The Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa.
- What: Canadian Federalism: Balancing Unity and Diversity public talk
- Who: The Honourable Justice Mary Moreau of the Supreme Court of Canada
- When: Thursday, September 11 at 5 pm
- Where: University Centre Ballroom (UNC 200), 3272 University Way, UBC Okanagan
UBC Okanagan invites the community to the 2025 UBC Constitutional Lecture with the Honourable Justice Mary Moreau of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Justice Moreau will speak on Canadian Federalism: Balancing Unity and Diversity, and will examine the history and nature of federalism under Canada’s constitution, including the role the Supreme Court has played in interpreting Canada’s constitutional division of powers.
Justice Moreau has served with distinction at many levels of the judiciary, says Dr. Geoffrey Sigalet, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Her legal career has spanned criminal, constitutional and civil law, including landmark cases on minority language rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“We often talk about diversity on university campuses, but not about federalism—a key part of Canada’s Constitution that helps people with different languages, cultures and beliefs live together in one country,“ says Dr. Sigalet.
“It’s a privilege to have Justice Moreau—a highly respected jurist and Francophone from Western Canada, to offer a talk on Canadian federalism. Her insights come at an important time, as this part of our constitutional system faces growing challenges.”
Justice Moreau has played a leading role in judicial education and ethics, both nationally and internationally—including work in Mexico, Morocco, Haiti, Ukraine and Mongolia. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2023.
After the lecture, Justice Moreau will take part in a Q&A session. This event is free and open to everyone. No registration is required, but early arrival is recommended as seating is limited.
To learn more, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/ubc-constitutional-lecture
