Honorary President

Each year, the parliamentary executive invites a prominent citizen of Manitoba to act as the organization’s Honorary President. The HP attends the opening banquet and makes a brief presentation to the membership and is otherwise free to attend the many events of the annual session.  Furthermore, YPM’s Honourary President is available throughout the year to support and advise the YPM Board of Directors.

The Honourable and Reverend Bill Blaikie, P.C.

Bill Blaikie accepted an invitation to become YPM’s Honorary President for its 90th Parliament.

Mr. Blaikie is a longtime supporter of Youth Parliament of Manitoba. A member from the 47^th to 49^th Session, Mr. Blaikie was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award and appointed to the Senate of Youth Parliament of Manitoba in the 85^th Session.

A Member of Parliament from 1979 to 2008, he represented the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona as a member of the New Democratic Party. As a Member of Parliament, he served in a number of critic roles, including Environment, Health, Trade and Foreign Affairs. He also served as NDP House Leader, Parliamentary Leader and Deputy Leader. He was the Dean of the House of Commons from 2004 to 2008 and, in 2006, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, the first New Democrat to serve in that position. In 2007, he was voted Parliamentarian of the Year in a poll of his peers conducted by Maclean’s Magazine.

Bill Blaikie was elected as Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Elmwood on March 24, 2009. On November 3, 2009, Premier Greg Selinger appointed him as Government House Leader, as well as Minister of Conservation and the Minister responsible for recycling, environmental education and climate change until October 2011.

Bill Blaikie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Winnipeg, and a Master of Divinity from the Toronto School of Theology. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Canada in 1978. He also received an Honourary Doctor of Divinity from the University of Winnipeg in 2007, as well as from Victoria University, Toronto, in 2009.

Past Honorary Presidents

Shown below is a list of past Honorary Presidents. YPM is honoured that each of them chose to be part of our history and our mission to serve the youth of Manitoba.

In Memory of Reg Alcock, P.C..

Reg Alcock was YPM’s Honorary President for its 88th and 89th Parliaments before tragically passing on October 14, 2011.

Reg Alcock was a dear friend and supporter of Youth Parliament of Manitoba. Prior to Mr. Alcock’s tenure, the Honorary President’s role was primarily ceremonial.  In his two years of service, his contributions of expertise, knowledge and support raised YPM’s expectations of what the Honourary President could do for the organization.  In 2010, Mr. Alcock was instrumental in planning our third annual Speaker’s Night dinner and in 2011 he acted as Master of Ceremonies for our fourth annual Speaker’s Night. As Honourary President, Mr. Alcock also took the time to address and encourage YPM’s membership, keenly observed our sittings on numerous occasions, and participating in our annual Winter Session Bear Pit.

Mr. Alcock was a great supporter of YPM’s mission to educate and engage young people in the democratic process. He appreciated the transformative nature of YPM, emphasizing this when he addressed the members of our 88th Winter Session:

“…for many of you attending, the Youth Parliament of Manitoba’s Winter Session will be something you never forget. For many of you, it may be a life changing experience—changing the way you view politics, the world, and our nation. I know that for at least one of you, your experience here will change the path that you will choose to take in your life and you will forever know that your passion developed here in the Legislative chamber…”

To see such a dedicated public servant pass away before his time was truly tragic.  However, his death reminded us that although our time on this earth is limited, in the end we must measure our lives by the change we affect, the lives we touch and people we inspire. Through his support of YPM, there is no doubt that Mr. Alcock touched the lives of many young Manitobans and for this we owe him an incredible debt of gratitude.

Mr. Alcock was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993. As a Member of Parliament, Mr. Alcock became active in supporting Canadian firms who were doing business in China. In 2005, he was presented with the Golden Dragon award by the Chinese community in Canada in recognition of his longstanding support. Mr. Alcock also served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources. During this term he was once the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Inter-governmental Affairs and served as Parliamentary lead on Bill C-20 the Clarity Act.  Mr. Alcock later led the establishment of a new standing committee in the House of Commons, the Standing Committee on Government Operations. He served as the chair of this committee until his appointment as President of the Treasury Board in December 2003. Prior to his time in government, Mr. Alcock was President and CEO of a small computer consulting agency and owner/operator of a hotel in Winnipeg. Mr. Alcock has a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University.