Alberta Premier Alison Redford will visit campus next week to participate in the inaugural Principal’s Campus Forum. Premier Redford will speak about civic engagement drawing on her passion for politics and her broad experience.

Premier Redford became involved in politics in the 1980s after earning her law degree. Prior to this she spent two years at Queen’s from 1983-85. Principal Daniel Woolf, then a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of History, was one of her professors during this time.

“I am delighted to welcome Premier Redford back to Queen’s. Her commitment to public service both at home and abroad makes her an excellent choice to launch this new forum,” says Principal Woolf. “I anticipate that she will shed some light on the important ways a university education prepares citizens to make a difference in their communities and the world.”

Premier Redford has extensive experience on the world stage. One of her numerous international assignments was serving as a technical advisor on legal and constitutional reforms in Africa. She was also one of four commissioners appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to administer the first Afghanistan parliamentary election in 2005.

She served as a policy advisor to Joe Clark, then Minister of External Affairs, and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Premier Redford was elected to Alberta’s Legislative Assembly in 2008. She became leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and was sworn-in as premier of the province in October 2011.

The forum takes place on Monday, November 26 from 12:30-1:30 pm in Wallace Hall, John Deutsch University Centre. Premier Redford’s talk will be followed by a question and answer period. All are welcome to attend.