Ron Irwin comes home, Nisga’a CEO visits

Algoma University College is expecting two distinguished visitors this week.

The Honourable Ron Irwin (shown), Consul General of Canada to New England (and father of Ward 2 Councillor Brady Irwin) will speak on Canada-US relations on Friday, January 31 at 1 p.m. in the AUC Auditorium. His talk is titled: "Canada and the USA: Punt, Pass or Run?"

Members of the public interested in attending are asked to call (705) 949-2301, ext. 387.

Here's Irwin's biography, as supplied to us by Algoma University College:

"The Honourable Ron Irwin was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. He attended the University of Western Ontario and Osgoode Hall Law School.

"He has been a lawyer, a Cabinet Minister and an Ambassador.

"From 1972 to 1974, Mr. Irwin was Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie and was elected Director of both the Ontario Municipal Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. "He has also held a number of positions in this community: Trustee on the Sault Ste. Marie Board of Education, Alderman and a Member of the Community Services Board, the Historical Sites Board and the Public Utilities Commission.

"He was a Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Director of the G. Verdi Lodge and President of the Sault Ste. Marie Law Association.

"Irwin was also a member of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission from 1977 to 1980 and from 1988 to 1991 he lectured on government business relations at Lake Superior University in Michigan.

"In 1980, he was first elected a Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to the Minister of State for Social Development and to the Secretary of State for External Affairs.

"While Parliamentary Secretary to the then Justice Minister Jean Chrétien, he served on the Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution.

"Mr. Irwin was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1993 after winning a seat in the general election of that year.

"He retired from politics in 1997 and served as a Personal Advisor to Prime Minister Chrétien from 1997 to 1998.

"He was appointed Ambassador to Ireland in 1998 and served until 2001.

"In 2001 Mr. Irwin was appointed Canada’s Consul General at Boston, USA.

"A recipient of the Order of Canada, Ron Irwin has received various honours throughout his celebrated career."

Nisga’a CEO on campus today

Ed Allen, chief executive officer of Nisga’a First Nation, will deliver a talk today (Tuesday, January 28) at 7:00 p.m.

Allen's presentation on "Nisga’a Treaty, Government, Constitution, Current Initiatives" will take place in the Doc Brown Lounge.

It's free and open to the public.

For more information on the Nisga’a First Nation, please visit here.