special thematic issue of the Revue.
  • “Focus on Racism: Legal Perspectives From A Black Experience” Judicial Awareness: Race Culture and the Courts. Ottawa: National Judicial Institute, 1995, p. 81-102.
  • “Black Women's Studies in Teaching Related to Women: Help or Hindrance to Universal Sisterhood?” (1983) 16 Fireweed; The Issue is –Ism.Toronto: Sister Vision Press, 1989.
  • “Focus on Black Women” 1:1 Canadian Journal of Women and the Law (1985), Race, Gender and Class: Bonds and Barriers 1989, 1992.

  • “Re-Righting History”, Journal of Intergroup Relations 1 (Winter 1992).
  • “The Sharpeville Six and the Death Penalty in South Africa,” U.S. Congressional Record, 134 No. 32 March 16 1988.
  • “March 21st : Opportunity for Learning?” / “Le 21mars: Une occasion pour apprendre?” Guest Editorial. 5:1 The Sentinel / La Sentinelle. Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers. (March 1989).

Areas of Research and Graduate Supervision:

International Human Rights Law, Human rights Law and Protection in Canada, International Development, Critical Race and Legal Theory, Critical Race Pedagogy,  "Material Reality" of Racism,  Cumulative Impact and Proof of Discrimination, Intersectionality Theory, Afrocentric Theory, Black History, Black Women’s Studies, Anti-Racism Training, Administrative Law. 

Current Law Courses:

    • LAWS 1002.01 -Orientation to Law: The Implications of ‘Race’ and Culture for Legal Education and the Legal Profession
    • LAWS 2000 - Administrative Law
    • LAWS 2074 - International Human Rights Law: Facing 'Race' As A Factor
    • LAWS 2194 - Critical Race and Legal Theory I: A Survey Of ‘Race’ and Law In Canada
    • LAWS 2195 - Human Rights Law & Protection in Canada
    • PRE-LAW  -  Introduction to Property: A Critical Approach