SOAR Student Leadership Conference

Madame Clarkson’s award-winning career at CBC Television involved her in the most passionate and acclaimed TV series: founding The Fifth Estate and culminating in her innovative series on the arts Adrienne Clarkson Presents. She has garnered more than 30 television awards in Canada, the United States and Europe during her stellar career in broadcasting.

During her time as Governor General, the Governor General Awards in Visual and Media were established confirming her belief that Canadian culture was of paramount importance to our country. She traveled to every corner of Canada and made landmark state visits to countries like Russia, Germany, Chile and Argentina.

Many believe that she transformed the office of Governor General not only with these travels but with her acute interest in Indigenous peoples and particularly of the north and the circumpolar nations.

In 2005 after leaving office, she co-founded the Institute for Canadian Citizenship in order to facilitate the welcome an integration of new citizens into the mainstream of Canadian life. This foundation has been an enormous success particularly with its Canoo pass which gives all new citizens and permanent residents access to over 1500 cultural institutions in the country and opportunities to experience performing arts, national and provincial parks.

She has written 8 books including her autobiography Heart Matters; Room for All of Us chronicling the lives of immigrants to Canada; the biography of Dr. Norman Bethune for the Extraordinary Canadian Series; and the Massey Lectures Belonging published by Anansi and presented on CBC Radio.

She has received 32 honorary doctorates from universities in Canada and Europe.

Past keynote speakers for the conference have included:

• Sarain Fox
• Andre De Grasse
• Martin Luther King III
• Tessa Virtue
• Spencer West
• Col. Chris Hadfield
• Arlene Dickinson
• Craig Kielburger
• Neil Pasricha