Annamie Paul

2002

Annamie Paul

Canadian Centre for Political Leadership

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Civil and Human Rights, Legal Advocacy

The Bold Idea:

Women in Canada fill only 20% of federal seats and fewer than 18% of provincial seats. The Canadian Centre for Political Leadership (CCPL) provides women, racial minorities and aboriginal peoples in pursuit of public office with non-partisan training that will assist them in mounting successful campaigns and ultimately increase their representation in Canadian politics. The Centre works to overcome barriers that office seekers face in the party nomination process, namely the lack of financial resources and access to political networks. As the first permanent centre of its kind, the CCPL provides a forum in which strategies for the benefit of female, visible minority and Aboriginal public office seekers can be developed and shared.

Biography:

Annamie Paul was born and raised in Toronto. She attended the University of Ottawa where she completed two years of undergraduate work before enrolling in the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Common Law. Annamie received her Bachelor of Laws degree in 1995 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1998. After completing her articles, Annamie worked at the Ontario Legislature as part of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme. In 2001, Annamie was granted a Masters Degree in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.

Annamie is the founder and Director of the Canadian Centre for Political Leadership (CCPL). The CCPL provides women, visible minorities and Aboriginal peoples with non-partisan training and resources to help them successfully pursue public office. The goal of the CCPL is to increase the political representation of these groups in Canadian politics.

Annamie is also the first Canadian to be granted an Echoing Green Fellowship.  Annamie is also an inaugural member of the Action Canada Fellowship. Action Canada is a national fellowship that provides programming focusing on leadership development and public policy projects of significance to Canada.

Annamie lives in Toronto with her husband Mark Freeman and sons, Jonas Daniel and Malachai Daniel.