Melanie Benard

Experience

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  Montreal General Hospital

  Dec 2002 - May 2006

  Project Manager and Research Assistant

  Oversaw several international neurogenetic research studies for Dr. Guy Rouleau. Recruited research participants; built partnerships with physicians, researchers and hospitals in Canada and abroad; obtained project approvals from research ethics boards; developed project guidelines and templates; conducted clinical interviews; worked on grant proposals; maintained complex databases.

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  McGill University - Institute for Health and Social Policy

  Mar 2008 - Aug 2009

  Editor and Researcher

  Edited academic books, journal articles and reports about health and social policy issues. Organized an international policy conference on educational equity.

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  Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2010

  Legal Researcher

  Research and wrote a report on freedom of religion and the duty to accommodate in Quebec.

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  McGill University – Faculty of Law

  Apr 2011 - Sept 2011

  Research Assistant

  Researched and wrote a report on federal and provincial disability legislation and caselaw in Canada.

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  Elder Law Clinic (National Institute of Law, Policy and Aging)

  May 2011 - Dec 2011

  Intern and Research Assistant

  Internship with Ann Soden, Canada's leading expert in elder law. Conducted legal research, prepared memos, and assisted clients. Legal issues included legal capacity, forced medical treatment, and the rights of residents in long-term care facilities.

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  Montreal Municipal Court / Cour municipale de Montréal

  Sept 2012 - Dec 2012

  Law Clerk

  Clerked with a judge at Montreal's Municipal Court (Lison Asseraf). Conducted legal research and prepared memos on various criminal, penal and civil matters. Followed cases at Montreal's mental health court (Programme d’accompagnement justice et santé mentale).

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  Ménard Martin avocats

  Jun 2014 - Mar 2015

  Lawyer and Articling Student

  Articled at this well-known health law firm in Quebec. Cases focused on medical malpractice, mental health law and police accountability.

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  Self-employed

  Jan 2015 - Apr 2021

  Legal and Policy Researcher (Consultant)

  Focus on disability, human rights and health care.

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  Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP)

  May 2015 - Dec 2015

  Community Outreach Coordinator

  Built partnerships between researchers and stakeholders in Quebec's disability community and labour movement; helped identify priorities for research on disability and employment.

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  Douglas Mental Health Institute

  Mar 2016 - May 2016

  Legal Researcher

  Researched and wrote a report comparing mental health legislation in all jurisdictions across Canada. Analyzed the criteria and processes for civil commitment (forced hospitalization). Recommended legislative reform in Quebec.

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  DAWN Canada

  Jun 2016 - Nov 2016

  Legal and Policy Researcher

  Researched Quebec's legal and policy responses to violence against women with disabilities (conjugal violence and sexual assault).

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  Alliance for an Inclusive and Accessible Canada

  Dec 2016 - Aug 2017

  Project Manager and Researcher

  Oversaw cross-country consultations of Canada’s disability community about proposed federal accessibility legislation (Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act). Managed committees (stakeholder relations, communications and project evaluation), staff and volunteers; monitored activities to meet project deliverables with tight timelines; chaired meetings; managed budgets; built partnerships with community and government organizations; created training tools. Researched and wrote a report on disability laws and policies in Canada (federal and Ontario) and the United States; recommended federal legislative and policy changes. Topics: Transportation, communications, employment, elections, immigration. Show less

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  McGill University – Faculty of Law

  Sept 2017 - Dec 2017

  Course Instructor (Disability Law)

  Developed and taught the first disability law course in Quebec. Topics: Equality, discrimination and the duty to accommodate; legal capacity (decision-making); institutionalization; accessibility (transportation, communication, etc.); education; employment; poverty; health care; reproductive rights; medical assistance in dying (MAID).

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  Éducaloi

  Jan 2018 - May 2018

  Legal Researcher and Writer

  Researched and wrote a series of plain language articles on mental health law in Quebec for Educaloi's website Topics: Forced (involuntary) hospitalization and medical treatment.

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  Canadian Health Coalition

  Sept 2018 - Dec 2020

  National Director, Policy and Advocacy

  Responsible for health policy research and campaigns, government relations and communications. Developed policy positions, briefs and public education materials; met with elected officials and policy makers; testified at Parliamentary committees; participated in government consultations; worked closely with board members; built partnerships with a broad network of stakeholders, including health policy researchers, community organizations, health care workers, patients, and unions; gave presentations to diverse audiences; planned conferences; chaired meetings; developed web content and press releases. Published articles in The Monitor, The Hill Times, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Alternative Federal Budget. Frequently interviewed by media outlets including The Globe and Mail, the CBC, CTV, Global News, La Presse, and the Toronto Star. Show less

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  ARCH Disability Law Centre

  Jan 2019 - Mar 2019

  Legal and Policy Researcher

  Researched and wrote a report on the legal and policy requirements regarding accessibility in broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. Topics: CRTC requirements for closed-captioning, video description, video relay service, and telecommunications equipment.

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  Swiss Institute of Comparative Law

  Apr 2019 - Aug 2019

  Legal Researcher

  Researched and wrote a report on disability and employment in Canada. Topics: Employment demographics; federal and provincial legislation and policies (human rights, employment equity and accessibility); the duty to accommodate; remedies; enforcement; hiring incentives.

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  Concordia University

  Oct 2019 - Jan 2020

  Researcher and Course Developer

  Created a module for an online course on accessibility in higher education. Topic: The legal duty to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities.

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  Barreau du Québec

  Feb 2020 - Feb 2020

  Course Instructor (Disability Law)

  Developed and taught an online professional development course for lawyers in Quebec. Topics: Disability and ableism; the disability rights movement; laws affecting people with disabilities Quebec; making legal services more accessible and inclusive.

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  Canadian Human Rights Commission

  Apr 2021 - now

  • Senior Advisor (Accessibility Unit)

    Feb 2022 - now

  • Manager, Outreach and Engagement (Accessibility Unit)

    Apr 2021 - Feb 2022