Profile: Florence Chumpuka

Staying the course

Florence Chumpuka’s professional path has taken many turns, had many bumps, and has spanned two continents. She now looks back at her accomplishments with a sense of pride.

Professional path may take many turns

Florence Chumpuka, an accomplished legal counsel with the Public Law Policy Section of the Department of Justice Canada, has been practising law for 27 years. Florence’s professional path has taken many turns, had many bumps, and has spanned two continents. She now looks back at her accomplishments with a sense of pride.

Originally from Zambia, a former British colony, Florence trained under the common law system, receiving a Bachelor of Laws and a Certificate in Law Practice in 1980. While working as a parliamentary counsel for the National Assembly of Zambia, Florence won a scholarship to study at the University of Ottawa, obtaining a graduate diploma in Legislative Drafting in 1986. In 1989, she decided to move permanently to Canada. On arrival, Florence went through the accreditation process for foreign lawyers before becoming a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. As she recalls, “I had personal challenges with respect to financial costs and the stress related to balancing work, studies and single parenting responsibilities. I look back today and I cannot believe that I successfully navigated through three separate institutions to obtain all the necessary requirements before being called to the Bar five years later.”

Florence’s career has allowed her to serve the public in a number of different capacities, beginning with the Ontario government from 1990 to 1994. There she worked as special advisor to a cabinet minister and the Attorney General of Ontario. She was also a provincial prosecutor.

Coming into the government

Florence first joined the Government of Canada in 1997 as a policy advisor with the Medical Services Branch at Health Canada. She later joined the Department of Justice Canada in 1999 as legal counsel for Health Canada with the Legal Services Unit. 

An especially memorable career highlight was an appearance, in 2002, before the United Nations to present Canada’s report on the Status of Compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

At Justice Canada, Florence initiated, and now co-chairs, JustAccessJuste, a peer support group for designated employment equity group members. Her objective is to promote diversity at Justice. “I strongly believe that the face of Justice should reflect the diversity of its community,” she says, “because we all bring a very special aspect to our specific areas of work and valuable experience that enriches the work in the Department.”

From 2005 to 2007, Florence completed an assignment with the Career on the Move Program at the Privy Council Office (PCO).  Florence found her time at the PCO stimulating and described the experience as very rewarding. As a senior policy advisor, Florence was recognized with a Government of Canada Team Merit Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Privy Council Office. The award was for supporting and providing advice to the PCO on issues related to the Prime Minister’s prerogative for appointments to public office and to boards and agencies.

As a legal counsel in the Public Law Policy Sector, Florence provides policy advice to the minister, deputy minister and central agencies. She also responds to emerging public law policy issues with a particular emphasis on the Canadian Human Rights Act. Florence feels passionately about her work and is proud that her job contributes to ensuring that all Canadians enjoy human rights protections.

Giving back to the community

Her involvement extends into the community as well, where she is the legal advisor for the African Diaspora Association of Canada. This non-profit organization promotes human rights, poverty reduction and social justice in Africa.

After juggling a move halfway across the world with work, studies, family life and restarting her career, Florence says she is proud of what she has accomplished through hard work and persistence. “To those who may be in a similar situation,” she says with a smile, “I would encourage them to stay the course.”

• Next: Karen Foss was seduced by Afghanistan, because she feels that real change is possible.
• See all profiles