The School of Journalism and Communication is pleased to announce that The Honourable Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, will deliver the 2024 Kesterton Lecture at the Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre in downtown Ottawa.

The annual Kesterton Lecture honours the memory of Wilfred Kesterton – one of Carleton’s original journalism professors – and usually touches on some aspect of Canadian journalism and public affairs.

Join us on Monday, February 12th at 6:00 PM to hear Premier Kinew reflect on his journey from journalism to politics. Tickets for the event are free, but participants must register in advance at bit.ly/Kesterton2024. The event will also be streamed live on YouTube.

After his keynote, Kinew will be joined on stage for a conversation moderated by Carleton Journalism Professor and former CBC broadcaster Duncan McCue, who will also moderate questions from the floor. A reception will follow the event.

The Honourable Wab Kinew, MLA made history last October. His election victory made him the 25th Premier of Manitoba, the first provincial premier of First Nations descent anywhere in Canada, and Manitoba’s first Indigenous premier since Métis premier John Norquay (1878-1887). Kinew was first elected as the MLA for Fort Rouge in 2016, and became Leader of the Official Opposition the following year when he won the leadership of the Manitoba NDP.

Before entering politics with the New Democratic Party in Manitoba, Kinew worked as a broadcaster with the CBC and as an administrator at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Manitoba and a master’s degree in Indigenous governance from the University of Winnipeg.

Kinew’s career has not been without controversy. In his victory speech on the night of Oct. 3, Kinew addressed his checkered past, including his problems with alcohol and convictions for impaired driving and assault on a cab driver.

“I was given a second chance in life, and I would like to think that I made good on that opportunity,’’ he said. “My life became immeasurably better when I stopped making excuses and I started looking for a reason…if you want to change your life for the better you can do it”.

A native of Kenora, Ontario, from the Onigaming First Nation, Kinew moved to Winnipeg with his parents as a child. His career in journalism was launched when a CBC Radio producer noticed a letter to the editor Kinew had written to the Winnipeg Free Press about hockey and he was encouraged to turn the letter into a feature documentary. He worked as a reporter and host for CBC on radio and television, including the weekly arts show The 204 and documentary series 8th Fire. He is also a bestselling author and an accomplished hip-hop and rap artist.

In 2011, he joined the University of Winnipeg as its first Director of Indigenous Inclusion and was later appointed Associate Vice-president of Indigenous Relations, a position he held from 2014-2016. He was also an honourary witness for the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Kinew was first elected as the MLA for Fort Rouge in 2016, and became Leader of the Official Opposition the following year when he won the leadership of the Manitoba NDP. He is father to three boys and is married to Lisa Monkman, who is a doctor.