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Members of the Commission

David C. Gavsie – Chair (Full-time)

David C. Gavsie practiced corporate/commercial law for more than thirty years in both Ottawa and Toronto with the law firms of Gowling and Henderson and Ogilvy Renault prior to his retirement from the practice of law. In November 2005 he was appointed Chair of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario where he served until February 2011 when he became Chair of the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. He has been Chair of the Board of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Ottawa International Airport Authority, the Institute of Corporate Directors, Corporate Governance College, and has served and continues to serve on boards of a number of other corporations. David is an avid tennis player and power boater.

Dave Edwards – Vice Chair (Part-time)

Dave Edwards has been a partner in a Niagara Region Law firm since 1978 practicing primarily in the areas of corporate and commercial law. During his professional career he has served on a number of community organizations and held a number of positions, including: Chair of the Board of Trustees of Brock University, President of the United Way of his Municipality and District, Member of the Niagara District Airport Commission, and a Member of the Boards of Directors of The Alzheimer Society of Niagara and the Rotary Club.

Noëlle Caloren – Member (Part-time)

Noëlle Caloren is a lawyer who was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995. She practices law in a large national Canadian law firm. With a background in general litigation, Ms. Caloren has developed an expertise in employment and labour law, human rights and education law matters. Over the last six years, Ms. Caloren has taught Civil Procedure at the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She is also a contributing author to a comprehensive employment law text Employment Law – Solutions for the Canadian workplace. Ms. Caloren is fluently bilingual.

Roy B. Conacher – Member (Part-time)

Roy B. Conacher is a senior partner with an Eastern Ontario Law firm. He was called to the Bar in 1971 and after practicing in Toronto for several years moved to Eastern Ontario. He has served on many boards and tribunals during his career including appointments as Co-Chair, Ontario Psychiatric Review Board; Regional Vice-Chair, Ontario Consent & Capacity Board; Independent Chairperson, Federal Penitentiaries Act, Deputy Judge (Small Claims). He has served the community as a municipal councilor as Chair, Professional Division, Eastern Ontario United Way Campaign and a director of a local Rotary Club. His practice now concentrates on real estate development and municipal law.

Zahra Dhanani – Member (Part-time)

Zahra Dhanani is a lawyer, trainer, facilitator and independent consultant to the nonprofit sector. She studied at Osgoode Hall Law School where she received her LL.B and earned her LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution. With more than 20 years experience, Ms. Dhanani has extensive knowledge in the areas of nonprofit organizational development, social justice, diversity, gender violence and immigrant and refugee realities. Ms. Dhanani has served as an expert to service providers and community organizations providing plain language legal training on multiple areas of law. Ms. Dhanani completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa, where she focused on Women’s Issues and Political Science. 

Hyacinthe Miller – Member (Part-time)

Following graduation from university, Ms. Miller worked in the private sector and for the federal and provincial governments in Ontario. During her career, Ms. Miller was a senior manager, a technology consultant and general advisor to federal and provincial government ministries and central agency officials, law enforcement agencies and civilian oversight organizations. Currently an organizational development consultant and technical writer, Ms. Miller was formerly Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. She is active in various community agencies and is a published author.

John R. Rodriguez – Member (Part-time)

John Rodriguez began his extensive career as a teacher in southern Ontario, later becoming principal of a northern Ontario elementary school. He was elected president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association where he promoted greater cooperation between teachers and organized labour. In 1972, he began his 18-year service as a Member of Parliament. In 2006, he was elected mayor of a major Ontario city for four years. He has served on numerous boards including the Canadian Mental Association, the Heart and Stroke Association, the Child and Family Centre and is presently a board member of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Laurentian University majoring in English and Spanish Literature.

The members of the Commission are representative of all areas of the Province including the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions.