Sir John A. Macdonald’s 200th birthday will be marked with a Scottish-Canadian conference in Glasgow, Scotland, where Canada’s first prime minister was born in 1815.
Organized by the British Association of Canadian Studies, the conference, titled “Son of Glasgow, Father of Canada,” takes place on Saturday, Jan. 10 in City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, Scotland.
Two panels of Canadian and Scottish academics will explore Sir John A.’s legacy. The first panel will explore “Macdonald as Politician, Businessman and Statesman,” and the second, “Macdonald as Emigrant, Favourite Son and Contested Icon.”
Sir John A. Macdonald and his family emigrated from Glasgow to Canada in 1820.
“Scotland has never forgotten it is the birthplace of the founding father of Canada. Our shared interest in Sir John A. has fostered a great relationship between Glasgow and Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson.
Meanwhile in Kingston, the Right Honourable Tricia Marwick, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (similar to Canada’s Speaker of the House), will participate in the Principal’s Forum at Queen’s University. It features a free public lecture on Scotland’s Constitutional Journey at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 in Grant Hall, 43 University Ave.
“I very much look forward to returning to Canada and to meeting Kingstonians and the other participants in January,” says Marwick, who is attending courtesy of Queen’s. She will also join Sir John A. Bicentennial Day events 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 at City Hall, 216 Ontario St.
For additional information about Sir John A. Macdonald bicentennial events in Kingston, visit CityofKingston.ca/SirJohnA. To learn more about Tricia Marwick’s role in Scottish Parliament, go to: scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/22008.aspx.
Release source: City of Kingston | Photo: Wikimedia Commons
