Shawna Paris-Hoyte

Shawna is a 5th generation African Nova Scotian who has worked tirelessly for equity and the human rights of women, children, youth, and families and community as a lawyer, mediator, clinical/forensic social worker, educator, and business owner in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada. She has appeared in all levels of the courts in Nova Scotia. In 2008, on an Application for Leave, Shawna successfully argued the case of R. v. LTH at the Supreme Court of Canada, establishing a precedent-setting case for police procedures across Canada regarding youth rights under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. It is still the leading case in Canada. More recently, Shawna was legal counsel representing a gender-based violence participant group in the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Public Inquiry.  

Shawna has practiced law as a legal aid lawyer in criminal, youth justice, family and child welfare law matters. For years she provided pro bono services to the African Nova Scotian community and beyond. Her pro bono legal practice focused on human rights cases. She was legal counsel for the Digby Education Committee human rights case which led to major changes for the local community. Shawna has advised and assisted many grassroots, not-for-profit organizations and government in developing policies, trauma-informed training programs and services on race, law and social justice issues. She was the Project Manager and Facilitator of the first Black Male Inmate Forum held at Springhill Nova Scotia on behalf of Correctional Services Canada. She has been a member of Boards of Directors for local/provincial community organizations, she sat on race relations advisory committees on education policy and social justice initiatives, regulatory organizations and a national philanthropic organization supporting women and girls. Shawna has adjudicated matters under the Residential Tenancies Act of NS and the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act. She was President of the Board of Directors of the Community Justice Society of Halifax and is a past member of the Board of Examiners for the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Black Mental Health Canada. As a forensic social worker and trauma therapist, Shawna trains others in forensic social work practice across Canada and various countries in the Caribbean. She was recently invited to join the National Organization of Forensic Social Work Board of Directors in the United States. Shawna is the founding Executive Director of the National Institute of Forensic Social Work, established in 2016 to bridge the professions of law and social work in Canada. She is also a founding member of the Black Community Advocates Association of Nova Scotia, formed in 2000. Shawna has received several government appointments provincially and federally. She was appointed to the Federal Government Task Force on Visible Minorities by the President of the Treasury Board of Canada and assisted in drafting the Federal Government employment equity plan, entitled Embracing Change in the Federal Public Service, specific to hiring visible minorities in the Federal Public Service.