Empire Club of Canada: Difference between revisions
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<big>'''History'''</big> |
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The catalyst for the formation of the Empire Club of Canada was a majority decision by the International Boundaries Tribunal in October of 1903. This tribunal, consisting of three Americans, two Canadians and one British, voted 4 to 2 in favour of awarding a large strip on the Pacific Coast of Canada to the United States. |
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While, in some circles at that time, there were stong proponents for greater independence of Canada, a prominent group of local leaders felt there was a need for a new organization. One that would support the Empire as it was felt it would be beneficial to Canada to keep strong political and economic ties with the Empire. |
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A group of men gathered to draft the constitution for a new club to be named The Empire Club of Canada. This organization with a plan of weekly luncheons, which would be addressed by prominent individuals who spoke with authority on the issues of the day, would also have a distinctive basis of British connection in its work and policy. |
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Membership was restricted to British subjects (there was no Canadian citizenship at the time) who would pay dues of $1 a year, with a maximum membership of 500. Within a month, membership exceeded 300. A year or two later, the club had a waiting list of those wishing to join. |
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“I can quite understand that to many persons, the formation of a club of this kind will seem a very little thing, ... I have not the least doubt that this Club will become of great influence and power in this Dominion” said the first luncheon speaker on December 3, 1903, a clergyman and professor, William Clark. |
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Rev Clark seems to have had the gift of prophecy, as in the century that followed hundreds of the world’s most distinguished men and women would follow him to that podium, discussing, debating and introducing bold ideas to many of the key issues of the century. |
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'''<big>The Empire Club Foundation</big>''' |
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The Empire Club Foundation was incorporated in January 1969 and serves as a vehicle for the publication and wide-distribution of the annual compilation of speeches. Copies are sent to a large distribution of schools, libraries, consulates and embassies. |
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Registered as a charity, it objectives are to promote the interest in current and public affairs and to establish a historical database of all Empire Club speeches. |
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All Empire Club speeches since 1903 is available via the Empire Club website. |
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John Koopman is the current the leader, champion and hero of the Empire Club Foundation. |
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Revision as of 14:56, 26 August 2010
About the Empire Club
The Empire Club of Canada is recognized as one of Canada's long-standing and most respected speakers’ forums.
Established in 1903, the Empire Club has provided a forum to over 3500 speakers whose speeches, debates and discussions to Canadian professionals and leaders have helped shape public policy discussion and thinking in Canada.
Heading into the 21st century, the Empire Club is committed to creating spaces for forward-thinking Canadians and internationl leaders to engage in honest dialogue and to present courageous thinking in addressing the nation’s and world’s key challenges and opportunities.
Through a variety of presentation formats, the Empire Club invites local, national and international leaders and change-agents to address topical issues of the day.
The Empire Club is based in Toronto and holds most of its luncheon/breakfast discussions in a downtown Toronto-based hotel. The following leaders are only a small sub-set of those have addressed the Empire Club podium:
- Indira Gandhi
- Brian Mulroney
- The Dalai Lama
- Margaret Thatcher
- Bill Gates
- Audrey Hepburn
- John Diefenbaker
- Ronald Reagan
- Margaret Mead
- Prince Philip
- Winston Churchill
- Dr. Billy Graham
- Vladimir Putin
- Pierre Trudeau
- Grey Owl
- The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman
- Jean Chrétien
- Hilary Weston
- Maureen Forrester
- Roberta Bondar
- Adrienne Clarkson
- Paul Martin
- Stephen Harper
History The catalyst for the formation of the Empire Club of Canada was a majority decision by the International Boundaries Tribunal in October of 1903. This tribunal, consisting of three Americans, two Canadians and one British, voted 4 to 2 in favour of awarding a large strip on the Pacific Coast of Canada to the United States. While, in some circles at that time, there were stong proponents for greater independence of Canada, a prominent group of local leaders felt there was a need for a new organization. One that would support the Empire as it was felt it would be beneficial to Canada to keep strong political and economic ties with the Empire. A group of men gathered to draft the constitution for a new club to be named The Empire Club of Canada. This organization with a plan of weekly luncheons, which would be addressed by prominent individuals who spoke with authority on the issues of the day, would also have a distinctive basis of British connection in its work and policy. Membership was restricted to British subjects (there was no Canadian citizenship at the time) who would pay dues of $1 a year, with a maximum membership of 500. Within a month, membership exceeded 300. A year or two later, the club had a waiting list of those wishing to join. “I can quite understand that to many persons, the formation of a club of this kind will seem a very little thing, ... I have not the least doubt that this Club will become of great influence and power in this Dominion” said the first luncheon speaker on December 3, 1903, a clergyman and professor, William Clark. Rev Clark seems to have had the gift of prophecy, as in the century that followed hundreds of the world’s most distinguished men and women would follow him to that podium, discussing, debating and introducing bold ideas to many of the key issues of the century.
The Empire Club Foundation
The Empire Club Foundation was incorporated in January 1969 and serves as a vehicle for the publication and wide-distribution of the annual compilation of speeches. Copies are sent to a large distribution of schools, libraries, consulates and embassies. Registered as a charity, it objectives are to promote the interest in current and public affairs and to establish a historical database of all Empire Club speeches. All Empire Club speeches since 1903 is available via the Empire Club website. John Koopman is the current the leader, champion and hero of the Empire Club Foundation.
