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Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture
The 2024 Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture was held on Tuesday, October 15
Confederation Centre of the Arts awarded four former premiers with the prestigious Symons Medal this October to mark the 20th anniversary of the annual medal presentation and lecture. The Symons Medal recognized individuals who made an exceptional contribution to Canadian life. Held annually, the medal presentation and its associated lecture offered a national platform for eminent Canadians to discuss the nation’s current state and prospects using themes related to their professional pursuits.
Watch the 2024 Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture
2024 Symons Medal Presentation Lecture (EN)
Remise de médaille et la causerie Symons 2024 (FR)
New Symons Medal book celebrates 20 years of reflection on Canada
Co-published by the University of Ottawa Press and Confederation Centre of the Arts and written by Harvey Sawler, The Symons Medal: Twenty Years of Reflection on an Evolving Canada describes the origin and purpose of the Symons Medal since its inception in 2004, and shares the stories of 27 medallists through historical photographs and personal anecdotes.
2024 Symons Medallists
Christy Clark
35th premier of British Columbia
The Honourable Dr. Philippe Couillard PC
Joseph Handley
The Honourable Frank McKenna PC OC ONB KC F.ICD
27th premier of New Brunswick, 20th Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America
Rosemary Barton
Moderator
The Symons Trust Endowment Fund
The Symons Trust Endowment Fund was created in 1994 to help finance heritage programming, specifically The Symons Medal Presentation And Lecture. All donations to this fund are eligible for up to dollar-for-dollar matching through the Endowment Incentives component of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Investment Fund. To donate online please enter an amount below:
Past Symons Medal Recipients
Michael Ignatieff
Writer, historian, and former politician
Shelagh Rogers
Veteran broadcast-journalist
The Honourable Louise Arbour
The Honourable Bob Rae
Senator Murray Sinclair
Dr. Margaret MacMillan
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Antonine Maillet
Paul Gross
His Royal Highness Prince Charles
Stephen Lewis
The Right Honourable Paul Martin
Dr. David Suzuki
Dr. Ivan Fellegi
The Right Honourable David Johnston
Mary Simon
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin
Ian E. Wilson
The Honourable John Crosbie
The Honourable Peter Lougheed
Mark Starowicz
The Honourable Roy McMurtry
The Honourable Jean Charest
“Confederation Centre for the Arts has always been a place of inspiration and connection. A lively venue for the sharing of our stories, historical, and contemporary, and imagined. A place where we can come together to talk about who we are, where we’re at, and how we will create a brilliant future. Where we rejoice in the arts and in dialogue that will make us think, talk with each other, listen to each other and celebrate culture in all its forms.”
Shelagh Rogers | Journalist and Symons Medal Recipient
Professor Thomas H. B. Symons, CC, OONT, LLD, DU, DLITT, DCNL, FRSC, FRGS
Professor Symons passed away in January 2001 at the age of 91. “Tom” is widely recognized for his contributions in the areas of public policy, heritage, and education—dedicating his life to community and nation-building. This video is a celebration of Tom Symons and his long-standing relationship with the Island, including the Centre and Shaw’s Hotel in Brackley, which he visited annually for more than 70 years.
Produced by Confederation Centre of the Arts, the video features interviews including the Honourable H. Frank Lewis, Catherine Hennessey, H. Wayne Hambly, Robert Sear, Robbie Shaw, and Steve Bellamy; as well as music from Charlene and Gordon Belsher and Atlantic String Machine.
Learn more about Heritage Programming
Contact Francesca Perez, Director of Arts Education and Heritage
902-629-1178 or fperez@confederationcentre.com