Kenneyism with Jeremy Appel and Stephen Raitz

Join us on Friday, July 12^th at 7:00pm as we welcome author Jeremy Appel to the shop to celebrate his recent book Kenneyism! Jeremy will be in conversation with Stephen Raitz.

The harsh moralistic worldview of Jason Kenney has spurred right-wing populism to the mainstream in Canadian politics, but he unleashed forces he couldn’t control.

From Jason Kenney’s days as an anti-abortion activist at the University of San Francisco, and through his years as a Canadian Taxpayers Federation lobbyist, Reform MP, top cabinet minister in the Harper government, and Alberta premier, he has been single-mindedly driven to bring his harsh moralistic worldview into the mainstream.

Kenney took on the old guard of Canada’s liberal consensus and won, playing a key role in shifting the country’s political discussion to the right. But the very right-wing populist forces Kenney cultivated would come back to haunt him.

Jeremy Appel has observed Alberta politics and reported on various aspects of Kenney’s agenda since 2017, when Kenney made his way across the province in his big blue pickup truck to rile up aggrieved conservatives. Kenneyism examines Kenney’s political beliefs, his rise through federal political ranks, and his ultimate resignation from the leadership of the United Conservative Party.

Stephen Raitz is an improviser with Rapid Fire Theatre and a recent graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Prior to returning to school, Stephen worked for municipalities in the Edmonton region as an Urban Planner for several years. He has also helped lead grassroots advocacy around safer, more liveable streets with Paths for People.

Jeremy will be in shop to read from Kenneyism, sign copies of the book, and answer your questions!