Lecturer returning to university
The public is invited to the free 15th annual Mel Smith Lecture on Thursday evening
Benno Friesen taught at Trinity Western University for a decade when it first opened and returns for the 15th annual Mel Smith Lecture.
Photograph by: Trinity Western University photo , for Langley Advance
A man who taught at Trinity Western University at the start of its life five decades ago has returned to provide this year's Mel Smith Lecture.
Benno Friesen was among TWU's founding faculty when the university first opened its doors 50 years ago.
The 15th Annual Mel Smith Lecture on Feb. 7 will feature the policitian, writer, and lecturer who was an English professor and the dean of students from 1962-72.
In his lecture, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the House, Friesen explores why structural changes to the operations of the House of Commons to make relations less toxic and more productive may not be as significant as the personal character and virtues of individual MPs.
Friesen's insights result from years of first-hand experience. He was first elected into the House of Commons in 1974 and re-elected in four subsequent federal elections before retiring from active politics in 1993. He remains keenly interested in politics.
The Mel Smith Lectures contribute to significant public policy issues. The lecture is open to the public. All those concerned about the state of democracy in Canada are urged to attend. The question how individuals can participate in and contribute to public life is timely. The lecture will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
During the event, the recipient of the 2013-14 Mel Smith Scholarship will be announced.
Each year, this scholarship is awarded to a TWU student of exceptional academic ability, majoring in Canadian history or political science.
The Mel Smith Special Collection [2] - chronicling federal-provincial relations during the crucial period 1967 to 1992 - is housed in TWU's archives and includes a comprehensive set of professional and personal constitutional papers.
The collection provides a unique, B.C. perspective on Canadian constitutional issues, and is available to students and researchers from all institutions.
Thursday's lecture starts at 7 p.m. in the Northwest Building auditorium on the TWU campus. The public can follow directions from the campus entrance.
Admission is free, and a reception will follow.
