Alan Borovoy, General Counsel Emeritus (Canadian Civil Liberties
Association), receives the 2011 Award for the Advancement of
Intellectual Freedom in Canada
For Immediate Release
(Ottawa, April 18, 2011) - The Canadian Library Association /
Association canadienne des bibliothèques is honoured to
announce that Alan Borovoy is the recipient of the 2011 Award for the
Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada for his unwavering
dedication to social justice and freedom of expression in Canada.
Throughout a remarkable career as one of the undisputed leaders in
the civil rights movement in Canada, Mr Borovoy has been a tireless
advocate for freedom of expression, along with its corollaries freedom
of the press and freedom of association; and equally activist for
equality and procedural fairness. June Callwood, a recipient in 2006 of
the same Award, dubbed him "Mr. Civil Liberties."
Mr Borovy has been at one with the Canadian library community, whose
core values include a strong commitment to intellectual freedom, a
freedom under continual challenge and frequently unpopular to defend Mr
Borovoy's voice has always been there with the Canadian library
community's to combat both censorship and episodic public apathy
enabling it, and he has referred to Canada's librarians as "the Clark
Kents of political action." In 1987-1988, he was a leader in the
opposition to Bill C-54, new obscenity legislation that would have
drastically curtailed the ability of Canadian libraries to distribute
materials. His legacy in public policy advocacy will continue to inspire
librarians and library workers for generations to come.
Mr Borovoy was recruited by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
(CCLA) as General Counsel in 1968, a position he held for 41 years until
his retirement in June 2009. CCLA has named him General Counsel
Emeritus. Prior to joining the CCLA, he had already distinguished
himself with other human rights and civil liberties causes and
organizations, including activism on behalf of the residents of
Africville in 1961 that lead to the formation of the Halifax Advisory Committee on Human
Rights, and a protest march against Aboriginal
discrimination and poor government services in Kenora in the later
60s.
Mr Borovoy, one of Canada's premiere public intellectuals, has been a
newspaper columnist, appeared on public affairs programs, open-line
television and radio programs, given countless lectures and public
addresses, has published four books, including one nominated for the
1988 Governor General's Awards, and been a visiting professor at the
faculties of law at Dalhousie University and the University of Windsor,
and a part-time lecturer at the University of Toronto Faculty of Social
Work and York University's political science department.
Mr Borovoy has received five honourary doctorates, the Law Society
Medal from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1989, an Award of Merit
from the City of Toronto in 1982, and was inscribed in the Honour Roll
of the aboriginal people of Treaty Number 3 in 1991. He was made an
Officer of the Order of Canada in 1982. He received his LL.B. from the
University of Toronto in 1956 and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in
1958. He was awarded the 2010 "Freedom to Read Award" by the Writers'
Union of Canada.
Mr Borovoy is a compelling and magnetic speaker: informed,
articulate, and passionate. And as one of the most recognizable civil
libertarians in Canada, he also knows the value of maintaining a sense
of humour while trying to change the world; otherwise, he has said,
"you'll go off your rocker." He once described the strategy of the CCLA
as "to raise hell without breaking the law." Of attacks from both left
and right in his defence of free speech as absolute, he wryly observed,
"If you live long enough, you have the opportunity to experience
(criticism) every which way."
The 2011 Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada
will be presented at the CLA Closing Ceremonies, to be held Saturday,
May 28th during the CLA 2011 National Conference in Halifax, Nova
Scotia.
The Canadian Library Association's Award for the Advancement
of Intellectual Freedom in Canada recognizes and honours
outstanding contributions to intellectual freedom in Canada by
individuals or groups. Preference is given to librarians and library
institutions. However like-minded individuals such as teachers or
authors or groups such as schools or publishers are also eligible. The
award is given from time-to-time, not necessarily on an annual basis,
and there may be more than one recipient in any one year. The previous
recipients of this prestigious award may be viewed at: http://www.cla.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Award_for_the_Advancement_of_Intellectual_Freedom_in_Canada&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2442
The Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des
bibliothèques is Canada's largest national and broad-based
library association, representing the interests of public, academic,
school and special libraries, professional librarians and library
workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of
Canadians through information and literacy.
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Media Contact: Alvin M Schrader, PhD, Chair of the Advancement
of Intellectual Freedom in Canada Nominations Committee
alvin.schrader@ualberta.ca
Telephone: (780) 492-5372
