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WELCOME!

Olenka Welcome

On the marking of 50 years since the announcement of the policy of Multiculturalism in Canada, 2021 offers an opportunity to take stock and reflect on the question: To what extent and in what ways has Multiculturalism impacted education in Alberta and/or Canada? Since its adoption in 1971 in response to the cross-Canada hearings that formed a part of the Bilingualism and Bicultural commission, the policy has been both praised and challenged. Supporters of multiculturalism at the time asserted that the policy promoted and built an inclusive and accepting Canadian society, in which minorities of all descriptions were able to maintain their own unique cultures and ethnic identities. On the other hand, critics have posited that multiculturalism discouraged interethnic dialogue, did not address social or systemic racism, and most importantly, did not attend to the longstanding divides between mainstream orientations to questions of rights and those of Indigenous peoples.

This symposium has invited scholars from diverse fields of education to listen deeply and critically across disciplines, reflect on and envision the following:

  1. How can we shape a more inclusive future for Canadians? 

  2. What are the national and provincial multicultural and educational policies and practices that have arisen, fallen and/or endured since the announcement of Multiculturalism in 1971, what can we learn from them and how might they contribute to the next 50 years?

  3. How can these policies and practices support official bilingualism and the Indigenous Languages Act, the TRC Calls to Action, equity, diversity, and inclusion?

  4. Does multiculturalism have a future role in Canadian education?

 

You are invited to join the online presentations, listen deeply and critically, reflect on these same questions, and contribute to the chat, discussions and reflections. 

This symposium has been made possible through the support of our University of Alberta sponsors. Special thanks to the Kule Institute of Advanced Studies (KIAS), the Faculty of Education, the Prince Takamado Japan Centre (PTJC), the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), and the Ukrainian Language Education Centre (ULEC) for their encouragement in bringing these outstanding scholars together to share their expertise during this two-day event.

 

Please watch for the post-symposium recordings and publications!

 

Dr. Olenka Bilash, University of Alberta, Symposium Organizer

Home: Speakers

SPEAKERS

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MS. JANELLE BRADY

University of Toronto / George Brown College

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MS. NADIA PROKOPCHUK

University of Saskatchewan

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DR. DOUGLAS FLEMING

University of Ottawa

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DR. MARTINE PELLERIN

Campus Saint Jean, University of Alberta

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DR. PRIYA MANI

University of Manitoba

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DR. KENT DEN HEYER

University of Alberta

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DR. ROMAN PETRYSHYN

University of Alberta

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DR. GEORGE J. SEFA DEI

University of Toronto

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DR. JENNIFER TUPPER

University of Alberta, Dean of Faculty of Education

Opening Remarks
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DR. OLENKA BILASH

University of Alberta (Symposium Organizer)

Hiking

TBA

TBA

Welcome
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DR. DWAYNE DONALD

University of Alberta

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DR. YAN GUO

University of Calgary

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DR. LYNNE WILTSE

University of Alberta

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MS. SHELBY LAFRAMBOISE

Freelance Researcher and Writer

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DR. CATHRYN VAN KESSEL

University of Alberta

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MR. DALE SADDLEBACK

University of Alberta

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DR. DIANE GÉRIN-LAJOIE

University of Toronto

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DR. AYA FUJIWARA

Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research, University of Alberta

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DR. SHIBAO GUO

University of Calgary

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DR. CATHERINE BROOM

University of British Columbia (Okanagan)

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DR. DARREN E. LUND

University of Calgary

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DR. ANNA SHTERNSHIS

University of Toronto

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DR. WISAM KH. ABDUL-JABBAR

University of Alberta

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DR. HEATHER BLAIR

University of Alberta

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DR. TRUDIE ABERDEEN

University of Alberta

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MS. ADRIANA ONITA

University of Alberta

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MR. BRENT SACCUCCI

University of Alberta

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DR. KRISTIN SNODDON

Ryerson University

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DR. DEBRA RUSSELL

University of Alberta

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MS. EBONY GOODEN

Freelance Artist

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MS. KELLY HOLMES

University of Ottawa

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DR. GEOFFREY ROCKWELL

University of Alberta

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DR. FRANK DEER

University of Manitoba

Home: Schedule

SCHEDULE

DAY 1 - MARCH 22, 2021

(all times are in Mountain Standard Time)

9 AM

WELCOME

INVOCATION

OPENING

Dr. Olenka Bilash, Symposium Organizer
Mr. Dale Saddleback

Dr. Jennifer Tupper, Dean, Faculty of Education and TBA

9:10 - 10:05 AM

SESSION 1

Multiculturalism Through the Eyes of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples

10:05 - 10:35 AM

SESSION 2

Multiculturalism – The Franco-Ontarian Perspective

10:35 -10:40 AM

BREAK

10:40 - 11:40 AM

SESSION 3

Visible Minorities on Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion 

11:40 - 12:40 PM

SESSION 4

How Multicultural and Indigenous Literature Has Changed English Language Arts

mâmawiw wihcayâmitowin: Together on this land

Dr. Dwayne Donald (University of Alberta) and Dale Saddleback (University of Alberta)

Multicultural Education in French Minority Language Schools in Canada

Dr. Diane Gérin-Lajoie (OISE, University of Toronto)

Stretch and grab a coffee!

