Unforgettable community discussions and respectful, inclusive debates
The Salt Spring Forum brings diverse perspectives on important issues to a community known for its civic engagement and openness to new ideas.
The Forum has hosted some of the world's leading authors, artists, scientists, political leaders and activists. Our annual speaker series and members-only salons present thought-provoking discussions on some of the greatest issues of our times.
Forum events take place in a truly participatory discussion format that ensures respectful dialogue, a wide-range of perspectives and ideas, and mutual learning.
We invite you to learn more about the Salt Spring Forum. The best way to become involved is to attend one of our many events. We also encourage you to become a member and support our work with a tax-deductible donation.
JOIN US AT OUR NEXT INSPIRING EVENT
Alex Neve
2025 CBC Massey Lecturer
Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World
Fulford Hall 7:30pm May 13
Tickets available HERE
In a world marked by conflict, inequality, climate crisis, and rising polarization, the promise of human rights can feel distant and sometimes impossible. But for Alex Neve, that promise is not an outdated ideal; it is a call to action that still matters deeply, and urgently.
A lawyer, educator, and internationally respected human rights advocate, Neve has spent more than three decades working to protect humanity’s most basic freedoms. He served as Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada from 2000-20, leading or participating in more than 40 research and advocacy missions worldwide - from Indigenous communities in Canada to Guantanamo Bay and beyond.
Neve’s work has shaped national and international debates on refugee protection, Indigenous rights, gender equality, corporate accountability, climate justice, and the rule of the law. He has taught international human rights law as a professor, served on Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board, and regularly appears before parliamentary committees and UN bodies.
An Officer of the Order of Canada and recipient of multiple honorary doctorates, Neve was selected as the CBC Massey Lecturer in 2025, exploring why human rights matter more than ever and how we have fallen short of that promise. His book ‘Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World’ (House of Anansi Press Inc, 2025) explores how we can fulfil the promise that human rights are inherent.
Please join the Salt Spring Forum and Alex Neve as we explore the question at the heart of Neve’s work: if human rights are universal, how do we make them real for everyone, everywhere?
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