Legacy on Trial: Revisiting Macdonald and Diefenbaker

Canadian history is under siege. Activists are attempting to rewrite the past, while the public grows increasingly indifferent to our nation’s founding figures. As the threat of cultural erasure and creeping Americanization increases, it’s more important than ever to defend the legacy of those who built Canada.

Join the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for a dynamic panel event, featuring two of Canada’s leading voices on history: Patrice Dutil and Bob Plamondon. Together, they re-examine the lives and legacies of two pivotal prime ministers – Sir John A. Macdonald and John Diefenbaker – at a moment when their contributions are being challenged like never before.

Dutil’s latest works, Sir John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year of 1885 and Ballots and Brawls, shine a new light on the trials, triumphs, and fierce leadership that shaped early Canada. Plamondon’s Freedom Fighter, meanwhile, reintroduces Diefenbaker as a courageous defender of Canadian freedoms and independence.

In an era when Canada’s political legacy is too often overlooked or misrepresented, this event offers a vital counterpoint and a closer look at two leaders who shaped the Canada we know today. Don’t miss this exclusive conversation on truth, leadership, and the fight to preserve Canada’s story.

Register for the event here.

Event Program:

• 1:00 pm: Doors open, with a networking coffee session for guests
• 1:30 pm: Armchair discussion begins with Patrice Dutil, Bob Plamondon and Peter Copeland, including Q&A with the audience
• 3:00 pm: End of event