Archive: Social Justice Series
The Future of Poverty: Canada’s Prospects
Four free public lectures and five dialogue sessions
January 20–March 10, 2003
Canada committed itself to a culture of caring that created a distinct Canadian identity, with a set of values embraced by a nation. Canadians once thought that this social safety net was so firmly entrenched in our society that it would endure. Yet over the last several years we have and continue to witness an escalating erosion of the welfare state that is based on a complex interplay of economic, political and social factors. The series provided a forum for discussion, reflection, mutual support, and public education regarding welfare and the future of poverty.
Series Format
The Future of Poverty series was opened by a lecture by the Hon. Ed Broadbent. Topics were divided into three modules, each providing a different perspective on Canada and the welfare state—the history, current policy impacts, and alternatives for the future. Each module centered on a free public lecture by a nationally renowned activist in social justice: Jean Swanson, activist and author of Poor-bashing: The Politics of Exclusion; Dr. Ernie Lightman, social policy expert from the University of Toronto; and Judy Rebick, long-time activist and journalist, author and current CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson University.
For those wishing to engage in more sustained dialogue, pre- and post-discussion groups were organized. Participants in the Sustained Dialogue were asked to commit to the entire series to ensure a more coherent dialogue that had the potential to deepen our collective understanding of these complex issues and inform future action.
For more information visit www.sfu.ca/cstudies/community
Seeking Justice: Human Rights in Our Communities
A Public Symposium: November 7–8, 2003
This series was sponsored by the Institute for the Humanities, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University; Amnesty International; the Naramata Centre; the BC Federation of Labour; the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; and the Poverty and Human Rights Project.
It was hosted by Community Education Programs, Continuing Studies, Simon Fraser University with financial support from the David and Cecilia Ting Endowment, the Institute for the Humanities, Amnesty International and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
About the Symposium
During the second half of the twentieth century, nations committed themselves to upholding human rights. Inspiring inroads were made that laid the foundation for national and international agreements, raised global awareness and ensure the protection of human rights. Yet the global community continues to witness persistent violations—acts of ethnic cleansing, genocide, slavery, violence against women, and workers rights violations, the increasing marginalization of the poor, and persistent lack of acknowledgment of indigenous peoples' heritage and rights.
Seeking Justice: Human Rights in our Communities will provide a cross-section of views about human rights and a venue for dialogue around these pertinent issues. The symposium will provide a forum for reflection, mutual support and public education regarding human rights.
It is intended to engage participants in open discussion; to lead to insights about human rights from a number of sectorial and geographic perspectives; and to explore the complexity and responsibilities associated with human rights.
For more information visit www.sfu.ca/cstudies/community
