KEYNOTE

Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge stands at such a level of public respect and visibility that, for millions of Canadians, he is not simply a newscaster: he is the daily voice of a nation. As the anchor of The National, he brings comprehension, levity and a uniquely Canadian perspective to the stories shaping our nation and the world. For all the accolades, (12 Geminis and universal acknowledgment as one of the greatest broadcast journalists in Canadian history), Mansbridge remains an astoundingly grounded individual. He is also one of this country's great public speakers.

The chief correspondent of CBC Television News, Mansbridge also hosts Mansbridge: One on One. He has been a Fellow at Yale, and has lectured at Oxford, as part of their distinguished speakers series. In 2008, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours. He was cited, "For his contributions to broadcasting, for his commitment to helping Canadians better understand their country and the world, and for his dedication to literacy and Canada's youth." In 2009, Mansbridge became the first -- and he remains the only --Canadian journalist to interview President Barack Obama. He is the only CBC journalist ever to have a sit-down interview with a sitting President.