Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 10, 2008
• Invested on: May 15, 2009

Constance Backhouse is a renowned scholar and prominent advocate for human rights. Distinguished university professor and research chair at the University of Ottawa, she teaches in the areas of criminal law, human rights, legal history, and feminist law. She co-wrote one of the first books in North America on sexual harassment in the workplace, and has won numerous awards for other books on discrimination. She has served as an adjudicator or mediator between victims of abuse or racism and the provincial and federal governments. She has also served as a dedicated volunteer with numerous organizations, including funding bodies and support centres.