The National Student Commonwealth Forum (NSCF) was first envisioned in 1971 by the Royal Commonwealth Society Ottawa Branch. To coincide with Canada’s hosting of the 1973 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Ottawa Branch launched a three-day Student Commonwealth Conference (SCC), combining the concepts of a model UN General Assembly with a model CHOGM. Each of the then 35 Commonwealth countries were represented at the model CHOGM by teams of three students from Ottawa-area high schools.
The Ottawa Branch, led by Ivan Sparks and its’ Program Committee made up of Colonel Gerald Nicholson, Sir Charles Gunning and Vic Moore, recruited Professor David Farr of Carleton University to Chair their Planning Team to help plan the SCC.
The 1973 success of the SCC led to its’ repetition and growth in momentum in the following years. The Planning Team grew to include Fred Neal, a teacher at Sir Robert Borden High School, his son and daughter, and SCC alumni. The conference's participation expanded to include students from across Ontario. Out-of-town delegates were billeted with RCS supporters and families of in-town delegates.
In 1977, the SCC expanded to include students from across Canada and moved from a 3 day event to the 6 day Forum we see today, which has a more blended focus on the Commonwealth, international affairs, and youth engagement. To support this shift, the Planning Team became youth-led with a youth Program Advisor providing continuity from year to year. The RCS Ottawa Branch committed to assume all liabilities surrounding the Forum as well as to underwrite the costs associated, under the oversight of the NSCF Steering Committee made up of RCS Ottawa Board Members, the Program Advisor, and Planning Team Co-Chairs.
Since 2001, the RCS Ottawa Branch has received contributions from the Exchanges Canada program run by the Department of Canadian Heritage. These contributions have allowed participants from throughout Canada to easily access and participate in the Forum.
Since it's inception in 1973, approximately 4,000 youth have participated and a wonderful array of Commonwealth and Canadian leaders and experts have spoken at the Forum. This includes, The Prince of Wales, Commonwealth High Commissioners to Canada, Canadian Senators and politicians, and heads of international development agencies.
The Ottawa Branch, led by Ivan Sparks and its’ Program Committee made up of Colonel Gerald Nicholson, Sir Charles Gunning and Vic Moore, recruited Professor David Farr of Carleton University to Chair their Planning Team to help plan the SCC.
The 1973 success of the SCC led to its’ repetition and growth in momentum in the following years. The Planning Team grew to include Fred Neal, a teacher at Sir Robert Borden High School, his son and daughter, and SCC alumni. The conference's participation expanded to include students from across Ontario. Out-of-town delegates were billeted with RCS supporters and families of in-town delegates.
In 1977, the SCC expanded to include students from across Canada and moved from a 3 day event to the 6 day Forum we see today, which has a more blended focus on the Commonwealth, international affairs, and youth engagement. To support this shift, the Planning Team became youth-led with a youth Program Advisor providing continuity from year to year. The RCS Ottawa Branch committed to assume all liabilities surrounding the Forum as well as to underwrite the costs associated, under the oversight of the NSCF Steering Committee made up of RCS Ottawa Board Members, the Program Advisor, and Planning Team Co-Chairs.
Since 2001, the RCS Ottawa Branch has received contributions from the Exchanges Canada program run by the Department of Canadian Heritage. These contributions have allowed participants from throughout Canada to easily access and participate in the Forum.
Since it's inception in 1973, approximately 4,000 youth have participated and a wonderful array of Commonwealth and Canadian leaders and experts have spoken at the Forum. This includes, The Prince of Wales, Commonwealth High Commissioners to Canada, Canadian Senators and politicians, and heads of international development agencies.