The Margie and Tom Courchene Endowment Fund was established to create a permanent Speakers Series in the School of Policy Studies, to be known subsequently as the Tom Courchene Distinguished Speakers Series. It continues the tradition that Tom established, as the inaugural director for the School of Policy Studies, to serve as a bridge between the academic and professional policy communities, engaging faculty, students, policymakers, politicians and other opinion leaders, in discussion on major policy issues.
The Fund will support the costs associated with bringing eminent academics and public policy experts to Queen’s University campus, with a focus dedicated to a major public lecture and other events relating to Indigenous Policy and Governance, a policy field in which Tom has become increasingly engaged in recent years.
Upcoming Lecture:
Past lectures in this series:
2024: Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power
Margaret Kenequanash was joined by Tim Lavoie, Vice President, Corporate Services and Indigenous Relations at FortisOntario Inc. for this lectureship.
Connecting Remote First Nations in the Northwestern Ontario To The Provincial Power Grid
2022: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada
"Through the Eyes of the North: Our Collective Responsibility"
2021: The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C, M.P.
"UNDRIP is the Start, Not the Finishing Line"
2019: The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Founder, Martin Family Initiative; former Prime Minister of Canada
"Moving Forward: A Conversation on Education and Reconciliation"
2018: Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
"The Spirit Bear Plan to End Inequalities in Public Services for First Nations Children, Youth and Families"
2018: Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
"Considering Canada’s Renewed Relationship With Indigenous Peoples Through the Rights-based Lens of Inuit Self-determination"
2015: The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Commissioner and Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
"What do we do about the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools?"
Watch videos of all past lectures in this series on YouTube.