The Symons Medal
Twenty Years of Reflection on an Evolving Canada
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 has written 19 fiction and non-fiction books, covering the spectrum from celebrity, business, and crime to travel and entertainment. He is the former director of marketing and public relations for the Confederation Centre of the Arts, and, in 2014, authored the Centre’s 50th anniversary commemorative book, The Centre for All Canadians—Five Decades of Inspiration and Excellence. Over 51 years, he has written hundreds of articles and stories for newspapers, magazines, and digital media forms, and he is a leading Canadian tourism consultant. He lives in Bellevue Cove, Prince Edward Island, with his partner, Charlotte Stewart.He lives in Bellevue Cove, Prince Edward Island, with his partner, Charlotte Stewart.