Trinity Western University is pleased to announce that the 14th Annual Mel Smith Lecture will feature Bill Blaikie, veteran parliamentarian and now Director, Knowles-Woodsworth Centre for Theology and Public Policy, Winnipeg, MB. In his lecture, Two Social Gospels or One? Blaikie explores, among other issues, the relationship of faith and politics.
An ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, Blaikie is among those members of the NDP who still resonate with the old western social gospel tradition. He was elected a Member of Parliament eight times between 1979- 2008 and served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons 2006-2009. Blaikie also served as Manitoba Cabinet Minister 2009-2011.
The Mel Smith Lectures contribute to the ongoing dialogue in Canada on significant public policy issues. The lecture is open to the public and will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
During the event, the recipient of the 2012-13 Mel Smith Scholarship will be announced. Each year, this scholarship is awarded to a TWU student of exceptional academic ability, majoring in Canadian history or political science.
The Mel Smith Special Collection—chronicling federal-provincial relations during the crucial period 1967 to 1992—is housed in TWU's archives and includes a comprehensive set of professional and personal constitutional papers. The collection provides a unique, B.C. perspective on Canadian constitutional issues, and is available online to students and researchers from all institutions (archives.twu.ca:8080)
This event is co-sponsored by the Religion, Culture, and Conflict Research Group at TWU.
Event at a glance
Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Devries Centre Auditorium, TWU campus. Directions provided at campus entrance.
Admission is free, and a reception will follow. For more information, please contact Tracey Byle at tracey.byle@twu.ca or 604.513.2033.