EDMONTON – Alberta Ombudsman, Kevin Brezinski and his staff met with the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) today. The organization, led by Executive Director and President, Dunia Nur, is a national public affairs organization that promotes and strengthens opportunities for African, Caribbean, Black and Racialized Communities. “ACCEC’s research initiatives speak to the lived experiences…
A swearing-in ceremony for the leader of two independent offices of the Alberta Legislative Assembly took place today. Kevin Brezinski is Alberta’s tenth Ombudsman and third Public Interest Commissioner, accepting a five-year appointment to the dual roles. As an independent Officer of the Legislative Assembly, Brezinski will lead investigative operations for both offices. “Hearing I…
This opinion piece by former staffer Daniel Johns first appeared in the Edmonton Journal on October 28, 2022. Daniel Johns is an ex-journalist who began his career at the Alberta Ombudsman’s office in 1986. He retired in the summer of 2022 as Manager, Institutional Knowledge, and Research after 36 years with the office. Back in…
Join us in celebrating the 5th annual Ombuds Day! What is Ombuds Day? Ombuds Day is recognized internationally on the second Thursday of October to bring awareness to the important role ombuds play in their respective communities. In countries around the world, ombuds work to pursue fair treatment and protect people from maladministration. This…
For a second year, the offices will close daily operations on September 30 to enable staff to commemorate the day with study, reflection and community activities dedicated to further both personal and collective reconciliation. “Acknowledging the traumatic intergenerational impact the residential school system had, and continues to have, on thousands of Indigenous children and their…
PEI becomes the latest province to appoint an independent officer responsible for ensuring fairness and providing a safe avenue for whistleblower complaints in the public service. Next week, Sandy Hermiston will become the province’s first Ombudsperson and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. The Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman (CCPO) warmly welcomes the news. “On behalf of…
When improving complex government systems, policy makers often find that arriving at a destination simply means the ultimate goal still lies somewhere up the road. This lesson certainly applies as the Ombudsman accepts the final progress report Alberta Health posted to its website in November 2021 in response to the 2019 Ombudsman Own Motion report,…
The Alberta Ombudsman recognizes three former staffers who went on to establish complaint-handling offices with solid roots in procedural fairness. “These three women contributed significantly during their years at the Ombudsman’s office and have gone on to do great work pursuing fairness within or alongside the Ombudsman community,” reflects Marianne Ryan, Alberta’s ninth Ombudsman and…
The Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner’s offices will be taking time this September 30, 2021, to reflect on the tragic history of residential schools and all those affected. Marianne Ryan, the Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner will be closing her offices on September 30th in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Her staff will be encouraged to commemorate the day and reflect on how the offices may continually…
EDMONTON – Ombudsman’s own motion investigation into the use of segregation in Alberta’s young offender centres leads to eight recommendations for improvement. In Alberta, youth accused or found guilty of breaking the law may be required to spend time in a provincial correctional facility. The Young Offender Branch, within the Ministry of Justice and…