Roadmaps for changing the World Magnéto

In May 2020, George Floyd was murdered by the police of Minneapolis. Huge protests for racial justice brought back the Black Lives Matter movement, and Defund The Police gained widespread popularity. What does it mean exactly? How does violence and police brutality affect black lives in USA and Canada? What are the similarities and differences between the two countries? How does police defunding look practically? Featuring Larry Rouseau (Executive Vice-President at the Canadian Labour Congress) Tasia Cassandra Brown (National Communications Officer at AFPC, President of Canadian Association of Labour Media), and Councillor Jean Swanson (Vancouver City Councillor).

Our modern societies face a great number of challenges and crises. Unfortunately, politicians and representative governments seem incompetent or powerless to tackle these problems. Hence, diminishing confidence in our institutions.

As a response, right-wing populists and authoritarian regimes flourish across the world. Is democracy dead, or in danger? If it’s not too late, how do we reclaim and rebuild democracy in the 21st century?

Featuring Joel Westheimer (professor and University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa), Ethan Porter (assistant professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University), Malorie Flon (development director at the Institut du Nouveau Monde), Bernadette Clément (Mayor of Cornwall).

As of mid-December 2020, the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine landed in Canada. Even with an end in sight, there is cause for concern as the second wave of the pandemic overwhelms Canada, reporting more than 464,000 confirmed cases.

In part one, we discussed the impact and future of COVID-19 with professionals in education, communications and journalism.
In part two, we explore the implications of COVID-19 with professionals in food, environment, and vulnerable employment. Featuring Tania Salerno (Academic Expert and Researcher at The Firelight Group), Martin Boucher (Lecturer at Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy), Waheed Khan (senior advisor for Climate Change International at Environment & Climate Change Canada, National Capital Region Director of the PIPSC).

Since then, COVID-19 has drastically changed how we live in, work in, and enjoy the world around us. In this two-part series, we explore how COVID-19 has affected us through several unique lenses and experiences.

For part one, we navigate this discussion from working professionals in education, communication, and journalism.

Featuring Jennifer Maddrell (instructional design consultant, college instructor and founder of Designers for Learning), JR Dingwall (instructional designer for the University of Saskatchewan), Jean-Sébastien Marier (Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Ottawa).

In part one, we heard from five people who have been involved in the arts and culture industry, and we discussed the industry’s importance for people, and explored its role in society.

Building on this momentum, part two delves deeper into the issue of arts and culture in society, and how, more specifically, it can help others, the marginalized or the homeless in our shared community.

Featuring Constance Devereaux (associate professor in the School of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut), Arthur Carkner (career unionist, member, producer and former president of the Workers' History Museum), Jenn Budney (professional research associate, arts journalist and former curator), Jonathan Paquette (Research Chair in International Francophonie on Cultural Heritage Policies, University of Ottawa), Helanna Gessner (curatorial, exhibits and collections manager for the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, Saskatoon).

When one thinks about art and culture, people often conjure up images of old dusty museums, paintings and objects behind hermetically sealed glass. Less imagined are spaces for community, contestation and engagement.

With controversies arising from issues of representation, cultural management and repatriation, it seems that art and culture is at a crossroads. Before we can understand how to move forward, we need to understand. Why is art and culture important?

Featuring Constance Devereaux (associate professor in the School of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut), Arthur Carkner (career unionist, member, producer and former president of the Workers' History Museum), Jenn Budney (professional research associate, arts journalist and former curator), Jonathan Paquette (Research Chair in International Francophonie on Cultural Heritage Policies, University of Ottawa), Helanna Gessner (curatorial, exhibits and collections manager for the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, Saskatoon).