LAFONTAINE-BALDWIN SYMPOSIUM

lafontaine-baldwin.com

Founded in 2000 by John Ralston Saul, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s (ICC) LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium is a national event that explores citizenship, belonging and the public good with leading Canadian and international thinkers. It challenges the audience to think about Canada’s big picture by inviting them to add their voice to post-lecture roundtable discussions with the speaker and ICC founders and co-chairs, Saul and the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. Once again, the ICC has partnered with the Stratford Festival to present the 12th LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium featuring Robert Lepage, cutting-edge creator and recipient of The Glenn Gould Prize. The Symposium will take place this fall on Saturday, October 18 in Toronto; tickets are now on sale, visit lafontaine-baldwin.com.

Previous Guest speakers include:

  • March 22, 2023 – WATCH JRS discuss the past, present and future of Canadian democracy at Massey College
  • March 11, 2023 marked the 175th anniversary of Canadian Democracy. JRS is joined by CBC Journalist Omayra Issa and Kia Dunn of Ecotrust Canada to discuss questions like: How well Canada has lived up to the ideals set out in 1848? What does the future of Canadian democracy look like?

  • March 16, 2023 – Taj’s calligraphic tribute to JRS on the 175th anniversary of Canadian democracy
  • H. Masud Taj is an oral poet, calligrapher, architect and professor at Carleton University’s School of Architecture and Center for the Study of Islam. You can see more of Taj’s remarkable work on his website.  

  • March 11, 2023 – READ JRS on the 175th anniversary of Canadian democracy
  • On March 11, 1848, Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin were asked by Governor General Lord Elgin to form a government because they had the confidence of the House of Commons. This first Canadian democratic government put in place official bilingualism, advanced public education and laid the foundations of our contemporary immigration and citizenship policies.

  • September 19, 2016 – Watch the 14th LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture with Naomi Klein. Introduction by JRS. Click here to watch the video on CPAC – Toronto, Canada.
  • October 18th, 2014 – 12th LaFontaine Baldwin Symposium with Robert Lepage. The Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles Street West, Toronto).
  • 12th LaFontaine Baldwin Symposium with Robert Lepage. The Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles Street West, Toronto).

  • January 23, 2013
  • News Release: ICC Partnering with Stratford Festival to Host National Chief Shawn Atleo as 11th LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecturer

  • October 21, 2010 – Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Stanley A. Milner Library Theatre at 7:00PM (Edmonton)
  • Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Stanley A. Milner Library Theatre at 7:00PM (Edmonton)

  • October 19, 2010 – Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Roxy Theatre at 7:30PM (Saskatoon)
  • Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Roxy Theatre at 7:30PM (Saskatoon)

  • October 15th, 2010 – 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium featuring His Highness the Aga Khan
  • 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium featuring His Highness the Aga Khan

  • October 15, 2010 – 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium featuring His Highness the Aga Khan (Toronto)
  • 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium featuring His Highness the Aga Khan (Toronto)

  • October 13, 2010 – Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Ottawa International Writers Festival at 7:00PM (Ottawa)
  • October 13, 2010 Book Launch Event for Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, with Joseph Boyden at the Ottawa International Writers Festival at 7:00 PM (Ottawa)

  • September 2008 – Book, A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada
  • Book, A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada

  • October 27, 2007 – Globe and Mail
  • “The rogue state of Burmese generals”

  • September 27, 2007
  • Open Letter to the UN Secretary General by Akbar Ganji, signed by John Ralston Saul

  • Speech to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association
  • March 21, 2002 – Vancouver

  • March 23rd, 2000 – Inaugural LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture. Toronto, Ontario.
  • Inaugural LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture. Toronto, Ontario.

  • 2000 John Ralston Saul
  • January 16, 1999 – Sydney, Australia
  • Democracy and Globalization

  • Recent Speeches / Writings

  • November 23, 2023 – JRS talks with Haroon Siddiqui about his new book “My Name is Not Harry”
  • At The Ismaili Centre in Toronto, JRS joined Haroon Siddiqui, editorial page editor emeritus of the Toronto Star and former President of PEN Canada, in conversation about Siddiqui’s new book My Name is Not Harry. “Veteran Toronto Star editor Haroon Siddiqui, brown and Muslim, has spent a life on the media front lines, covering conflicts […]

  • October 29, 2023 – JRS discusses John Greyson’s film “International Dawn Chorus Day” about the deaths of two Egyptian activists
  • JRS, The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, Leena Manimekalai and John Greyson discussed Greyson’s award-winning short film “International Dawn Chorus Day” at The Ageless Film Festival in Toronto. The event was moderated by Kaveh Shahrooz and co-hosted by The Ageless International Film Festival, HotDocs, PEN Canada, Rainbow Railroad and the Centre for Free Expression. “International Dawn […]

  • October 17, 2023 – JRS reflects on his 1995 CBC Massey Lectures ”The Unconscious Civilization”
  • “Knowledge, the Enlightenment believed, could protect us from the follies of ideology. But John Ralston Saul maintains that ‘knowing’ has not made us ‘conscious.’ Instead we have become increasingly passive, our society increasingly conformist. There are no easy solutions to this problem, Saul says, but change is still possible.” In celebration of Massey College’s 60th […]

  • June 9, 2023 – JRS awarded honorary Doctor of Laws by Ontario Tech University
  • “In recognition of his award-winning contributions to Canadian literature, his philosophies on social justice, interdisciplinary study, freedom of expression, and championing of Indigenous rights, the university proudly confers upon Mr. John Ralston Saul the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.”  

