On 11 January 2001 the Kingston Historical Society inaugurated the first of its annual dinners to celebrate the birth in 1815 of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister. The strengths and foibles of Macdonald - intimately linked to Kingston as the heart of his constituency for many years and location of his business as a lawyer - are the subjects of spirited toasts expressed by head-table guests such as the mayor, M.P., and M.P.P., as well as representatives of the St Andrew’s Society and the Royal Military College of Canada (where the dinner is held). Each year a guest speaker entertains the gathering of around 150 Society members and friends with a talk on a selected aspect of Macdonald’s life and career.

In 2001 the speaker was Prof. Don Smith of the University of Calgary on “John A. Macdonald and Aboriginal Canada;” in 2002 the Honourable Flora MacDonald on "John A. Macdonald the Visionary;" in 2003 Hugh Segal on “Nation Building and the Conservative Mission: Lessons from John A. Macdonald,” in 2004 Peter MacKay, M.P., on “John A. Macdonald and the Future of Conservatism in Canada," and in 2005, Rudyard Griffiths of the Dominion Institute on “From John A. Macdonald to Stephen Harper: What a long and strange trip it’s been!” Watch for postings on this website in December each year for information on how to obtain tickets to attend this rewarding event.

Photography by Jennifer McKendry 2001 – 2004; Marc Letourneau 2005