Sir John A. Macdonald in Historical Context Colloquium #3 – ‘Presentism’ – Or is it ‘Generational Chauvinism’?

With Professor Christopher Dummitt, Professor of History at Trent University, Professor David Wilson, Professor of History at the University of Toronto and General Editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, and J. D. M. (James) Stewart, author, historian and Toronto high school teacher.

DETAILS: This three colloquium series, presented by the Canadian Institute for Historical Education, will look at three different aspects of the life and legacy of Canada’s first prime minister, featuring research and findings from some of Canada’s most distinguished academic historians on both Macdonald’s undoubted achievements and the more controversial aspects of his record. The accusations against Macdonald made by activists in the cause of pulling down statues and renaming schools are based more on ideology than evidence. The man about whom biographer Richard Gwyn said, “had there been no Macdonald, there almost certainly would be today no Canada,” deserves better than that. The purpose of our series is to examine the historical record fairly, putting evidence ahead of ideology. All three events are in Elliott Hall at Christ Church (Deer Park), 1570 Yonge Street in Midtown Toronto, are free of charge and open to everyone interested in learning more about Sir John A. Macdonald and his times.