About Us
Royal Commonwealth Society – Toronto Branch
The Toronto Branch of Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan organization with a mission to advance and champion education, discussion, research and public awareness about the Commonwealth of Nations, and Canada’s role in this global alliance.
Through a variety of seminars, talks, social and cultural events, we offer members a forum for the development of Commonwealth thinking on key international issues. Meetings or social events are held on average once a month and feature a guest speaker on either the history, present, culture or future of the Commonwealth.
Through our youth and outreach programs, such as the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay and the Queen’s Young Leaders Program, bursaries and scholarships, the Royal Commonwealth Society seeks to encourage young people to develop their leadership skills and a greater awareness of what it means to be a Citizen of the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a multifaceted voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries with adhering to a total of sixteen core beliefs and values are drawn up in the Commonwealth Charter, namely, democracy, human rights, international peace and security, tolerance, respect and understanding, freedom of expression, separation of powers, rule of law, good governance, sustainable development, protecting the environment, access to health, education, food and shelter, gender equality, importance of young people in the Commonwealth, recognition of the needs of the small states, recognition of the needs of the vulnerable states, and lastly, the role of civil society.
Head of the Commonwealth
The Head of the Commonwealth is King Charles III, a ceremonial leader who symbolises “the free association of independent member nations” of the Commonwealth of Nations. There is no set term of office or term limit and the role itself has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth. RCS Toronto accepts with pride and affirms its loyalty to His Majesty as King of Canada, Head of the Commonwealth. The late Queen Elizabeth II described this “family of nations” as a “modern, vibrant and connected Commonwealth that combines a wealth of history and tradition with the great social, cultural and technological advances of our time.”
Royal Commonwealth Society, Toronto Branch
Board of Directors
First Name | Last Name | Designation |
| Andrew | McMurtry | Chairman & Executive Director |
| David | Williams | Vice-Chair & Chair of RCS Toronto Foundation |
| David | Moll | Vice-Chair & Treasurer |
| Dr. Gordon | Lawson | Vice-Chair |
| Dr. Colin | Saldanha | Leadership Director and Past Chair |
| Susan | Davies | Membership & Event Registration Director |
| Jordan | Hatherley | Membership Outreach Director |
| Paul | Herriot | Connstitution Interim Director |
| Sandra | Herriot | Events Director |
| Salome | Reynolds Mader | RCS Royal Photographer |
| Baraneh | Shahrbandi | Youth Initiatives Director |
| Arthur | Downes JP | Past Chair |
| Rosemary | Sadlier OOnt | Past Chair |
| Jeffrey | Lewis | |
| Ian | McPhail KC | |
| Zeshan | Syed | |
| May | Vita-Finzi | |
| Natalie | Wong |
