By Colin Ahern — Contributor 

From Aug. 11-16, English-speaking youth from across the province gathered at Bishop’s University for an intensive week of civic engagement talks, workshops and activities at the seventh annual Bishop’s Forum. In addition to attending talks, participants also developed their own parliamentary commissions – investigations on a topic of their choosing – to present to a panel of commissioners and participated in a media scrum with real journalists. 

Bishop’s Forum is an annual event to connect Quebec’s English-speaking youth. It is open to Quebecers who self-identify as English speakers between the ages of 18 and 26 who are interested in influencing public policy, deepening their understanding of Quebec society and wishing to make a career in Quebec. The application to participate required writing a blurb on what changes should be made in Quebec society.

There were many interesting talks and workshops throughout the Forum. Speakers included Michael Goldbloom, Bishop’s former principal; Maya Johnson, CTV news anchor; Royal Orr, former CBC host; Mark Lawson, former chief of staff to Ontario’s minister of finance; and many more. Topics included the role of journalism in society, the demography of English speakers in Quebec over time, active listening, leadership and financial literacy, among others. Participants were also fortunate to spend their lunch hours networking with the speakers of that day, discussing more intimately the issues that mattered to them. 

Moreover, students were given the opportunity to present a parliamentary commission addressing issues in Quebec politics with their ideas for solutions. They presented to a panel of commissioners that included Barbara Uteck, former secretary to the Governor General; Graham Fraser, former commissioner of the official languages; and Nicholas Satler, executive director of the Provincial Employment Roundtable, among others. Students were separated into working groups who would spend hours each day preparing and researching for their presentations to the commissioners. 

Following their presentations, they also participated in a media scrum, where real journalists would engage with them on the strengths and weaknesses of their proposed solutions. Journalists asked questions on the spot and participants needed to defend their solutions and go more in-depth into the details of their work. Journalists participating included Bishop’s Alum, CBC journalist Gordon Lambie and former Global News anchor Elysia Bryan-Banes. 

Students worked diligently preparing and presenting their parliamentary commissions, engaging thoughtfully with speakers. They were also treated to many social events. They had several on-campus bonfires and were guided to the Bishop’s golf course by students in the astronomy and physics department to go stargazing on the night of the Perseids meteor shower. Students also visited Foresta Lumina in Coaticook to enjoy its immersive multimedia experience in the forest. 

This year’s Bishop’s Forum was organized by director Elysia Bryan-Banes, and associate director Sonia Patenaude, who is also the manager of communications at Bishop’s University. The participants appreciated their hard work and dedication, gifting them with bouquets of flowers and many rounds of applause.