Biography of wayne mackay

Teaching

Professor MacKay is a nationally recognized teacher and scholar, and accomplished author in the areas of Constitutional Law, the Charter of Rights, Human Rights, Privacy Law and Education Law. In addition to teaching courses in the previous areas, he has also taught Administrative Law, Criminology and Aboriginal Rights.

Areas of supervision: Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Education Law

Research interests

Professor MacKay's primary areas of research include Constitutional Law, Public Law, the Charter of Rights, Education Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights and Privacy Law. He has conducted major government studies on inclusive education, cyberbullying, and social and economic rights, and he has written extensively in these areas.

Selected awards & honours

  • 2013 - Voted one of Canadian Lawyer magazine's "Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers"
    (Government/Non-Profits/Associations Category)
  • 2012 - Yogis & Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law
  • 2009 - Queen's Counsel, NS
  • 2005 - Member of the Order of Canada
  • 2002 - Queen Elizabeth II Bicentennial Medal for Distinguished Service
  • 2001 - Dalhousie University's Alumni Award of Excellence for Teaching
  • 2001 - Honourable Walter S Tarnopolsky National Award for Achievements in the Field of Human Rights (Awarded by the International Committee of Jurists)
  • 1999 - Kennedy Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Teaching Law
  • 1995 to present - Listed in Canadian Who's Who (University of Toronto Press)
  • 1994 - Canadian Association of Law Teachers' Award for Academic Excellence

Selected publications

  • A Wayne MacKay, Lyle Sutherland & Kim Pochini, Teachers and the Law: Diverse Roles and New Challenges, 3rd ed (Toronto: Edmond-Montgomery Ltd, 2013). 
  • Nova Scotia Task Force on Bullying and Cyberbullying, "Respectful and Responsible Relationships: There's No App for That" (Halifax: Education and Early Childhood Development, 2012).
  • A Wayne MacKay (with the assistance of Natasha Kim), “Social and Economic Rights in Canada: What Are They and Who Can Best Protect Them?” in B. Adell & J. Magnet, eds, Canadian Rights and Freedoms: 25 Years under the Charter (Toronto: Butterworths, 2009).
    Also a special volume: (2009) 45 Sup Ct L Rev 385.
  • A Wayne MacKay, “The Lighthouse of Equality: A Guide to Inclusive Schooling” in M. Manley-Casimir, ed, The Courts, the Charter and the Schools (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009).
  • Connecting, Care and Challenge: Tapping Our Human Potential - Inclusive Education: A Review of Programming and Services in New Brunswick (New Brunswick Department of Education, 2005).

> For a complete list of publications, see Professor MacKay's CV.

Service & activity

  • Advisor to federal and provincial governments
  • Frequent media commentator in all forms of media
  • 2011-12 - Chair, Nova Scotia Task Force on Bullying and Cyberbullying
  • 2009 to present - Board Member, Atlantic Human Rights Centre
  • 2009 to present - Board Member, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
  • 2008 to present - Member, Nova Scotia Bar Society Discipline Committee
  • 2003-06 - Vice Chair of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
  • 2001-04 - President and Vice Chancellor of Mount Allison University
  • 1995-98 - Director of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
  • 1989-90 - Founding Director of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initiative