Two standout lectures by experts in the public service kicked off the School of Policy Studies winter 2018 Policy Speaker Series, and there are more to come throughout the winter term.

On Jan. 18, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, delivered the Donald Gow Memorial Lecture to students, faculty, and staff.

The Lieutenant Governor reflected on her experience over the past year attending over 100 Canada 150 events, and her participation in the celebrations marking our country’s history and growth. She reflected on the call for reconciliation from Indigenous communities and discussed the opportunities and challenges facing Ontario in the future in an increasingly globalized and complex world.

“Ontarians have not only a lot to contribute to the world, but also a lot to learn from it – which is both an opportunity, and a responsibility,” said the Lieutenant Governor. “In a time of fake news and echo chambers, when there is a temptation to isolate ourselves, I think we must resist that urge. Ontarians, in my experience, are very good at building bridges, and we can lead by example.”

Steve Orsini, Secretary of the Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service, and Clerk of the Executive Council, spoke Jan. 12 to a packed audience about transforming the Ontario Public Service to adapt to the future. Mr. Orsini focused on the continuing journey of the Ontario public service to become a more client-focused, innovative, efficient, and inclusive organization that is prepared for rapid change.

The Distinguished Lectures and Policy Speaker series will continue to bring eminent academics and public policy experts to Queen’s throughout the term. The speakers are:

• Marian Campbell Jarvis, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy
• Kathy Brock, cross-appointed professor, School of Policy Studies and Department of Political Studies
• Keith Banting, Stauffer Dunning Fellow in the School of Policy Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Studies,
• Marlene Brant Castellano, Professor Emeritus of Trent University, Native Studies Department
• Natan Obed, President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Canada’s National Inuit Leader – The Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series
• George Thomson, Senior Director – International of Canada’s National Judicial Institute
• Stephen Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada – The David Dodge Lecture, presented this year by the Smith School of Business
• Robert Wolfe, Professor Emeritus, School of Policy Studies – The J. Douglas Gibson Lecture
• Shelly Jamieson, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
• Tim McTiernan, visiting scholar in the School of Policy Studies and former president of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

The winter series will run 10 more lectures from Thursday, Feb. 1, to Thursday, March 29. For more information about the winter term lineup, see the Policy Speakers Series website.