Challenges to Democracy
rdpolytech.ca/perspectives
Land Acknowledgment
Red Deer Polytechnic acknowledges that our campus is situated on Treaty 7 land, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina and Stoney Nakoda peoples, and that the central Alberta region we serve falls under Treaty 6, traditional Métis, Cree, and Salteaux territory. We honour the First Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial, and we give thanks for the land where RDP sits. This is where we will strive to hour and transform our relationships with one another.
ABOUT ANDREW COYNE
POLITICAL JOURNALIST
Insightful, provocative commentary on political and economic issues is what Andrew Coyne delivers to Canadians across the country. With topical and timely presentations, the former national editor of Maclean’s magazine and currently a columnist with the Globe and Mail, Coyne is sure to ignite debate and discussion with every audience.
In addition to writing for Maclean’s and the Globe and Mail, Coyne was previously an editorial writer and columnist for the Financial Post and a columnist with Postmedia and the Southam newspaper chain. He also writes regularly for a number of foreign publications, is a frequent commentator on radio and television — most famously, as a panelist on CBC’s The National in
the popular “At Issue” segment — and the author of the forthcoming book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy.
Coyne is the winner of two National Newspaper Awards and a four-time finalist in the National Magazine Awards. A past recipient of the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism, he is also a Fellow of the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.
Coyne received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of Toronto, and a Master’s in Economics from the London School of Economics. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Launched in 2002 by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Red Deer Polytechic, this public lecture series features internationally recognized speakers on topics important to our community, our country, and the world.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ABOUT PERSPECTIVES: CANADA IN THE WORLD
Opening Remarks & Land Acknowledgement
Dr. Robbie Halonen
Dean, School of Arts & Education
Introduction
Dr. Robbie Halonen
Dean, School of Arts & Education
Challenges to Democracy
Andrew Coyne
Thank You & Closing Remarks:
Lindsay Engel
Vice President, Academic & Student Experience, Red Deer Polytechnic
Book Signing to follow.
PERSPECTIVES SCHOLARSHIPS
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, and your support by attending Perspectives: Canada in the World, the Humanities and Social Sciences Department has established scholarships to benefit RDP students.
Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients:
2025
Myranda Lal 2024
Susan Richelhoff 2023
Audrey Ladd 2022
Celina Cloarec 2021
Emily Ducholke
2020
Emma Cleland
2019
Tyler Williams, Ethan West
2018
Desiree Byblow, Robin Bolan
2017
Robin Bolan, Riley Deschambault, Lucienne Henry, Everett Sokol
2016
Nathaneal Cannon, Daniel Huss, Heather Watson, Vanessa Hood, Sasha Sage
2015
Joanna Pohl, Angelina Saunders
2014
Margaret Ingram, Talitha Peacock
2013
Bailey Daines, Jessie Cadman
2012
Dalice Hrdlicka, James Hill
2011
Carmella Arnault, Ashley Thompson
2010
Aaron Telnes, Courtney Waldie
2009
Emily Falk, Rockland Pickard
2008
Stephen Griffith, Amanda Krejci
2007
Tara Hilman, Dylan Smibert
2006
Brett Muller, Jenna Ohrn
2005
Karen Henderson, Shari Lewis
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
For details on our next speaker, to be announced Summer 2026, visit rdpolytech.ca/perspectives
Organizing Committee Members:
Anah-Jayne Samuelson
Daniel Haas
Samuel Johannson
Jeffery Wigelsworth
Kathy Pallister
Krista Robson
Robbie Halonen
Sander Gelsing
Sarah Hunt
Skipp Symes
Zach Gordon
PAST SPEAKERS
JODY WILSON-RAYBOULD
Former Member of Parliament; Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; Bestselling Author
COLONEL CHRIS HADFIELD: Astronaut; Author; Musician; First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station
PROF. TIMOTHY CAULFIELD: Professor of Health Law and Science Policy; Author
DR. TIM COOK: First World War Historian at the Canadian War Museum; Author
DR. GABOR MATÉ: Expert In Addiction, Health and Wellness; Bestselling Author
JUSTICE MURRAY SINCLAIR: Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
MARGARET ATWOOD: Writer, Companion of the Order of Canada
NORA YOUNG: Host of CBC Radio’s Spark and Author of The Virtual Self
DR. MARK KINGWELL: Author, critic and award-winning professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto
CHANTAL HÉBERT: Political raconteur and columnist for the Toronto Star
AMBASSADOR GARY DOER: Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America
SUSAN AGLUKARK: Inuit speaker, Singer and Storyteller
GYWNNE DYER: Freelance Journalist, Columnist, Broadcaster and Lecturer on International Affairs
EZRA LEVANT: Author, Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada’s Oil Sands
AMANDA LINDHOUT: Founder and Executive Director, The Somali Women’s Scholarship Program
PHIL FONTAINE: Former National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
GWYN MORGAN: Founding CEO of EnCana Corporation
DR. MICHAEL GEIST: Professor and Canada Research Chair of Internet and e-Commerce Law, University of Ottawa
MAJOR GENERAL (RET.)
LEWIS MACKENZIE: Experienced Peacekeeper; led Canadian troops in the Bosnian War (1992) and other conflicts
PETER C. NEWMAN: Journalist and Bestselling Author
SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER: Canadian Environmental Advocate
MAHER ARAR: Human Rights Advocate; TIME Magazine’s Canadian Newsmaker of the Year (2004)
VERONICA TENNANT, C.C.: Film Director, Producer and former Prima Ballerina with National Ballet of Canada
DICK POUND: Canadian member of the International Olympic Committee
DR. MARGARET SOMERVILLE: Founding Director for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University
LT. GEN. (RET.) ROMÉO DALLAIRE: Force Commander of the UN mission to Rwanda in 1994
RIGHT HONOURABLE
BEVERLEY MCLACHLIN, P.C.: Chief Justice of Canada
HIS EXCELLENCY
JOHN RALSTON SAUL: Canadian Author, Essayist and Philosopher
STEPHEN LEWIS: International Humanitarian and UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
MICHAEL ONDAATJE: Bestselling Canadian Author
ARTHUR KENT: Canadian Journalist, Author and Filmmaker
Without your support, this event would not have been possible.
rdpolytech.ca/perspectives