Meet Our Patron

The Association for Higher Education and Development (Ahead) is priviledged to have the Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C. as its Patron.

Black lawyer from Halifax, Canada, the Honourable Oliver is a graduate of Acadia University and Dalhousie University Law School. In 1990, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada where he is currently Member of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce and Member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

Senator Oliver practiced law in Halifax with Stewart McKelvey Stirling and Scales from 1965 to 1990 as well as two other law firms for a total of 36 years, primarily in civil litigation. He taught Law at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, St. Mary’s University and Dalhousie University Law School and is a speaker and lecturer on topics such as Human Rights, Canadian Constitution and Election Law.

Senator Oliver’s record of community service includes his work as President and Chairman of the Halifax Children’s Aid Society, Chairman, President and Director of the Neptune Theatre Foundation, Director at the Halifax-Dartmouth Welfare Council, Founding.

Recipient of the Harry Jerome Award for Community Service, Senator Oliver has also served as Director of the Black United Front and Founding President and First Chairman for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia.

A Friend of Ethiopia, Senator Oliver is known as the champion of social justice whose voice is constantly heard from church basements, corporate boardrooms and government buildings seeking fairness and equity to all. While Ahead is fortunate to have Senator Oliver as its Patron, Ethiopia has also found a true friend who will take up its cause both with the Canadian Government and Canadian public.

The following is the speech delivered by Senator Oliver at the Ahead fund-raising, Addis Bazaar, on September 16, 2000.

The Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver