Joanne McGarry
Executive Director, Catholic Civil Rights League

Joanne McGarry has been in journalism, public relations and media training for over 25 years. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario.

In the 1980s, she was managing editor of The Catholic Register. After that, she was editor and publisher of a group of magazines for the Canadian jewellery industry, and then public relations manager of Speedware Corporation, one of Canada’s leading application development software providers. She later had her own media relations practice, providing media campaigns, media training and strategic planning advice for several software, e-commerce and telecommunications providers.

Joanne has been executive director of The Catholic Civil Rights League since 2004 and is often interviewed by the media to discuss freedom of speech, religious freedom and fairness in the portrayals of faith groups.  She has appeared on The Agenda, Cross Country Checkup,  Mike Duffy Live, Faith Journal, Metro Morning, 100 Huntley Street, The Michael Coren Show, and many local stations, and been quoted in national newspapers including The Globe and Mail and The National Post. She is a regular columnist with The Catholic Register.

Joanne is responsible for all League publications, such as e-bulletins, newsletters and web content. She is married and has three children.