Voices is the theme for the 2022 Vanier College Social Science Festival

Vanier College is proud to announce that this year’s annual Social Science Festival will explore the theme of Voices.  Against the backdrop of the unabating digital revolution, who gets to speak about various issues? Who is actually heard? How do we assess the value and quality of the content of the conflicting messages and information in circulation? And, are the ‘appropriate’ voices speaking to – and being heard – on various issues?

All events will be held live in the Vanier Auditorium (A103) from October 24th to the 27th. During the festival, a diverse roster of speakers will tackle the theme from varying angles.

The event will kick off on Monday, October 24th with Eduard Karapoghosyan and Valentyna Slivinska, Consultants of the Technical Support Unit of the Task Force on National GHG Inventories of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC TFI TSU) who will discuss Voices, Environment and Climate Change.

Later the same day, the topic will be Talking About Talking About Indigenous People and Issues of Colonialism in a presentation by Professor Catherine Kineweskwêw Richardson, Director, First Peoples Studies and Co-director of Oral History and Storytelling, School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University.

On Tuesday, October 25, the day begins with Laura Lima, Peace and Development Officer, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) who will discuss Voices, Gender and Development. Following her, André Morin, Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly (Acadie) will explore Voices, Societal Issues and Challenges. In the afternoon, Patrick Masbourian, host of Tout un matin, Radio-Canada, will give a Masterclass on Voices, Media and the Digital Revolution.

On Wednesday, October 26, a morning talk will focus on Voices, Youth Engagement and Voting, with Alexandre Boulerice, NDP Member of Parliament (Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie); Deputy Leader; Labour Critic; Deputy Critic for Climate Change and Official Languages and Taylor Bachrach, NDP Member of Parliament (Skeena-Bulkley Valley); Transport Critic and Deputy Critic for Infrastructure and Communities.

From 12:30 to 1:45, it will be time for fun and an Honours Social Science vs. Liberal Arts Quiz Show hosted by Peter Gantous, Teacher, Psychology, Vanier College.

In the afternoon, Voices, Discrimination and Entrepreneurship will be the topic of discussion with Louis-Edgar Jean-François, Chief Executive Officer, Groupe 3737 and Co-founder and President of the Board of Directors, Coalition F.A.C.E.

On Thursday, October 27, the subject will be Coming Out as Queer of Color in Québec Cinema and TV with guests Gregorio Pablo and Rodríguez-Arbolay, Humanities PhD Candidate and Research coordinator at the Global Emergent Media Lab, Concordia University.