Past Presidents:
Year | President |
---|---|
1903-1905 | Brig. Gen. The Hon. James Mason |
1905-1906 | Rt. Rev. William Clark |
1906-1907 | J.P. Murray |
1907-1908 | J.F.M. Stewart |
1908-1909 | D.J. Coggin |
1909-1910 | Elias Clouse |
1910-1911 | J. Castell Hopkins |
1911-1912 | F.B. Featherstonhaugh |
1912-1913 | Rt. Rev. James F. Sweeny |
1913-1914 | The Hon. Mr. Justice James Craig |
1914-1915 | Lt. Col. R.J. Stuart |
1915-1916 | Albert Ham |
1916-1917 | James Black Perry |
1917-1918 | Norman Sommerville |
1918-1919 | F.J. Coombs |
1919-1920 | R.A. Stapells |
1920-1921 | Arthur Hewitt |
1921-1922 | Brig. Gen. C.H. Mitchell |
1922-1923 | Sir William Hearst |
1923-1924 | Elias H. Wilkinson |
1924-1925 | William Brooks |
1925-1926 | Rev. N.R. Burns |
1926-1927 | Col. A.E. Kirkpatrick |
1927-1928 | Col. Alexander Fraser |
1928-1929 | Robert H. Fennell |
1929-1930 | Hugh S. Eayrs |
1930-1931 | John D.M. Spence |
1931-1932 | H.G. Stapells |
1932-1933 | Col. The Hon. George A. Drew |
1933-1934 | Major James Baxter |
1934-1935 | The Hon. Mr. Justice Dana H. Porter |
1935-1936 | J.H. Brace |
1936-1937 | Major G.B. Balfour |
1937-1938 | Major R.M. Harcourt |
1938-1939 | J.P. Pratt |
1939-1940 | F.A. Gaby |
1940-1941 | The Hon. G. Howard Ferguson |
1941-1942 | C.R. Sanderson |
1942-1943 | John C.M. MacBeth |
1943-1944 | W. Eason Humphreys |
1944-1945 | Charles R. Conquergood |
1945-1946 | Eric F. Thompson |
1946-1947 | Major F.L. Clouse |
1947-1948 | Tracey E. Lloyd |
1948-1949 | T.H. Howse |
1949-1950 | H.C. Colebrook |
1950-1951 | Sydney Hermant |
1951-1952 | D.H. Gibson |
1952-1953 | John W.F. Griffin |
1953-1954 | Arthur E.M. Inwood |
1954-1955 | James H. Joyce |
1955-1956 | C.C. Goldring |
1956-1957 | Donald H. Jupp |
1957-1958 | LCol. W.H. Montague |
1958-1959 | MGen. B.J. Legge |
1959-1960 | Harold R. Lawson |
1960-1961 | Hon. Alexander Stark |
1961-1962 | Dr. Z.S. Phimister |
1962-1963 | Dr. J. Palmer Kent |
1963-1964 | Major Arthur J. Langley |
1964-1965 | Col. Robert H. Hilborn |
1965-1966 | Col. E.A. Royce |
1966-1967 | R. Bredin Stapells |
1967-1968 | B. Graham M. Gore |
1968-1969 | Edward B. Jolliffe |
1969-1970 | H. Ian Macdonald |
1970-1971 | H.V. Cranfield |
1971-1972 | The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman |
1972-1973 | Maj. The Hon. Mr. Joseph H. Potts |
1973-1974 | Robert L. Armstrong |
1974-1975 | Sir Arthur R.T. Chetwynd |
1975-1976 | H. Allan Leal |
1976-1977 | William M. Karn |
1977-1978 | Peter Hermant |
1978-1979 | MGen. Reginald W. Lewis |
1979-1980 | John A. MacNaughton |
1980-1981 | Reginald Stackhouse |
1981-1982 | BGen. S.F. Andrunyk |
1982-1983 | Henry J. Stalder |
1983-1984 | Douglas L. Derry |
1984-1985 | Catherine R. Charlton |
1985-1986 | Harry T. Seymour |
1986-1987 | Nona Macdonald |
1987-1988 | Ronald Goodall |
1988-1989 | A.A.(Tony) van Straubenzee |
1989-1990 | Sarah A. Band |
1990-1991 | Maj. The Rev. Canon Harold F. Roberts |
1991-1992 | John F. Bankes |
1992-1993 | Robert L. Brooks |
1993-1994 | Col. Frederic L.R. Jackman |
1994-1995 | John A. Campion |
1995-1996 | David A. Edmison |
1996-1997 | Julie K. Hannaford |
1997-1998 | Gareth S. Seltzer |
1998-1999 | George L. Cooke |
1999-2000 | Robert J. Dechert |
2000-2001 | Catherine Steele |
2001-2002 | Bill Laidlaw |
2002-2003 | Ann Curran |
2003-2004 | John Koopman |
2004-2005 | Bart J. Mindszenthy |
2005-2006 | William G. Whittaker |
2006-2007 | Rev. Dr. John S. Niles |
2007-2008 | Catherine S. Swift |
2008-2009 | Jo-Ann McArthur |
2009-2010 | Alfred Apps |