  • May 4, 2023 – JRS awarded Honorary Membership in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
  • Founded in 1907, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) represents architects and architecture across the country. The RAIC’s Honorary Membership recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the influence of architecture and architects in Canada and internationally.  

  • March 22, 2023 – WATCH JRS discuss the past, present and future of Canadian democracy at Massey College
  • March 11, 2023 marked the 175th anniversary of Canadian Democracy. JRS is joined by CBC Journalist Omayra Issa and Kia Dunn of Ecotrust Canada to discuss questions like: How well Canada has lived up to the ideals set out in 1848? What does the future of Canadian democracy look like?

  • March 16, 2023 – Taj’s calligraphic tribute to JRS on the 175th anniversary of Canadian democracy
  • H. Masud Taj is an oral poet, calligrapher, architect and professor at Carleton University’s School of Architecture and Center for the Study of Islam. You can see more of Taj’s remarkable work on his website.  

  • March 11, 2023 – READ JRS on the 175th anniversary of Canadian democracy
  • On March 11, 1848, Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin were asked by Governor General Lord Elgin to form a government because they had the confidence of the House of Commons. This first Canadian democratic government put in place official bilingualism, advanced public education and laid the foundations of our contemporary immigration and citizenship policies.

  • November 23, 2022 – Écoutez JRS sur le 25e anniversaire de “Le français pour l’avenir” à l’émission “Les matins d’ici” (Radio-Canada)
  • JRS explique la mission de l’organisme Le français pour l’avenir, qui célèbre ses 25 ans, et l’importance de la langue française au Canada.

  • October 27, 2022 – READ JRS in “Write” magazine about renaming the Governor General’s Literary Awards
  • JRS is joined by Eugene Benson, Zilla Jones, Rick Revelle and Anna Marie Sewell in contributing their perspectives on whether it is time to rename the Governor General’s Literary Awards for the Fall 2022 issue of Write. Write is The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) quarterly magazine available exclusively to its members. If you are […]

  • October 23, 2022 – WATCH JRS speak about freedom of expression at the Ageless Film Festival
  • JRS is joined by The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Louise Dennys, Sturla Gunnarsson, Deepa Mehta, Ric Young and Bob Rae to talk about freedom of expression at The Ageless Film Festival in Toronto.

  • September 28, 2022 – READ JRS on the attack on Salman Rushdie and the pressures against free expression
  • This piece was adapted from JRS’s opening remarks made at the reading of Rushdie’s work at the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) at Harbourfront Centre on Sept. 27, 2022.

  • September 27, 2022 – JRS delivers opening remarks at TIFA’s “Freedom to Write and to Read: Standing with Salman Rushdie”
  • Following the brutal attack on Salman Rushdie, JRS delivered the opening remarks at an event co-organized by the Toronto International Festival of Authors, PEN Canada, Penguin Random House Canada and Writers’ Trust of Canada. JRS’s remarks were followed by a solidarity reading from Rushdie’s works by Margaret Atwood, The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, John Irving, […]

  • August 30, 2022 – JRS delivers the keynote address at the International Network of Parliamentary Properties conference
  • “The International Network of Parliamentary Properties (INPP) is a global community of professionals and experts dedicated to exchanging and sharing knowledge regarding the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of heritage parliamentary buildings. Its purpose is to foster engagement and collaboration with a global community of peers with particular experience and expertise in dealing with complex parliamentary […]

  • July 1, 2022 – READ JRS’s thoughts on the Canadian flag – Toronto Star
  • The Toronto Star asked JRS and a number of other writers and prominent Canadians to put into words what they believe the flag symbolizes. You can read all the essays here: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/2022/07/01/we-asked-prominent-canadians-what-the-maple-leaf-flag-means-to-them-heres-what-they-said.html

  • June 2, 2022 – READ JRS on Maurice Strong & the Stockholm Conference – Toronto Star
  • This month is the 50th anniversary of the creation of the international environmental movement led by the Canadian, Maurice Strong.

  • May 16, 2022 – Block 2 Architectural Competition
  • Block 2 Architectural Competition The Block 2 design competition was an international architectural competition for the city block immediately south of Parliament Hill. The winning design will directly face Centre Block and the Peace Tower and complete the fourth side of Parliament Square. The independent jury, chaired by Bruce Haden and Anne McIlroy, was a […]

  • March 15, 2022 – WATCH JRS talk about gardening on Ep. #102 of “Visionary Gardeners”
  • JRS’s home garden intentionally mirrors the people and place where he lives by deliberately featuring plants that exist naturally in the northern hemisphere. The documentary series is broadcast on VisionTV.

  • March 2, 2022 – Écoutez JRS sur «Liberté» et guerre dans l’emission “Dans la mosaïque” (Radio-Canada)
  • À la lumière de la guerre en Ukraine et des manifestations contre les mesures sanitaires, JRS propose des pistes de solution pour protéger et renforcer nos démocraties aujourd’hui.

  • September 24, 2021 – READ JRS’s remarks at the PEN International Centenary Congress
  • JRS delivered the keynote address at the PEN International Centenary Congress in September 2021. JRS spoke about his time as International President (2009-2015) and the continuing importance of PEN’s work fighting for freedom of expression, the rights of writers (including, crucially, those in prison or exile) and support for Indigenous and minority languages.