Carole Geller, a dedicated, principled and tireless advocate for human rights, was a feminist and a supporter of the rights of Indigenous peoples. To honour Carole’s contribution to progressive work in the human rights field over 20 years, the Carole Geller Human Rights Award was established in the fall of 1987. The award is given from time to time to support activists and advocates who make outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights, and who stand up for those confronting sexism, racism, disability discrimination, poverty and colonial dominance.
Carole Geller began her work in the human rights field in 1967 when she was the President of the Manitoba Voice of Women. She became the first Director of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission in 1973, where she organized the commission and helped to design the most progressive human rights legislation in Canada at that time. She went to Toronto to study law in 1980 and in 1986 she was awarded her LL.M degree by York University. In 1985 became the first Director of the Pay Equity Bureau in Manitoba. Ms. Geller died of cancer in November 1987.
Carole Geller Award Recipients (click to download full pdf)
