Author: Cameron Ahmad

Few Canadians have acquired as much global clout and respect as Stephen Lewis. A former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, the acclaimed diplomat and longtime politician drew international praise for his work in Africa fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Lewis’ focus has recently turned to the fight against cancer, a topic which he will be addressing as a featured speaker in the Hall building this Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Concordia is Lewis’ second stop on the People vs. Cancer tour organized by the Campaign to Control Cancer (C2CC). The C2CC states online that their goal is to “fundamentally transform Canada’s response to cancer from one of fear and insecurity to one of strength and control.”

The campaign hopes to engage students in joining a worldwide dialogue about cancer and learning about how the impact of the disease can be lessened. C2CC has published an action plan including specific initiatives and policy goals, such as “motivating Canadians to prioritize screening” and advising local governments. The event at Concordia, which will be broadcast live on the organization’s website, will communicate these initiatives to a young audience.

Last year’s tour “clearly struck a chord with university students,” said Lewis in an interview on C2CC’s website. “They were ready to be mobilized.”

According to Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, chair of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the university tours have helped “bring the public voice to cancer control efforts across Canada.” Dr. Sutcliffe, who will be speaking alongside Lewis on Wednesday, stated in a testimonial on controlcancer.ca that the “C2CC is playing an important role in helping to build effective public awareness.”

Lewis’ international reputation and talented oratory skills are bringing widespread attention to the movement against cancer. After beginning his career in politics, serving as a member of Ontario’s Legislative Assembly for 15 years and subsequently as the leader of the Ontario NDP from 1970 to 1978, Lewis shifted his focus to international human rights and health-related issues when he was appointed Canada’s United Nations ambassador, later serving as the UN’s special envoy to Africa regarding HIV/AIDS.

Moderated by CBC Daybreak host Mike Finnerty, Wednesday’s event will take place in H-110 and will feature a panel discussion with several guest speakers as well as a question period. Students can send any questions to Lewis or other panelists via Twitter, using #PvsC2011, or by visiting controlcancer.ca.

There are not too many retired hockey players who can say they have held office. There are even fewer politicians who can say they have been loved by the public. Yet, Ken Dryden can safely say both and, according to him, the two are not as different as they may seem.

“The Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most important teams in the NHL because they have history, they set tones and emotions, and they shape public sentiment,” he said, arguing that politics play a similar role in society.

Having lived a “dream life,” Ken Dryden’s story of self-discovery was well suited for this year’s AbitibiBowater homecoming lecture, entitled A Canadie/an Life and moderated by Concordia alumna and CTV news anchor Mutsumi Takahashi.

“We must allow our experiences to be our own. Our goals and drives must be personal,” he told the audience at Concordia University’s D.B. Clarke Theatre on Sept. 15. “The lesson of sports is that situations, contests, and important circumstances provide us with inspiration.”
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These challenges show us “that there is a way, there is an answer.”

The tall and slightly heavyset Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender is revered by fans of the Montreal Canadiens, having led the team to six Stanley Cups.

In a 10-minute bilingual speech to the audience, Dryden described his years at Cornell University as a period of discovery and when his aspirations to become a lawyer were completely reversed. For one, living in Montreal and playing for the Canadiens was largely the result of “good luck.”

“When you set out towards something, chances are you’ll find something more interesting on the way,” he said, emphasizing that a predetermined direction to his life was far less instrumental to his success than his consistent willingness to explore.

During the question-and-answer portion of the event, the conversation turned to the relationship between Dryden’s hockey career and his many other professions.

Takahashi drew a parallel between a successful team and a successful government, asking if “the Liberals and the Habs have lost their way in the same sense?”

“Demise begins with the seeds of losing,” Dryden said. “Constant opposition chips away at your pride and excitement, slowly wearing you down. That’s when a team and a government begin to lose.”

According to Dryden, the Liberals progressively established a sense of entitlement after holding power for over a decade.

A Liberal MP elected in 2004, Dryden lost his seat on May 2, when his party was reduced to its worst standing in history. He remains confident and optimistic, however, in his vision of recovery and revitalization. “We need to find our way back by drawing on old ideas, and we must rediscover our legacy.”

Dryden emphasized that Canada’s role in the 21st century is no longer reflected by a few narrow stereotypes. “Canada acts as an agent of change for newcomers,” he said. “Together, we are creating a ‘multiculture.’ This is the most compelling aspect of what we can offer to the world.”