As the chamber of sober second thought, what better way for the Senate to celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday than by reflecting on the country’s past, present and future?

Last month, senators Serge Joyal and Judith Seidman hosted the Canada 150 Senate Symposium.  Over the course of the two-day event, leading Canadians mapped out the direction they predict the country will take in panel discussions on important national issues. They addressed topics such as Canada’s relations with its First Nations, sustainable development in the Arctic, the impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the importance of Canada’s identity in la Francophonie and many other themes.

Front row (left to right): President of the International Co-operative Alliance Monique F. Leroux, Senator Judith Seidman, The Right Honorable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and former Governor General of Canada, Senator Claudette Tardif, Senator Serge Joyal, Senator René Cormier, Former Chancellor of uOttawa Huguette Labelle, Former President of the Quebec Native Women’s Association Ellen Gabriel.
Back row (left to right): Senator Lucie Moncion, former Premier of Ontario Bob Rae, Senator Peter Harder, Senator Fabian Manning, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canada Council for the Arts Pierre Lassonde, F.R. Scott Professor of Public and Constitutional Law at McGill University Faculty of Law Mark D. Walters, President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed, geneticist, journalist and Cofounder of the David Suzuki Foundation David Suzuki, Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Ryerson University David E. Smith, President of the Canadian Labour Congress Hassan Yussuff.