Experts in political science, journalism, public polling reflect on federal election results at annual Barry Kay Lecture

Oct. 18, 2021
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – An award-winning journalist, the CEO of a market research firm and a political science researcher from Wilfrid Laurier University will come together on Oct. 21 to debrief on the results of Canada’s 2021 federal election and its implications for the future. The 2021 Federal Election in Review panel is the second event in the annual Barry Kay Lecture Series, established in honour of the late Laurier scholar and political media commentator.

The virtual event, co-hosted by Laurier’s Department of Political Science and the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (LISPOP), is open to the public. Panelists include:

• Abigail Bimman, Ottawa correspondent for Global National
• Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs
• Andrea Perrella, associate professor of Political Science at Laurier

“LISPOP’s mandate is to conduct research and mobilize knowledge about the interaction between public opinion and policy. Elections are at the heart of this,” said Simon Kiss, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Digital Media and Journalism and director of LISPOP. “Audience members will get a mix of practitioner and academic interpretations of the 2021 election. Dr. Bricker will present exit poll data from Ipsos, Abigail Bimman will share her experience watching the leaders closely for weeks on the campaign trail, and Dr. Perrella will provide a look at how Indigenous issues were covered or not covered during the campaign.”

Kiss noted that all three panelists had close relationships with Kay, who passed away in December 2019. Kay was a professor in Laurier’s Department of Political Science for 41 years.

“Barry was a founding member of LISPOP and had a national reputation for his skill and art in interpreting public opinion polls and election results,” said Kiss. “He loved these kinds of events and was outstanding when speaking at them.”

Registration is now open for the 2021 Federal Election in Review on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 11:30 a.m.