Congress 2017 looks ahead at the next 150

From May 27 to June 2, Ryerson University will be home to Canada’s largest academic gathering. The Faculty of Arts (opens in new window)  is hosting the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences 2017 (external link, opens in new window) , an annual week-long event of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (external link, opens in new window)  that brings together academics, researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners. Seventy scholarly associations will hold their annual conferences at the event.

This year’s Congress is the first hosted by Ryerson, with the event putting emphasis on Indigenous issues. The event is themed “The Next 150, On Indigenous Land,” in recognition both of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s federation, and the insights from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This theme will be explored in an Indigenous tepee (external link, opens in new window)  art installation at Pitman Hall, organized by FCAD’s new Indigenous Communication and Design Network (opens in new window) . A talk (external link, opens in new window)  by Leanne Simpson will explore Indigenous resurgence and nationhood through story, song and video.Three path-breaking Indigenous women (Tracey Lindberg, Maatalii Aneraq Okalik, and Maria Campbell) will share their experiences at Present and Powerful Indigenous Women (external link, opens in new window) .

Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi will introduce Open Borders, Open Minds: Academia in an Age of Growing Isolationism (external link, opens in new window) . This public discussion will explore the role of the humanities and social sciences in addressing the implications of closing borders for scholarship, teaching and democracy.

Ryerson and Congress will be host to high-profile, influential guests. The legendary writer and philosopher Cornel West (external link, opens in new window)  will share his thoughts on race, democracy, justice, and love in the Trump era. In addition, a series of Ryersonians in Conversation events will bring prominent Ryerson scholars to discuss critical issues of the day: photojournalist Peter Bregg (external link, opens in new window) , journalist and professor Kamal al-Solaylee (external link, opens in new window) , and journalists April Lindgren, Jon Corbett and Jaigris Hodson (external link, opens in new window) .

In a time of uncertainty, Congress will explore the issues facing journalists. In Media in the Age of Terror (external link, opens in new window) , former Al Jazeera English Bureau Chief Mohamed Fahmy will discuss his 2013 wrongful imprisonment, and how press freedoms can be threatened by states. At Black Joy: Resistance, Revolution, and Radical Love (external link, opens in new window) , poet and human rights advocate Aja Monet will discuss the nature of Black identity with writer and activist Desmond Cole.

Ryerson-hosted events will include Ryersonia (external link, opens in new window) , a dance/music/spoken word show by students from the School of Performance that will explore the nature of home. 150 Years of Language in Toronto (external link, opens in new window)  will be exhibited at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. A panel of distinguished visiting professors will discuss the realities of racism at Debunking National Narratives: Bigotry Unpacked (external link, opens in new window) . Ryerson is also collaborating with the Canadian Labour Congress on an interactive refugee hut (external link, opens in new window)  installation, a multimedia experience that simulates the refugee experience.

Congress is also a time for innovation. DMZ tours (external link, opens in new window)  will showcase Canada’s leading business incubator for tech startups. Meanwhile, FCAD’s groundbreaking creative research will be on display at the Creative Innovation Hub (external link, opens in new window) .

Congress 2017 is projected to be one of the largest Congresses yet, with more than 8,000 delegates already registered. It will also have the most volunteers, with almost 700 students and staff (beating the previous record of 350).

This will be the first Congress to have a wayfinding app. Ryerson: Congress 2017 Maps is a Google Maps-powered app to help visitors navigate the event. It includes floorplans, drop pin identification, and full-time alerts. The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play, and on the Faculty of Arts website (opens in new window) .

For more information on Congress 2017, visit the Faculty of Arts.