Speakers

Chris Burton is Associate Professor and Chair of the History Department at the University of Lethbridge. He grew up in Newfoundland, taking his first degree from Memorial University. He worked in the Soviet Union during the glasnost’ years and later went on to a PhD in Russian History at the University of Chicago.

Elected in October of 2015, Rachael Harder serves as the first female Member of Parliament for the riding of Lethbridge.

In August 2017, Ms. Harder was appointed by the Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer, to serve as the Shadow Minister for Status of Women. She has been a member of the Status of Women Committee since January 2016. From 2015-2017, Ms. Harder served as the Official Opposition Critic for Youth and Persons with a Disability. From April 2016-September 2017 she served as a member of the Standing Committee on Health.

Recently named one of Lethbridge’s “Top 40 under 40”, Ms. Harder continues to put people first. She attends more than 150 community events every year and enjoys meeting with individual constituents, touring local businesses and celebrating the accomplishments of community organizations. With the stories people share with her, Ms. Harder is able to put a human face to government policies when she speaks in the House of Commons. 

Before entering political life, Ms. Harder travelled across the country, working as a Youth Sociologist and Consultant who focused on the values and beliefs of Canada’s emerging generation. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree in General Social Sciences from Briercrest College and a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts with a General Social Sciences Major in Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology from the University of Lethbridge.

Raised on a small farm in southern Alberta, it didn’t take long for Ms. Harder to demonstrate her lively entrepreneurial spirit. Writing a business plan at the age of nine to prove to her parents that she was serious about opening a dog kennel and raising puppies was not an unusual demonstration of knowledge and grit for the middle child who grew up with three brothers and one sister. The young free-marketer turned her small kennel into a successful eight year venture that covered the cost of four humanitarian trips and funded her postsecondary education.

Giving back to the community through volunteerism has always been important to Ms. Harder. Prior to being elected, she was a member of the Community and Social Development Committee (an advisory committee to City Council), served as a board member and youth mentor on the Lethbridge Youth Justice Committee, and loaned her expertise to the Canadian Mental Health Youth Anti-Stigma Leaders’ Steering Committee. She also volunteered for the Lethbridge 2019 Canada Winter Games bid and the 2015 Alberta 55+ Winter Games. She continues to volunteer at her church and enjoys supporting as many community events as possible.