Perspectives 2025 - Digital Program

Political Journalist | Globe and Mail Columnist At Issue Panelist on CBC’s The National | Author

Challenges to Democracy Andrew Coyne

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.

ABOUT PERSPECTIVES: CANADA IN THE WORLD 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 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

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

2024 Susan Richelhoff 2023 Audrey Ladd

2011 Carmella Arnault, Ashley Thompson

2022 Celina Cloarec

2010 Aaron Telnes, Courtney Waldie

2021 Emily Ducholke

2009 Emily Falk, Rockland Pickard

2020 Emma Cleland

2008 Stephen Griffith, Amanda Krejci

2019 Tyler Williams, Ethan West

2007 Tara Hilman, Dylan Smibert

2018 Desiree Byblow, Robin Bolan

2006 Brett Muller, Jenna Ohrn

2017 Robin Bolan, Riley Deschambault, Lucienne Henry, Everett Sokol

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

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

CHANTAL HÉBERT: Political raconteur and columnist for the Toronto Star

LT. GEN. (RET.) ROMÉO DALLAIRE: Force Commander of the UN mission to Rwanda in 1994

AMBASSADOR GARY DOER: Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America

RIGHT HONOURABLE BEVERLEY MCLACHLIN, P.C.: Chief Justice of Canada

SUSAN AGLUKARK: Inuit speaker, Singer and Storyteller

HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN RALSTON SAUL: Canadian Author, Essayist and Philosopher

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

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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Without your support, this event would not have been possible.

rdpolytech.ca/perspectives