The Symons Medal: Twenty Years of Reflection on an Evolving Canada describes the origin and purpose of The Symons Medal since its inception in 2004, presenting biographical information, relevant quotations and photographs of the medal’s 27 recipients. The medal is awarded each year by the Confederation Centre of the Arts to recognize and honour Canadians who have made special and outstanding contributions to life in Canada. Symons Medal recipients are invited to deliver a lecture on the state of Canada's confederation with reference to their expertise, field, and body of work. The intent is that this award and lecture help stimulate public discourse across the country.
Featuring the 2004-2024 Symons Medalists:
The Honourable Jean Charest (2004)
The Honourable Roy McMurtry (2005)
Mark Starowicz (2006)
The Honourable Peter Lougheed (2007)
The Honourable John Crosbie (2007)
Ian Wilson (2008)
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin (2008)
The Right Honourable Mary Simon (2009)
The Right Honourable David Johnston (2010)
Ivan P. Fellegi (2011)
David Suzuki (2012)
The Right Honourable Paul Martin (2013)
His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) (2014)
Stephen Lewis (2014)
Paul Gross (2015)
Antonine Maillet (2016)
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau (2017)
Margaret Olwen MacMillan (2018)
The Honourable Murray Sinclair (2019)
The Honourable Bob Rae (2020)
The Honourable Louise Arbour (2021)
Shelagh Rogers (2022)
Michael Ignatieff (2023)
Dr. Philippe Couillard (2024)

.Harvey Sawler is the author of twelves books, including: Frank McKenna: Beyond Politics, Twenty-First Century Irvings, Last Canadian Beer: The Moosehead Story and Unforgettable Atlantic Canada. For five years he was a regular contributor to both SALTSCAPES and Progress magazines, covering a wide range of subjects involving business, entrepreneurship, culture, tourism and interesting personalities.

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Bob Rae was elected eleven times to the House of Commons and the Ontario legislature between 1978 and 2013. He was Ontario’s 21st Premier from 1990 to 1995, and served as interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011 to 2013. He is working now as a lawyer, negotiator, mediator, and arbitrator, with a particular focus on first nations, aboriginal, and governance issues. He also teaches at the University of Toronto School of Governance and Public Policy, and is a widely respected writer and commentator.

An author of four books and many studies and reports, Bob Rae is a Privy Councillor, an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, and has numerous awards and honorary degrees from institutions in Canada and around the world. Bob is married to Arlene Perly Rae, a writer and speaker, and they have three children. They live in Toronto.

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