BACS/UCL ONLINE EVENT, TUESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2025
BACS/UCL Canadian Studies Seminar, 28 October: "The Quebec Referendum, October 1995: Thirty Years After"
The BACS/UCL Canadian Studies programme , hosted by the UCL Institute of the Americas in London, will be starting its new 2025-26 series of monthly on-line seminars on Tuesday, 28th October via Zoom at 18.00 (UK time) until 19.30.
We have decided to start with a panel discussion to mark the 30th anniversary of the Quebec referendum of 30 October 1995. This was one of the most dramatic and possibly important political events in recent Quebec and indeed Canadian history. In a divisive and emotionally charged campaign, the sovereigntist "Yes" forces came within a few thousand votes of winning a mandate in favour of Quebec's separation from Canada. At the time, the sovereignty movement appeared to many both in Quebec and in the rest of Canada to represent a near-unstoppable force and only a record high turn-out of 93% had saved the federalist "No" side from defeat. Yet, in retrospect, the referendum could be seen to mark a high tide in support for independence.
This seminar provides an opportunity to look back at the referendum and to examine how far Quebec politics and public opinion with regard to sovereignty has changed. The panel will include three most distinguished commentators on Quebec history and politics:
Claire Durand, Professor, Department of Sociology, Université de Montreal.
Guy Laforest, Emeritus Professor, Political Science, Université Laval, Quebec;
Jocelyn Létourneau, Emeritus Professor, History, Université Laval, Quebec;
Chair: Patrick Holdich, Honorary Research Fellow, UCL IA.
The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A with members of the on-line audience.
Attendance at the event is free and open to all.
To register please email Tony McCulloch by 12.00 noon (UK time) on Monday 27 October:
The Zoom link will be sent out to registered attendees on 27 October.