Bill Graham’s superb memoir began with the admission that he had no idea where he was born. When he died last year, everyone knew where he had been and what he had done. Bill Graham was an outstanding lawyer, an inspiring professor, a canny businessperson, a clever politician, an excellent minister of national defence and foreign affairs, and a remarkable Canadian. He was the rare Parliamentarian admired on both sides of the aisles. John Baird, his Conservative successor as minister of foreign affairs, declared Bill Graham “an outstanding minister of foreign affairs and an outstanding Parliamentarian.” Bill’s colleague and close friend Carolyn Bennett recalled that “There’s no one else you’d rather have dinner with. And I think that’s what a lot of us feel. He was just so special.”

Bill Graham was the co-chair of the Canadian International Council when he died. He had been a supporter of the original Canadian Institute of International Affairs as a student at the University of Toronto and worked with the Institute when it was located at Trinity College. When he left politics, he became a board member of the Canadian International Council in 2008 and became its chair in 2015 and again in 2022. Bill’s work at the CIC reflected his profound belief in the importance of Canadian engagement in global affairs.

Celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, the Canadian International Council will recognize Bill Graham’s extraordinary contributions to Canada, its international policies, and the Canadian International Council with the creation of an annual Bill Graham Lecture on International Affairs. Bob Rae and Margaret MacMillan, two friends of Bill who share his and the Council’s commitment to the importance of the understanding of international issues, are the inaugural lecturers.

Dress Code: Business Attire

Tickets: $500/person or $4,000/8-person table
A tax receipt will be issued for the maximum allowable amount. 

Contact Jennifer Chylinski at jennifer@thecic.org if you have any questions or would like assistance purchasing a ticket or table.