Dr. Alvin Curling

Dr. Alvin Curling is a prominent Canadian statesman and legislator (1985-2005) who has held Cabinet posts as Minister of Skills Development (1987-1989) and Minister of Housing (1985-1987) and served as Deputy House Leader (1996-1999) and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2005, when he accepted a diplomatic posting as Canada's ambassador to the Dominican Republic.  He was the first Black Canadian to hold a cabinet-level position in Ontario. 

Alvin’s professional career highlights include: World Literacy of Canada, president, 1981-84; first elected to Ontario Legislature general election 1985; re-elected general election 1987, 1990, 1995, 1999; minister of housing, 1985-87; minister of skills development, 1987-89; parliamentary assistant to the minister of intergovernmental affairs until 1990; former deputy whip for the official opposition; appointed: official opposition critic for housing, 1995; official opposition critic for urban affairs and official opposition critic for youth, 1999; official opposition critic for training and skills development, 2002.

Alvin held a position as Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Ontario, from June 2007 until May 2010. He also served as Co-Chair of the Premier's Task Force on the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence. In 2014, he was made a Member of the Order of Ontario for having "played an important role in shaping government policy addressing youth violence". Alvin was educated at Seneca College and at York University in Toronto. He began working as an educator in 1972, and served as President of the World Literacy of Canada organization from 1981 to 1984. 

In 2007, Alvin headed a review panel with former Ontario Chief Justice and Attorney General Roy McMurtry on youth violence and issued a report concluding that poverty, racism, lack of decent housing and a culturally insensitive school curriculum create a sense of hopelessness among youth that all too often results in violence.  As a keynote speaker and delegate at many national and international conferences and at the United Nations, Alvin has advocated for the development of international policy and the establishment of partnerships.   In his current role as President and Chair of the Board of the International Peace Festival, Alvin is proud to lead the IPF in representing its mission and values in the advancement of international peace and security.