Saskatchewan appoints seven new human rights commissioners

Seven new members were appointed to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission this week, including a new chief commissioner.

Treena Sikora, a Saskatoon lawyer and former chair of the Saskatchewan Police Commission, will be taking on the role of chief commissioner.

Barry Wilcox, who served as interim chief commissioner since 2021, is set to retire at the end of January. Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre expressed her gratitude to Wilcox in a statement issued Friday.

“I would like to sincerely thank the former commissioners for their leadership and service to the people of Saskatchewan and, in particular, Interim Chief Commissioner Barry Wilcox, who has diligently served and led the SHRC,” Eyre said.

“I would also like to welcome the new commissioners, who will bring fresh perspectives and outlooks to the important work of the SHRC.”

The other new names appointed to the commission are:

• Rish Malhotra (deputy chief commissioner, Saskatoon), an engineer who’s currently president and CEO of International Road Dynamics Inc.;
• Judy Desjarlais (northern hamlet of Michell), the town administrator for Michell Village and former justice worker;
• Darlene Cooper (Saskatoon), who works with Express Employment Professionals and served on numerous boards, including the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation and Parkland Regional College;
• Melissa Ong (Casa Rio), a member of the Filipino community who’s worked as a coach, board member and executive director for the non-profit Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association;
• Mubarik Syed (Saskatoon), a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community who brings experience from the boards of the Saskatchewan Police Commission and the CN community board; and
• Alan Thomarat (Thode), the former chair of Saskatchewan Polytechnic and current president of the Galt Resources Strategy Group.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission saw a prominent resignation in the fall of 2023, as Heather Kuttai stepped down from her post in protest over the provincial government’s controversial school pronoun policy.

Kuttai, who was appointed in 2014, said the commission was designed to uphold individual rights, and said the legislation ran contrary to that goal by not protecting children.