PPF to honour Mark Carney, Beverley McLachlin, Richard Dicerni, ‘22 Minutes’ founders Mary Walsh and Michael Donovan and journalist Francine Pelletier

Date: Wednesday November 29, 2017

Ottawa, Nov. 29, 2017 — A charismatic central banker charged with bringing two G7 economies through extreme turbulence, a pioneering justice whose critical rulings and leadership redefined post-Charter Canada, a veteran public servant who sagely advised the federal government and two provinces, and an East Coast warrior princess and an Academy Award winner who blazed the North American trail for political satire will be honoured by the Public Policy Forum at its 31stannual Testimonial Dinner.

They will be recognized for their contributions to public policy at the PPF’s Testimonial Dinner on April 12, 2018 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre:

  • Mark Carney, Bank of England Governor and former Governor of the Bank of Canada
  • Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
  • Richard Dicerni, former federal and Ontario deputy minister, and Clerk to Alberta premiers Jim Prentice and Rachel Notley
  • Michael Donovan and Mary Walsh, co-creators of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, marking its 25th season on CBC

Also, Quebec feminist journalist Francine Pelletier will receive the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism.

Rosemary Barton, co-anchor of CBC’s The National, will host the evening’s festivities.

 “We are thrilled to add these extraordinary individuals to the honour roll of 151 Canadians previously recognized by the Public Policy Forum,” said Edward Greenspon, PPF President and CEO. “All of them have made distinctive and significant contributions to Canada’s public life.”

About the honourees:

  • Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada, steered the Canadian economy to safety during the worst financial crisis in eight decades. He is at the helm of a central bank again as the United Kingdom weathers its own rough seas.
  • Beverley McLachlin sat on the Supreme Court for 28 years, almost 18 as Chief Justice, as it defined post-Charter Canada. Appointed by Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and elevated to Chief Justice by Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, she headed it longer than anyone in Canadian history, epitomizing its independence and non-partisanship.
  • Richard Dicerni personified the genius of our permanent public service in serving federal and provincial governments, led at various times by three different political parties.
  • Michael Donovan and Mary Walsh’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes blazed the North American trail for political satire, and is still informing the political conversation through the free expression of comedy. Mr. Donovan is Executive Chairman of Halifax-based DHX Media Inc. and a winner of a 2003 Oscar for best documentary feature, Bowling for Columbine.
  • Ms. Walsh is a celebrated Canadian writer, actress and mental health advocate. As the warrior princess, she has used the element of surprise to reveal a different side of our political leaders to Canadians.
  • Francine Pelletier is an acclaimed Quebec journalist. She is passionate, progressive and fearless. Founder of the feminist newspaper La Vie en Rose, she has worked in both official languages for daily newspapers and in broadcasting on CBC’s The Fifth Estate.

About the host:

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau played host as the PPF celebrated its 30th anniversary. This year, the PPF has turned to a journalist of rising influence in covering public affairs, Rosemary Barton, to be the host.

After a memorable period as host of CBC News Network’s Power & Politics, she is now one of four anchors on the reimagined The National.

“Rosemary has quickly emerged as a fearless yet empathetic interlocutor of the politicians in charge of policy-making in Canada,” said Mr. Greenspon. “She will be a force with whom to reckon for decades to come. We’re thrilled she will get acquainted with the PPF’s audiences and they with her.”

About the event:

The PPF Testimonial Dinner is the premiere event for policy and political junkies, attracting top public servants, politicians and senior business executives. It will be preceded by the third annual PPF Growth Summit.

Tickets and tables are on sale now.