A Legal Forum for Intellectual Diversity

The Runnymede Society is a membership-based organization that invites speakers from all across the ideological spectrum to debate legal ideas that engage the rule of law, constitutionalism, and individual liberty. The goal is to focus on these age-old principles in the context of real issues that are not often explored in the law school classrooms.

Moon: Free Speech in the Digital Age

How can we remain committed to free speech while addressing misinformation and disinformation in our democracies? Has social media “aggravated the harm of speech and made legal responses less practical”? Professor Richard Moon of the University of Windsor dives into these important questions and more in his latest appearance on Runnymede Radio, building upon his latest book, The Life and Death of Freedom of Expression.

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Snow: Bill C-63 and a Limited Tribunal

How will Bill C-63, commonly known as the Online Harms Act, impact Canada’s Human Rights Commission and Tribunal? Professor Dave Snow of the University of Guelph, discusses how descriptive statistics can help us understand the significant changes that Bill C-63 is expected to bring.

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Mancini: Charter Values in Administrative Law

What is the force and scope of the Charter in administrative contexts? Professor Mark Mancini of Thompson Rivers University tackles this issue by taking a look at key cases that have marked significant shifts in the role that the Charter has played in administrative law.

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Lagassé and Sirota: Parliament after the Power Case

Will the Power v Canada decision significantly shift the way that parliamentary privilege operates in Canada? Professor Philippe Lagassé of Carleton University and Professor Leonid Sirota of the University of Reading discuss the controversial Power decision and its impacts on the relationship between Canada’s legislative and judicial branches.

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The Runnymede Society: Our past, present, and future

Let’s take a look at key moments in Runnymede history: its inception, core values, and plans for the future. Naomi Papavero, Operations and Communications Director of the Runnymede Society, sits down with Tim Haggstrom, Runnymede’s current National Director, and Joanna Baron, the founding National Director, to discuss how the Society has evolved over time.

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Friday
14
November 14, 2025 | 12:00 pm

The Declaratory Judgment: Its Availability and Its Limitations

Alt Hotel St. John’s |

Please join us for a free talk by Professor Gerard Kennedy that will explore the “declaratory judgment”—i.e., a judgment that does not give parties any [...]

Thursday
30
October 30, 2025 | 12:30 pm

Alberta Unbound: Secession or Subversion?

Dalhousie University (Room W204) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s Dalhousie-Schulich Student Chapter for a debate on the constitutional justifiability of Alberta secession between Professor Bruce Pardy (Queen’s) and Professor [...]

Tuesday
28
October 28, 2025 | 12:00 pm

Lines We Cross: A Legal Conversation on MAiD

Lakehead University Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (Room 0019) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s Lakehead Student Chapter and Lakehead Christian Legal Fellowship for an engaging discussion about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and its [...]

Tuesday
28
October 28, 2025 | 12:00 pm

Notwithstanding Judicial Review: Legal and Political Reasons Why Courts Should Not Review Laws Invoking Section 33

University of Calgary (MFH 2370) |

Please join Runnymede’s University of Calgary Chapter for a lecture arguing against the substantive judicial review of notwithstanding clause invocations by Prof. Geoff Sigalet (UBCO) [...]

Monday
20
October 20, 2025 | 7:00 pm

Know Your Rights Workshop

University of Guelph (Peter Clark Hall South Wing) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s Guelph Student Chapter for an interactive legal workshop exploring fundamental constitutional rights in Canada on Monday, October 20th! The session [...]

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Why join?

INTELLECTUAL ENRICHMENT

We provide funding for debates, symposia, and panel discussions with external speakers and refreshments. We are able to assist with reaching out to speakers and fund out-of-town speaker travel expenses.

SOCIAL LIFE

We host regular networking events with local members of the legal profession, academics, journalists, and other students.

ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

We aim to connect first-year students with upper-years who can provide mentorship and academic guidance, as well as course summaries.

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