University of Regina's Woodrow Lloyd Lecture to be held in Moose Jaw and feature Preston Manning

News Release Release Date: February 3, 2011 12:00 p.m.

The Honourable Preston Manning, founder of the Reform Party, will speak on "Western Canadian Democracy: A Backward and a Forward Look" at the University of Regina's annual Woodrow Lloyd Lecture.

Co-sponsored by the Canadian Plains Research Center (CPRC) and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina, the Woodrow Lloyd Lecture will be held in Moose Jaw for the first time as part of the University's 2010-2011 Community Connections Tour.

The lecture will take place at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at the Heritage Inn, 1590 Main St. North, Moose Jaw. 

Manning, who is founder, president and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, will explore the bottom-up grassroots democratic traditions of Western Canada and their relevance for today and the future. He will discuss how the tools that democracy gives all Canadians - freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom to act politically on our convictions - can be harnessed to shape the agendas of all levels of government.

The Woodrow Lloyd Lecture features a nationally or internationally recognized scholar, writer, thinker, and/or activist who speaks on issues of direct relevance to Saskatchewan residents. Past speakers include Dr. David Suzuki and the Honourable Roy Romanow. "This is another example of how the University of Regina is a provincial university that places a great deal of importance on connecting with communities across Saskatchewan," said Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina.

The University of Regina held special events in Melville and Estevan in the fall, and is planning a number of events across the province this winter and spring.   

"These kinds of events foster community partnerships and support the University's Strategic Plan - mâmawohkamâtowin: Our Work, Our People, Our Communities - by promoting our academic mission, teaching, research and community service," added President Timmons.

The Woodrow Lloyd lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. Parking is available on the hotel grounds. A reception will follow the lecture. For more information, call the Faculty of Arts at 585-4226.