The City of Calgary announces new Ethics Advisor

CALGARY ­— Mayor Naheed Nenshi today announced the appointment of Dr. Emily Laidlaw as Council’s new Ethics Advisor.

An Associate Professor of Law at the University of Calgary, Dr. Laidlaw brings a wealth of experience and accomplishment to this role. Dr. Laidlaw will provide advice and education to City Council while also being a resource to help Calgarians better understand ethical expectations for elected municipal officials.

“I’m excited to take on this important function and am happy to serve City Council and get to know each of the councillors individually,” said Dr. Laidlaw.

Mayor Nenshi announced Dr. Laidlaw’s selection at today’s council meeting and pointed to her impressive resume as one of the many benefits to The City.

In addition to having practiced law in Calgary, Dr. Laidlaw holds a PhD in Information and Communication Technology Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science – where she also taught – and a Juris Doctor with distinction from The University of Saskatchewan.

In 2016, The City of Calgary became the first municipality in western Canada to appoint an Ethics Advisor and Integrity Commissioner. The Ethics Advisor works alongside the City’s Integrity Commissioner Sal LoVecchio, formerly a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, in the Integrity and Ethics Office.

Dr. Laidlaw replaces Alice Woolley, who was recently appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench.

-30-