Our Mission

The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy is a non-partisan, charitable organization that honours the life of Sir Winston Churchill by facilitating education, discussion and debate about Canada's parliamentary democracy.

Formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1982, we are named after former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, one of the greatest Parliamentarians of all time. We attract Canadians from all walks of life.

Initiatives

  • Annual Churchill Dinner

    Since 1984, we have held an annual dinner in honour of Sir Winston Churchill and each year’s recipient of the Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy. The Churchill Dinner is Toronto’s premier event celebrating the life and contributions of those who support Canada’s democracy.

  • Toronto Churchill Statue

    Donated to the City by the late Harry Jackman in 1977, this statue is made from the original mould of the sculpture by Oscar Nemon that stands in the Members Lobby in the British House of Commons. In 2002, we worked with the city and our friends at the International Churchill Society to install four informational panels in the statue’s plinth. Each panel portrays a different dimension of Churchill’s life and achievements.

  • Atlantic Charter Plaque

    In August 2017, together with the International Churchill Society Canada and the NATO Association of Canada, we dedicated a plaque at Toronto City Hall’s Churchill Square to commemorate the 1941 Churchill/Roosevelt Atlantic Conference and the signing of the Atlantic Charter.

Friends

  • Ontario Legislature Internship Programme

    The Ontario Legislature Internship Programme (OLIP) brings eight recent graduates to Queen’s Park every year to work with backbench members of the Legislature. The non-partisan programme was established in 1975 by the Canadian Political Science Association and The Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

    The Churchill Society is a sponsor of OLIP. In addition, all OLIP interns are invited to attend our events, and one OLIP member each year is given the opportunity to serve as an ex officio member of our board of directors.

  • Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy

    The Teachers Institute is a unique professional development opportunity that is open to teachers of social studies and related subjects, including political science, history, law, civics, or native studies, currently teaching from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (Primary cycle 1 to Secondary cycle 2 and CEGEP in Quebec). Each November, the program brings approximately 70 teachers from across the country together for an intensive, informative, unforgettable week on Parliament Hill.

  • International Churchill Society

    The International Churchill Society (ICS) was founded in 1968 shortly after Churchill's death. The ICS is dedicated to preserving the historic legacy of Sir Winston Churchill and studying his written works.

Board of Directors

  • Cameron MacKay

    Chair

  • Corinne Murray

    Vice Chair

  • David Pyper

    Treasurer

  • Dan Revington

    Secretary

  • Adrienne Batra

  • Alexis Easton

  • Gordon Kaiser

  • Susan Mackle

  • Robert O'Brien

  • Glenn O'Farrell C.M.

  • John Parker

  • Bob Richardson

  • Tom Robertson

  • Gillian Smith

  • Harlan Tufford

  • Malliha Wilson

Past Chairs

  • F. Bartlett Watt

    Founding President

  • D. McCormack Smyth

    1984

  • Frederick C. Stinson

    1985

  • Robert Fleming

    1986

  • Norman M. Rogers

    1987

  • Ernest Little

    1988

  • P. Michael Wilson

    1989

  • Nancy Kee

    1990 - 1991

  • Robert Fleming

    1992

  • P. Michael Wilson

    1993

  • Peter K. Large

    1994 - 1995

  • William MacKenzie

    1996 - 1997

  • George Kee

    1998

  • Stephen Gooderham

    1999

  • George Kee

    2000

  • Peter Russell, OC

    2001 - 2003

  • Daniel Tisch

    2004 - 2006

  • Robert O'Brien

    2007 - 2009

  • Dr. Alex Barron

    2010 - 2012

  • Joel Watson

    2013 - 2015

  • Susan Kushneryk

    2015 - 2016

  • John Parker

    2016 - 2020

  • Cameron MacKay

    2020 -