2024 Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series | Margaret Kenequanash

Thursday April 4 12:00 PM ET | Robert Sutherland, 202

Join us to welcome Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power to campus to deliver the 2024 Tom Courchene Distinguished Lecture.  

Margaret Kenequanash has been CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power since August 2017: an Indigenous-led, licensed transmission entity bringing grid connection to remote First Nations in northern Ontario currently powered by diesel generators. Margaret has a vast wealth of knowledge gleaned from over 30 years in various high-level positions, including being on the Sioux Lookout Municipal Council from 1990-1994 and Executive Director of the Shibogama First Nations Council from 2005-2017. Margaret carries the distinction of being the first female Chief in her community at North Caribou Lake First Nation when she was elected in 1996. She is well known and respected throughout First Nation communities and government for her work in promoting opportunities and better quality of life for First Nation Peoples.

Margaret Kenequanash will be joined by Tim Lavoie, Vice President, Corporate Services and Indigenous Relations at FortisOntario Inc. for this lectureship.

To register | https://forms.office.com/r/HerLDCwTUd

More details | https://www.queensu.ca/sps/events/lectures/tom-courchene-speaker-series

The Margie and Tom Courchene Endowment Fund was established to create a permanent Speakers Series in the School of Policy Studies, to be known subsequently as the Tom Courchene Distinguished Speakers Series. It continues the tradition that Tom established, as the inaugural director for the School of Policy Studies, to serve as a bridge between the academic and professional policy communities, engaging faculty, students, policymakers, politicians and other opinion leaders, in discussion on major policy issues.

The Fund will support the costs associated with bringing eminent academics and public policy experts to Queen’s University campus, with a focus dedicated to a major public lecture and other events relating to Indigenous Policy and Governance, a policy field in which Tom has become increasingly engaged in recent years.