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

Winston Churchill
Oslo 1948


 

_______________

WELCOME

The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy is a non-partisan, charitable organization that honours the life of Sir Winston Churchill by facilitating education, discussion and debate about Canada’s parliamentary democracy.

 

Parliamentary Democracy 101

"Thus we arrive, by our ancient constitutional methods, at practical working arrangements which show that Parliamentary democracy can adapt itself to all situations and can go out in all weathers."

 Prime Minister Winston Churchill
British House of Commons
8 September 1942

Parliamentary Democracy Educational Programme

Our ongoing educational initiatives seek to build an awareness and understanding of Canada's parliamentary democracy.

 

Parliamentary Democracy Resources

 

A long-standing feature is our links to educational resources on Canada's parliamentary democracy, such as Eugene Forsey's How Canadians Govern Themselves.

 

Parliamentary Democracy News and Information

 

A spin-free sampling of articles in Canadian newspapers featuring interviews mostly with political scientists and constitutional experts who explain how parliamentary democracy works.

 

 

eUpdates

 

Receive notices of future events

 

FEATURED LINK


The Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University

The Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) enhances the study of democracy and governance both within Canada and abroad. Established in the mid-1990s, CSD is a non-profit, non-partisan organization affiliated with the School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University. CSD works jointly with individuals or institutions abroad on research projects of mutual interest that contribute to democratic governance.

 

PREVIOUS EVENTS

The Churchill Society & Massey College present
a book launch for

 

Parliamentary Democracy in Crisis

The Dilemmas, Choices and Future of
Parliamentary Government in Canada

Journalists, political scientists, and leading constitutional experts
analyze the crisis and discuss the nature of Canada’s parliamentary democracy

Edited by Lorne Sossin and Peter H. Russell
Foreword by The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
Published by University of Toronto Press

You and a guest are invited to join Professor Peter H. Russell, noted political scientist and a past chairman of the Churchill Society, at the launch of his latest book that weighs the advantages of minority government in Canada. 

Event was held Monday, May 11, 2009

Annual General Meeting & Luncheon

Guest Speaker

 

The Right Honourable John N. Turner, PC, CC, QC

"Parliamentary Democracy Does Not Just Happen by Accident"

Canada’s 17th Prime Minister
1996 Recipient of the Churchill Society Award for
Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy 

This event was held Tuesday, May 5,  2009
A brief AGM dealt with items of business, including election of directors and approval of financial statements.

Politics of Purpose 40th Anniversary Edition by The Right Honourable John N. Turner was available for sale.

Wine generously donated By Charton Hobbs

Churchill Debate at Hart House

"RESOLVED: The Governor General should not have prorogued Parliament"

Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, PC, CC, CMM, OM, CD

Former Governor General, Premier of Manitoba, and MP
National Representative for Habitat for Humanity
Honorary Director of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund

The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy is proud to sponsor the annual Churchill Debate at Hart House in conjunction with the Hart House Debates Committee at the University of Toronto.

Edward Schreyer will offer his perspective on this timely subject after members of the Hart House Debating Club debate the issue in Canadian Parliamentary style format.


 This event was held 2 April 2009
 

2009 Churchill Essay

“We sneer at the Press, but they give an extremely true picture of a great deal that is going on, a much fuller and detailed picture, than we are able to receive from Ministers of the Government.”

- Winston S. Churchill

Question

 

Discuss whether  today’s “Press” (defined as the new communications media) is providing Canadians with a fuller and more detailed picture than newspapers and radio were when Winston Churchill made this statement in 1939.

First Prize $500   Second Prize $250   Third Prize $150

Essays should be 1,500 words or less. 

Participants will be judged on their ability to research the subject and apply their research effectively, take a position and support it with specific examples, organize their arguments clearly, and display a literary style.  Grammar and spelling will also be considered.

The deadline was 1 March 2009.

Thank you to all who participated.

Winners will be notified and announced here.
 

Parliament 2009: 
What Kind of Country Will We Have?
A Forum Exploring Parliamentary Democracy in Contemporary Canada

Featured a distinguished panel

Hon. Pauline Browes, P.C.
Member of Parliament (1984-1993)
Former Minister of Environment, Employment and Immigration and Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Sean Conway
 Member of Provincial Parliament (1975-2003)
Former Minister of Education, Mines, Skills Development and Colleges and Universities
Public Policy Advisor & Academic

Patrick Boyer, Q.C. 
Member of Parliament (1984-1993)
Academic & Author

Robin Sears
 Communications & Public Affairs Advisor
Former Director of the New Democratic Party
Former Chief of Staff to Bob Rae (1985-1990)
Former Diplomat

Event was held 21 January 2009

Sponsored by

Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy Munk Centre for International Studies

See photos from the event

Churchill Book Discussion Group

Five Days In London
May 1940

Plus...

Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat
The Dire Warning: Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister

Both books by John Lukacs

This event was held 11 December 2008
 

 

Our sincere appreciation to the guests, patrons and sponsors of the
 

Twenty-Fifth Annual Churchill Society Dinner
Silver Anniversary

A charitable evening to support democracy education in Canada, to celebrate the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill and to recognize the leadership of women in parliamentary democracy in Ontario and in Canada.

Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy

 Churchill Society Chairman Robert O'Brien and
the Rt. Hon, Kim Campbell

Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, P.C., C.C., Q.C.

Canada’s nineteenth and first female Prime Minister, first female Minister of Justice and Minister of National Defence, Canadian Consul General (Los Angeles)1996-2000, Chair of The Council of Women World Leaders 1999-2003, President of International Women’s Forum 2004-05, Secretary-General of the Club of Madrid 2004-06, author

Read messages from

Former Prime Minister the Right Honourable Joe Clark

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins

Keynote Speaker

Honourable Celia Sandys

Granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, Honorary Patron of the Churchill Society, internationally acclaimed journalist, television presenter, speaker and author of five books including We Shall Not Fail and Chasing Churchill

Held 20 November 2008

See photos from the event
 

Fifth Annual University of Toronto Churchill Lecture
 Co-sponsored by the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy and the Association of Political Science Students

"The Role of Women in Parliamentary Democracy"

Lecturer

Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, P.C., C.C., Q.C.

Canada’s nineteenth and first female Prime Minister, first female Minister of Justice and Minister of National Defence, Canadian Consul General (Los Angeles)1996-2000, Chair of The Council of Women World Leaders 1999-2003, President of International Women’s Forum 2004-05, Secretary-General of the Club of Madrid 2004-06, author

Held 20 November 2008



 Churchill Society Chairman Robert O'Brien and City of Toronto Councillor John Parker lay a wreath on behalf of the Society at the Cenotaph at Old City Hall on Remembrance Day
 


 IN PRINT

 CHURCHILLIAD
The Journal of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy

Volume 20 | Issue 1 | Fall 2008

Turning the Corner:
Reflecting on the Society's History
Looking Ahead to the 25th Anniversary

Download the Fall 2008 CHURCHILLIAD   (.pdf 3 MB)

 

The Great Dominion
Winston Churchill in Canada 1900-1954 

 

David Dilks

David Dilks, a leading British historian and guest speaker at the Churchill Dinner in 1999, launched his new book The Great Dominion: Winston Churchill in Canada, 1900-1954.  The book's publisher, Thomas Allen, and the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy invited all members of the Society a reception to celebrate its publication.  more

 

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE

Teachers Leadership Program

The Churchill Society is a proud sponsor of the Teacher Leadership Program. Organized by the Library of Parliament, this program selects alumni from Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy to prepare and present workshops on Parliament of Canada programming to other teachers in towns and cities across Canada. Read one teacher's experience

 


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