The Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies (CACS) invites CSSE delegates, educators, and members of the public to attend this year’s signature event on climate change. CACS presents this signature event to address critical issues of today’s world in order to engage a non-academic public and to make scholarly ideas accessible to everyday Canadians. CACS seeks to raise awareness and grow together through rich, dynamic exchange forums using both traditional and non-traditional means. This event is guided guided by the question: How can we transform mindsets to embrace new attitudes and habits for positive change in light of the common good?

CACS Co-President and Lead Organizer Paul Zanazanian explains that CACS feels that the academy, and education in particular, can help develop solutions to the problems facing society, both within Canada and on a more global scale. According to Zanazanian, “CACS wanted to take advantage of the conference, when so many CACS members are together, to see if we could engage the broader public in discussing critical issues. From this, the idea of a signature event was born.”

Signature events have been planned for the next three years of the conference, with each year focusing on a specific theme: 2018 will address issues of climate change; 2019 will consider hatred, including racism and bigotry; and 2020 will examine how to promote peace and love to overcome violence and war. CACS is working to ensure that public engagement is a key component of each event.

This year’s signature event includes scholars from across North America, including Stanford University’s Nathan Willis Ratledge, who will introduce his recent documentary, “How to Stop a Pipeline.” Other highlights include a keynote address from Susannah Heyer Barsom (Stanford) and a Town Hall meeting featuring Claudia Mitchell (McGill) and Paul Berger (Lakehead).  “It’s a really varied program,” explains Zanazanian, “examining the challenges of climate change from several disciplinary perspectives. Our goal is to provoke thought and discussion, and hopefully activism, on this topic that is so important to all of us.”

All sessions will take place on Sunday, May 27th, 2018, in the Education Building Room 193, University of Regina

12:15 to 1:15 pm
Literary Circle Discussion
Daniel Coleman’a Yardwork: A Biography of an Urban Place (Wolsak & Wynn, 2017).

• Shortlisted for the RBC Taylor Prize
• Recommended by the Humanities Research Institute (University of Regina)
• Attendees are encouraged to read this book in advance. Everyone is welcome!
  Facilitators: Daniel Coleman (McMaster) & Ken Wilson (U of Regina)

1:30 to 2:45 pm
Keynote Presentation: Resilience
Susannah Heyer Barsom (Stanford) & Carmen Schlamb (Seneca College).
Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change
Blane Harvey (McGill); Nikisha Khare (U of Saskatchewan); Kevin Lewis (U of Saskatchewan) & Claudia Mitchell (McGill); Paul Berger (Lakehead U).
Climate Change and Leadership: International Perspectives
Blane Harvey (McGill)

3:00 to 4:30 pm
Documentary Film Screening
“How to Stop a Pipeline” (2017). Creator/ Producer: Nathan Willis Ratledge & Director: Kit Pastor.
Introductory presentation: Nathan Willis Ratledge (Stanford).

Performative art pieces as a walking tour with durational art-making
“Is It Hot Out Here?!?!” (Kathryn Ricketts, University of Regina)
Jesse Bazzul & Gale Russell (U of Regina), Jennifer MacDonald & Jennifer Markides (U of Calgary), Jodi Latremouille (U of Calgary), Sara Schroeder (U of Regina), Celeste Snowber (Simon Fraser), Kathryn Ricketts (U of Regina), Sean Wiebe (Prince Edward Island U), Ken Wilson, (U of Regina), Julie Vaudrin-Charette (U of Ottawa).