Becoming a member of the Dalhousie Conservative Club comes with many benefits. Members will have the opportunity to build strong connections with like-minded students as well as with other politically involved people within the community. On top of that, being involved with the club gives students a better appreciation for how politics works and helps them become more informed on political issues. Many current politicians have participated in campus clubs just like this one during their time at university, but it's also a great opportunity for anyone interested in policy, law, business, management, or just anyone who has an interest in politics and considers themself to be a Conservative. 

An Overview of Events

In the past year, the Dalhousie Conservative Club has been active within Halifax and Nova Scotia. In both the fall of 2023 and the spring of 2024 the club had the opportunity to meet Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poileivre in Windsor and Halifax. Some of our members marched in the Halifax Parade of Lights with the Nova Scotia PC Party, and have been able to attend EDA Board Meetings in both Halifax and Dartmouth. Another highlight for our members was the Nova Scotia PC Party AGM, a chance to connect with Progressive Conservatives across the province for a weekend. Special guests including Edmonton-Wetaskiwin MP Mike Lake, and former Attorney General, Foreign Affairs, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay were also welcomed to Dalhousie, whether it be for a casual pub night or a Q&A session. The club has also had opportunities to support local candidates and EDAs in Halifax and Dartmouth-Cole Harbour by participating in canvassing. As we move forward, the Dalhousie Conservative Club hopes to continue to engage with local candidates, bring in prominent guest speakers, and many more fun opportunities. Our members will even get the chance to meet Pierre Poilievre should he visit the Halifax Regional Municipality.

A Proud History at Dalhousie

Records show that campus conservative clubs have been present at Dalhousie since the 1940s, during Robert Stanfield's tenure as leader of the PC Party of Nova Scotia. Since 1993, the group has had multiple iterations and executives. Daniel Clarke revived the club following the defeat of the Progressive Conservatives in the 1993 Federal Election, serving as President from 1996-1999. Clarke was followed by Liam O'Brien, Paige Black, and then Aaron Sophocleus. A brief period of inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic was put to an end in 2023 when the newly formed Dalhousie Conservative Club was co-founded by Evan Colclough and Matt MacFarlane. Evan Colclough served one term as President, and MacFarlane has served as President since March 2024. Dalhousie University has been a welcoming place for progressive conservatism, with notable alumni being the Hon. Peter MacKay and the Hon. Brian Mulroney.