Under the theme of "building trust for a shared future," the Victoria Forum announced that former prime minister Joe Clark, John Manley, the former minster of finance, Lloyd Axworthy, former minister of foreign affairs, and B.C. Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin will be joining local and global speakers at the conference.
From Aug. 25 to 27, the annual Victoria Forum conference will be hosted by the University of Victoria and the Senate of Canada and will centre around three themes: peace and democracy, regenerative economy, and equity and social justice.
“The lineup of thought leadership and passion for the dynamic program we have created is something we are immensely proud of as we continue to grow the Victoria Forum’s global presence and continue to be a catalyst to drive meaningful change,” said Adel Guitouni, director of programs, in a news release. “I can’t think of a better backdrop for our discussions than the beautiful city of Victoria, and we are so thankful for everyone who has helped us to once again bring The Victoria Forum to life.”
Among the discussions and workshops, delegates from Kyiv, London and Victoria will discuss innovative finance for regenerative reconstruction after conflict, Andrew Parkin, executive director of Environics Institute, will address the declining trust in institutions, and Victoria Hurth from the Institute of Sustainable Leadership of Cambridge University will present a practical vision and action framework for transforming the world’s economy.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto will be joined by her counterparts in Saskatoon and Yellowknife in a panel discussion about building trust at a local level and "how trust enables collaboration on local priorities and the larger challenges facing society."
Clark, who is now a board member of the Global Leadership Foundation, and Axworthy, chair of the World Refugee and Migration Council, will have "an open and free-ranging discussion on the state of the world" on Aug. 27 at 10:45 a.m.
The forum will be held at a number of locations throughout the city, including the University of Victoria, Songhees Wellness Centre and the Royal B.C. Museum. For more information on the program or to register for either virtual or in-person programs, visit https://victoriaforum.ca.