Visible Minorities and Higher Education

Dr. Aya Fujiwara (PTJC, University of Alberta)

Revisiting Multicultural Education in the Age of Transnational Migration: Perspectives of Immigrant Parents

Dr. Shibao Guo & Dr. Yan Guo (University of Calgary)

“Mirrors, windows and doors”: Exploring the Shifting Roles of Multicultural LIterature

Dr. Lynne Wiltse (University of Alberta)

Indigenous Literature in the Canadian Classroom

Ms. Shelby Laframboise (Freelance researcher and writer)

12:40 - 1:10 PM

LUNCH BREAK

1:10 - 2:10 PM

SESSION 5

How the Social Studies Curricula Have Changed Since Multiculturalism – The Case of Two Provinces

2:10 - 3:40 PM

SESSION 6

Multiculturalism, Ethnicity and Diasporas

3:40 - 4:00 PM

REFLECTION

Sparking Dialogue and Conversation

Grab a bite and recharge!

Individual, National, and (Multi?)Cultural Identities in Alberta’s Secondary Social Studies Curriculum

Dr. Cathryn van Kessel (University of Alberta)

A Case Study of BC’s Curricula Illustrating How Attention to Multiculturalism Has Changed Over Time

Dr. Catherine Broom (University of British Columbia-Okanagan)

Exploring the Challenges and Promise of Multiculturalism in Canada in Turbulent Times

Dr. Darren Lund (University of Calgary)

Between Israel, Russia, Ukraine and Canada: Many Homes of Russian-speaking Jewish Diaspora

Dr. Anna Shternshis (University of Toronto)

 

Muslim Immigrant/Refugee Students and the Inter-Intracultural Ethics: A Survival Guide in Diaspora

Dr. Wisam Abdul Jabbar (University of Alberta)

TBA

DAY 2 - MARCH 23, 2021

(all times are in Mountain Standard Time)

9:00 - 10:00 AM

SESSION 7

How Education has Changed Since Multiculturalism in Canada

Experience of Professional Counsellors: Developing Multicultural Knowledge, Awareness, and Skills

Dr. Priya Mani (University of Manitoba)

 

Hegel’s Helping Hand: Multiculturalism and the National Geographic Gaze in Education

Dr. Kent den Heyer (University of Alberta)

10:00 - 10:30 AM

SESSION 8

Multiculturalism and Communities

10:30 - 10:35 AM

BREAK

10:35 - 11:45 AM

10:35 - 11:10 AM

11:10 - 11:30 AM

SESSION 9

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racist Education

11:45 - 12:05 PM

LUNCH BREAK

12:05 - 2:05 PM

SESSION 10

Multiculturalism and Official, Indigenous, Second, and Heritage Languages Education

2:05 - 2:15 PM

BREAK

2:15 - 3:15 PM

SESSION 11

Multiculturalism - Perspectives of Other Minority Communities

3:15 - 4:00 PM

REFLECTION

Sparking More Dialogue and Conversation

How Settler Ethnocultural Communities Can Reconcile with Indigenous Peoples: Some Goals Metis and Ukrainian Canadians Hold in Common to Protect and Enhance Their Community Identities

Dr. Roman Petryshyn (University of Alberta)

Stretch and grab a coffee!

Multiculturalism and Public Education: The View from Anti-Racism

Dr. George J. Sefa Dei (University of Toronto)

Othermothering, community-parenting and change: Black mothering approaches to racial injustice in education

Ms. Janelle Brady (CIARS, OISE, University of Toronto)

Grab a bite and recharge!

ESL: Moving Beyond Multicultural Education to Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Ms. Nadia Prokopchuk (University of Saskatchewan)

 

Constructing the self-sufficient citizen: Neoliberalism, citizenship, and language learning in the Canadian Language Benchmarks

Ms. Kelly Holmes & Dr. Douglas Fleming (University of Ottawa)

Inclusion and diversity – Is French Immersion up to date and ready for a new era?

Dr. Martine Pellerin (Campus St-jean, University of Alberta)

Policy matters: The case of  Indigenous Languages in Canada

Dr. Heather Blair​

Official Multiculturalism Without Official Multilingualism: The Relationship Between Status and Funding

Dr. Trudie Aberdeen (University of Alberta)

From Multicultiphobia to Linguaphobia: Canada’s Un/written Rules for Cultural and Linguistic Conformity

Ms. Adriana Oniță

Stretch and grab a snack!

Between Culture, Faith, and ... Queerness? The collision of sexuality and culture in Canadian multicultural contexts 

Mr. Brent Sacucci (University of Alberta)

Challenges and Calls to Action: A Multicultural Lens applied to the Deaf community

Dr. Debra Russell (University of Alberta), Dr. Kristin Snoddon (Ryerson), and Ms. Ebony R. Gooden (Freelance artist)

Dr. Frank Deer & Dr. Geoffrey Rockwell

Home: Contact

GET IN TOUCH

About the symposium:

Dr. Olenka Bilash (olenka.bilash@ualberta.ca)

About changes to the website:

Adriana Onita (aonita@ualberta.ca)

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