The following is being distributed at the request of the Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador:
During a hybrid (in-person and zoom) ceremony today at Government House in St. John’s, the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission presented the 2022 Human Rights Award to Kimberly and Todd Churchill.
The Human Rights Award is presented annually in celebration of International Human Rights Day. It recognizes an individual who has made and/or continues to make a meaningful contribution to advancing and furthering human rights in Newfoundland and Labrador. This year it was awarded to two people who were nominated together.
Kimberly and Todd received an original print by Grenfell Visual Arts student, Jessie Donaldson (she/her).
Kimberly Churchill (she/her) and Todd Churchill (he/him) currently reside in Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s with their two sons, Hunter and Carter. They both have been very vocal advocates for the past six years for the rights of Deaf children, like their own son Carter, to receive an education equitable to that of hearing children, particularly in their first language, American Sign Language (ASL). The Churchill’s have raised awareness around the lack of support in place in mainstream schools to provide Deaf children full access to quality education and full social inclusion following the closure of the Newfoundland School for the Deaf (NSD) in August 2010. As a result of the extensive media coverage of the Churchills’ advocacy, their name has become synonymous with the pursuit of equitable education for Deaf children in Newfoundland and Labrador. Kimberly and Todd have been very active advocates engaging in countless media interviews to promote awareness of these issues as well as challenging policymakers within the provincial government and school district to make necessary changes.
As a support to other parents of Deaf children, the Churchills founded the non-profit organization Children’s Language Acquisition Support System Inc. This was to support families of deaf, hard of hearing, and non-orally speaking children. The Churchills lobbying efforts have seen many positive changes such as engaging the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate to initiate a province-wide investigation on the education of Deaf and hard of hearing students in NL. In June 2020, a publication of their findings in a report “The Sounds of Silence: Perspectives on the Education System’s Response to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children” detailed how Deaf children were not receiving an equitable education compared to hearing children.
Both Todd and Kimberly Churchill are past recipients of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association-NL President’s Club Award. In addition, Todd was awarded the Caring Canadian Award by His Excellency Governor General David Johnston after being nominated by Mr. Shoemaker’s Grade 6 class at Beachy Cove Elementary for his charitable work with “Reason for the Rink”. Todd has also received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General’s office as well as the Senate 150 Medal for contributions to the community. Kimberly has been the recipient of many awards including the Canadian Diabetes Distinguished Dedication Award, Youth Volunteer Corps Role Model of the Year and Flare Volunteer of the Year.
Also at today’s ceremony, Khadeja Raven Anderson (she/her) and Michael Duffy (he/him) were named Human Rights Champions. The Human Rights Commission grants this recognition to someone who has made a meaningful, contribution to human rights in Newfoundland and Labrador. The recipient is generally chosen by the Human Rights Commissioners. This year it was awarded to two recipients.
Khadeja Raven Anderson (she/her) is a Trinidad and Tobago national, currently based in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador. She is passionate about advocacy, Black Liberation, and Healing. She focuses on Anti-Racism, Anti-Black Racism, with an emphasis on the ways in which race seems to intersect between power and perception. Raven has studied at St. Francois Girls’ College in Belmont and Sixth Form Government Polytechnic Institute; and at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus. There, she graduated with honours with a special bachelor’s degree in History. Raven moved to St. John’s in 2018, and graduated, with honours, with a bachelor’s degree in Education (Intermediate/Secondary) from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Education remains a driving force in Raven’s life. Since graduating, Raven is an activist, current cofounder and co-president of Black Lives Matter NL, active member of the Anti-Racism Coalition NL, a Director of the board of Girls Rock NL and an anti-racism consultant at her agency, Ravensong Consulting NL. She is currently a producer at CBC Radio-Canada and a workplace DEI specialist at Women in Resource Development Corporation (WRDC).
Michael Duffy (he/him) graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1984. After that, he attended Memorial University of Newfoundland graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1990. Following that he attended Dalhousie Law School graduating in 1993. He was called to the Bar for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1994 and has practiced law here since that year. He is a proud husband and father to three children, and has a deep connection to his community.
He has served on the volunteer Board of Directors with Easter Seals NL since 1994. He is currently the Provincial chair. Since 2004 he has also served the volunteer board of Easter Seals Canada and is currently the immediate Past Chair of the National Board. In 2010 he led a large team from the board of Easter Seals to Ottawa to successfully lobby for ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In 2011 he participated in a successful multinational effort to add Easter Seals Mexico to the group of Easter Seals organizations including Canada, the USA and Australia. In 2015 he led a group from Easter Seals Canada to Ottawa to consult with the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities on the creation of the Accessible Canada Act, bill c-81.
Michael is currently chair of the 100th-year anniversary committee organizing events in 2022 to mark the 100th year of Easter Seals in Canada.
Since 2018 Michael has been Chair of the Buildings Accessibility Appeal Board for NL. Recently, Michael has served as an Adjudicator with the NL Human Rights Commission and is also currently an Adjudicator on the Law Society of NL, Disciplinary Panel. Michael created and manages an affordable housing project in Torbay.
In 2013 Michael received the “Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” in recognition of public service. Michael has served as President of the Cape St. Francis LDA and a member of the Board of the St John’s East LRA.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission recognizes and sincerely thanks all those who nominated individuals for the 2022 Human Rights Award. The Human Rights Commissioners had a challenging time deciding this year’s Human Rights Award and Human Rights Champion recipients. Congratulations again to all of the 13 nominees.
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Learn more
For more information on the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, please visit www.thinkhumanrights.ca.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission can be followed on Twitter and/or Instagram @nlhumanrights.
Media contact
Hilary P. Hennessey
Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission
709-729-5644
HilaryHennessey@gov.nl.ca