Land Acknowledgment
Red Deer Polytechnic acknowledges that we learn and work on Treaty 7, Treaty 6 and Métis ancestral lands, the gathering place of many Indigenous Peoples. This is where we will strive to honour and transform our relationships with one another.
ABOUT THE HON. JODY WILSON-RAYBOULD
The Honourable Jody WilsonRaybould, PC, OBC, KC, was raised to be a leader. The daughter of a hereditary chief and Indigenous leader, she always knew that she would seek leadership roles and responsibilities. As a lawyer, an advocate, and a leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, she’s built a strong reputation as a bridge builder and champion of good governance and accountability. She shares her unique perspective as both a community and political leader on topics such as Indigenous rights and reconciliation, democracy and governance, leadership, and justice.
Wilson-Raybould was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Vancouver Granville in 2015. She was then appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada making her the first Indigenous person to serve in this portfolio. In January 2019, she was appointed the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada and Associate Minister of National Defence, positions she held until her resignation from cabinet in February 2019.
During the 2019 election, WilsonRaybould was re-elected as an Independent Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, making her Canada’s first ever female Independent MP elected and the only elected Independent in the 43rd Parliament.
Prior to politics, Wilson-Raybould was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and served three terms as an elected Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She was also elected BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009, where she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. She served until 2015, holding responsibilities for governance and Nation building on the Assembly of First Nations Executive.
Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation with her traditional name, Puglaas, meaning “woman born to noble people.” She served two terms as an elected councillor for her Nation and was also a director and chair of the First Nations Finance Authority and a director of the First Nations Lands Advisory Board.
Wilson-Raybould is the bestselling author of three books, the political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, which was a finalist for The Writers’ Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing; From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada; and, her most recent, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change.
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
Dr. Jonathon Penny, Dean, School of Arts & Education
Land Acknowledgement
His Worship, Ken Johnston, Mayor of Red Deer
Introduction
Lindsay Hawrylak, Indigenous Studies Scholar and Knowledge Holder, School of Arts & Education
Being an Agent of Change and the Nature of Integrity
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould
Question & Answer
Gift Presentation and Closing Remarks
Stuart Cullum, President, 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:
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, visit rdpolytech.ca/perspectives
Organizing Committee Members:
Constance Gallant
Zach Gordon
Sander Gelsing
Daniel Haas
Sarah Hunt
Kathy Pallister
Jacqueline Patterson
Jonathon Penny
Krista Robson
Anah-Jayne Samuelson
Skipp Symes
Jeffery Wigelsworth
PAST SPEAKERS
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 best-selling 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: Best-selling Canadian author
ARTHUR KENT: Canadian journalist, author and filmmaker
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Without your support, this event would not have been possible.
