Return to Reason PRESENTS
Big Topics & Big Ideas
Since its inception in 1999, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy has been steadfast in its mission to foster Ideas for a Better Tomorrow. Through research, publications, educational events and policy analysis, Frontier has impacted dozens of governments and policy sectors. With Western Canadian roots and a drive to cultivate responsible citizenship, Leaders on the Frontier features discussions of common sense and good governance from this non-partisan, cutting-edge think tank.
Residential Schools and “Genocide” in Canada, It's Not What You Think
What really happened in Canada’s colonial past and why does the truth still matter today? David Leis sits down with Lord Nigel Biggar, author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, to unpack the complex history between colonial powers and Indigenous peoples. From early cooperation to painful conflicts and the controversial legacy of residential schools, Biggar challenges the oversimplified narratives shaping public debate. He also confronts the moral record of the British Empire and its role in both oppression and the abolition of slavery—arguing that only by facing history in full, not just the parts that fit an agenda, can we pursue real justice and reconciliation.
Featured Podcast Episode
Residential Schools and “Genocide” in Canada, It's Not What You Think
What really happened in Canada’s colonial past and why does the truth still matter today? David Leis sits down with Lord Nigel Biggar, author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, to unpack the complex history between colonial powers and Indigenous peoples. From early cooperation to painful conflicts and the controversial legacy of residential schools, Biggar challenges the oversimplified narratives shaping public debate. He also confronts the moral record of the British Empire and its role in both oppression and the abolition of slavery—arguing that only by facing history in full, not just the parts that fit an agenda, can we pursue real justice and reconciliation.
David Leis
Before becoming the president and CEO of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, David Leis served in a variety of senior leadership roles within industry, government, First Nations and education. His academic credentials from Waterloo, Ryerson and Toronto led him to earn his Masters in Public Policy at Queen's University in Ontario. Networking everywhere he goes, David's warm personality has created connections with leaders around the globe. With a tenacious passion for Canada's success and a high regard for people, David relishes the opportunity to educate and inform by hosting Leaders on the Frontier.
