معرفی
Col. (ret.) Michel William Drapeau serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, teaching Access to Information and Privacy Law (Common Law Section, French) and Canadian Military Law (Common Law Section, English) at undergraduate and graduate levels since his 2009 appointment. A retired Canadian Forces Colonel with 34 years of service ending in 1993 as Director of National Defence Headquarters Secretariat, he maintains an active private law practice specializing in military/veterans law, administrative law, and human rights litigation before Federal Courts and tribunals.
His academic foundation includes dual law degrees (LL.L. civil law 1999, LL.B. common law 2000) from the University of Ottawa, complemented by advanced military education: CF Command and Staff College (1975), U.S. Armed Forces Staff College (1977), U.S. Army Military Comptrollership School (1978), and National Defence College (1988). He clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal under Justice Gilles Létourneau prior to being called to the Ontario Bar in 2002.
Drapeau’s research critically examines military justice systems and privacy/access-to-information frameworks, reflecting his unique soldier-lawyer perspective. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal principles with operational military realities, particularly in sentencing under the National Defence Act and cross-jurisdictional privacy challenges. The recurring theme across his work is the tension between national security imperatives and individual rights within administrative law structures.
His 2001-2015 publications reveal two dominant trajectories: foundational military law texts addressing court martial procedures and disciplinary systems, and pioneering privacy/access-to-information works analyzing government transparency mechanisms. Notably, his military law scholarship integrates comparative perspectives from international military jurisdictions, while his privacy research emphasizes practical implementation challenges in federal institutions.
Drapeau’s exceptional service has earned significant recognition:
- Order of Military Merit (OMM) for “outstanding military service” (1990)
- Canadian Forces Decoration with dual clasps
- Commemorative Medal for Canada’s 125th Anniversary (1993)
- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2003)
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for veteran welfare contributions (2012)
- Ontario Bar Association Distinguished Award for “exceptional career contributions” (2022)
Though not supervising formal graduate students, Drapeau mentors through high-impact legal advocacy, having argued before the Federal Court of Appeal, Court Martial Appeal Court, and US Congressional panels on military justice reform. His international engagements include Yale Law School seminars and Rhodes Conference presentations, demonstrating sustained influence beyond Canadian borders. Professional leadership includes board service at Collège militaire royal (2007-2012) and Saint-Paul University (2012-2019), plus membership in the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War.
