Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being celebrated in Ottawa this week leading up to the 20th anniversary of his tenure as head of the Conservative government, which commenced on February 6, 2006.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is set to present Harper with its gold medal for his distinguished public service career, particularly during his time as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada. This honor will be followed by an engaging discussion with former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, a previous recipient of the society’s gold medal in 2022, alongside former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Harper’s official portrait, crafted by Canadian artist Phil Richards, will be revealed during a special ceremony at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in downtown Ottawa. Richards, known for capturing notable Canadian figures such as former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz and ex-Ontario premier Bob Rae, also created the official Canadian Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
To culminate the festivities, a gala dinner commemorating the 20th anniversary of Harper’s government will take place on Wednesday. Key members of the organizing committee include former chiefs of staff Ian Brodie and Ray Novak, as well as former Conservative senator Nicole Eaton.
Expressing his anticipation for the week’s events, Harper shared on social media his excitement about reuniting with friends and colleagues from across the country to celebrate the milestone. After serving as Prime Minister for nearly a decade, Harper was succeeded by current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the 2015 federal election.
