Stephen Harper’s official prime ministerial portrait to be unveiled in Ottawa

Canada’s former prime minister Stephen Harper will have his official portrait unveiled today during a formal ceremony in downtown Ottawa, marking nearly two decades since his first Conservative government was elected.

The unveiling is scheduled to take place at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building and comes ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 2006 federal election that brought Harper to power. The portrait was painted by Canadian artist Phil Richards, whose previous work includes the Diamond Jubilee Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Harper served as prime minister from February 2006 until November 2015, becoming one of Canada’s longest-serving Conservative leaders. His tenure reshaped federal policy in several areas, including a reduction of the federal goods and services tax to five per cent and the introduction of stricter criminal justice measures that sparked ongoing debate.

His time in office also included landmark parliamentary actions, such as a 2006 House of Commons motion recognizing the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada. In 2008, Harper delivered a formal apology on behalf of the federal government for the harms caused by the residential schools system, a moment that continues to influence national conversations around reconciliation.

Harper’s legacy remains relevant for communities across the country, including in British Columbia and Alberta, where many of his economic and justice policies had lasting regional impact and continue to shape political debate today.