November's news and events, with our gratitude

We want to start off this month’s newsletter by saying thank you. Despite the many hardships of this year, we owe you our gratitude for sticking by us and continuing to engage with our programming. Last month we hosted seven events resulting in record-setting attendance numbers at the Centre. This would not have been possible without our event partners, sponsors, and you.

This month will complete our programming for the fall semester, but not to worry, there is still plenty of exciting news on the horizon which we look forward to sharing with you.

Our sincere thanks once again for your loyalty and support - SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies faculty members & staff

Staellinika partnership with the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC

Last month we announced our new partnership with the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC for the Staellinika initiative, in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic and with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). This collaboration will enable Staellinika to reach a larger population of the Greek diaspora in BC at a time when young Greeks are experiencing closures of Greek schools and other after-school programs as a result of the global pandemic.

Launch of What is Byzantium? online workshop series

We have also recently partnered with the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC to launch a free online series called What is Byzantium? which is tailored specifically to young learners, aged 6-12, in the Greek diaspora across the province, as part of a larger partnership between the two entities to promote online education for youth affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Participating students will have the opportunity to learn about the Byzantine Empire through a series of interactive, task-based workshops that will allow them to explore an empire that spanned eleven centuries and whose influence continues to be felt in modern practices of religion, law, politics, and culture.

Registration is open! Students are invited to attend as many sessions as they wish! The full program schedule can be found on the registration page.

Learn more about the initiative in our recent news article.

Neutral Countries as Clandestine Battlegrounds, 1939-1968: Between Two Fires

In case you missed it, Neutral Countries as Clandestine Battlegrounds, 1939-1968 : Between Two Fires, a new book featuring a series of essays on subterfuge, subversion, and sabotage in neutral countries, was recently published by Rowman & Littlefield. Department of Humanities assistant professor and holder of the Edward and Emily McWhinney Professorship in International Relations at Simon Fraser University, James Horncastle, as well as the late SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies director, Professor André Gerolymatos, whose 2017 conference on the same topic first inspired the publication, have both contributed to the book.

Peopling the Past digital humanities initiative

A new digital humanities initiative, Peopling the Past, allows audiences to learn about people from the ancient world and the scholars that study them. The initiative functions as a cross-media platform that hosts a blog, podcast, educational videos, and other online resources. One of the six founders of the initiative is our very own SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies member, Dr. Sabrina Higgins. Sabrina is an assistant professor in the Humanities and Archaeology Departments, and is the holder of the Hellenic Studies Professorship in Aegean and Mediterranean Societies and Cultures.

A Memory Called Empire: Science Fiction from a Byzantinist's Frame

Later today at 2:30 PM PST, in collaboration with the Department of English, we will host policy advisor and author, Dr. AnnaLinden Weller as part of this year’s Fall Seminar Series. Dr. Weller will be interviewed by fellow Byzantinist and SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies director, Dimitris Krallis. Together, they will discuss Dr. Weller’s Hugo award-winning novel, A Memory Called Empire, science fiction and the influence of Byzantium. Don't forget to register!

Memory and Trauma Through History and Culture II: Pandemic/s Panel

Next week we will host, in collaboration with the Department of Humanities and Institute for the Humanities, the second session of the Memory and Trauma Through History and Culture series, but this time, on the theme of pandemics. Organized by Eirini Kotsovili, James Horncastle, and Alessandra Capperdoni, this event will bring together speakers from a variety of different disciplines who will offer critical reflections on the legacies of past pandemics and challenges in the present. Registration now for Friday, November 20th at 2:30 PM PST.

Swinging Democracy: Law in Early Hellenistic Athens

Our last seminar of the fall semester will feature Ilias Arnaoutoglou, Director of Research in the Centre for the History of Greek Law (ΚΕΙΕΔ) at the Academy of Athens. Dr. Arnaoutoglou will present his paper which aims to contribute to the discussion about continuity and rupture in the transitory period from classical to Hellenistic and to question the qualification of the period 322 to 262 BC as Hellenistic. Register online for this event taking place on Friday, November 27th at 10:30 AM PST.

COVID-19 news and resources

For more information and updates regarding COVID-19 and SFU operations please visit: SFU community frequently asked questions about COVID-19

Latest updates

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