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"THE GOVERNMENT
 IS THE SERVANT
 OF THE PEOPLE
 AND NOT ITS MASTER"

Winston Churchill
Oslo 1948

Chairman's Message

By Daniel Tisch

Volume 18 Issue 1 Spring 2006

Last fall, I had the pleasure of attending the 22^nd annual International Churchill Conference in Quebec City. For historians and history buffs, the conference was a feast. The locations, the Citadel and the Chateau Frontenac, were already rich in Canadian history in 1943 and 1944, when they played host to two conferences between Prime Minister Churchill, President Roosevelt and their military strategists. The organizers of the 2005 event made fine use of this magnificent stage, filling the program with a “who’s who” of speakers – including historians, politicians and even Churchill’s daughter, the prolific Lady Mary Soames. 

While walking through Quebec City, I was struck by the demographic gulf between those at the conference and those outside the Chateau walls. I found myself thinking of Michaelle Jean’s memorable swearing-in as Governor-General just a few days earlier, where she had unveiled her official motto, a message of pan-Canadian reconciliation: Briser les solitudes.  

I pondered how to bridge solitudes of a different sort: how do we negotiate the gap between the appreciation of history and the application of its lessons? How can we take the memory of a life lived long ago and make it relevant to people who have no memory of it? 

This is a critical challenge for the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy. Our charitable mission is to honour Churchill’s life and work by advancing education, discussion and debate about democracy today. 

In 2005/06, we pursued this mission by sponsoring a growing range of educational activities for high school and university students – and their teachers. We are expanding our sponsorships of the Ontario Legislative Internship Program at Queen’s Park and the Library of Parliament in Ottawa. And we continue to generate debate with an outstanding roster of speakers. 

At recent events, U.S. political journalist Chris Matthews spoke about the rules of successful political leadership; former Ontario premier Bob Rae shared his experiences as an advisor to the Iraqi Parliament; and Allan Lawrence, Peter Mansbridge and Steve Paikin each gave us a unique perspective on history. 

I am delighted that more young people attended the 2005 Churchill Society dinner than ever before, and that we now have more resources to make our speakers available – free of charge – to student audiences. While one modest-sized charity alone cannot stop the political disengagement of young people, I think Churchill would agree with the Chinese proverb that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 

As we begin another action-packed year, let me express my thanks for your support of our charitable mission. Together, we can – and will – make a difference.