Events calendar

Transcending established structures and reaching out to humanity through art and music in times of crisis

Abstract: The arts are a force for change and transformation. When linked to culture and identity, their spiritual, creative and symbolic aspects hold the power to transform and modify our personal behaviours, which in turn have repercussions on the collective. The arts can and must align us with lessons and visions of the world through traditional narratives, diverse music and richly resonant images that reach out to our humanity.

In this way, the arts hold concrete power to reveal lessons of truth in relation to climate action and the specific policy changes that must be demanded of businesses, governments and leaders. Recently, for example, the National Arts Centre Orchestra teamed up with Canadian, Indigenous and Northern composers, musicians, visual artists, writers, and scientists to engage in a multidisciplinary conversation that offered a response to the environmental crisis. Even in the early history of Western European culture, the art of music was said to be capable of inducing catharsis leading to personal and collective transformation.

This presentation is intended as a reflection on these aspects of art and music, and conversely, on the structures that, in our institutions, continue to value and protect inflexible systems that contribute to the exclusion of individuals and the stifling of diverse voices.

Speaker:

Rachelle Chiasson-Taylor leads a multifaceted career in early music performance, musicology, teaching, music archives, cultural policy in the Government of Canada, as well as being an entrepreneur in research and linguistic services for music and culture internationally. She holds a Doctor of Music in Performance as well as a PhD in musicology, both from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. As a music archivist and policy advisor at Library and Archives Canada, she acquired familiarity with government leadership in culture, libraries and archives, and the arts. As a performer, she has recorded three albums on the ATMA label devoted to the keyboard music of the late Renaissance and has performed all the keyboard works of William Byrd. She is an adjunct professor in the Performance area at the Schulich School of Music and an instructor primarily in early keyboard literature and performance practice. Her research has been published in Canada, Belgium, Poland, and in the United Kingdom, and she is co-editor and collaborating author of two books published by Ashgate (U.K.). Recently, Chiasson-Taylor has devoted considerable time to analyzing the issues of equity and inclusion, as well as exploring intersectionality and the contribution of multiple artistic voices to global crises. Since her mid-twenties, she has accumulated deep lived experience of disability and of the challenges inherent in the shared futures of diverse communities.

Meeting ID: 831 8679 1471
Meeting Password: CAMLOPEN24

Contact: katie.lai@mcgill.ca

(1) The kids are alright: A 68-year history of membership and volunteerism in CMLA/CAML

-- Janneka Guise, University of Toronto

(2) Quebec chapter of CAML: Tracing the history of a community of practice

-- Houman Behzadi, McGill University

-- Janneka Guise, University of Toronto

(3) Library services and the CMCQc documentation centre

-- Naomi Ouellet, Canadian Music Centre in Quebec

Meeting ID: 831 8679 1471

Meeting Password: CAMLOPEN24

Contact: katie.lai@mcgill.ca

Sustainable sounds, energy cultures, and collecting for futurity

Abstract: This year’s Congress theme of “Sustaining Shared Futures” initially poses a basic challenge to music studies, for music, as sound, is a form of energy whose waves are immaterial and ephemeral. Since sound itself does not last, music is literally unsustainable, and its future is silence. This has been a solved problem for the 150 years that we’ve possessed technologies of sound capture; yet those formats in which we record music’s vanishing traces are imbricated with materialities through and through. What’s more, since the beginning of our history of fixing music’s fugitive energies, those materials have included increasing quantities of oil. Clearly, the bigger sustainability challenge stems precisely from this recognition of music’s resource dependencies: now more than ever before, music culture is petroculture.

Knowing that our lives today are fundamentally shaped by fossil fuels, how do we understand music as multiply implicated in our modern dependencies on a petroleum economy, especially in light of the growing awareness that oil is finite? In the context of climate crisis, what questions do we want to ask about collecting and using music and sustaining the global sonic archive? How do these concerns intersect with the vital energy transitions we increasingly understand as necessary prerequisites to imagining futurity in sustainable terms? Such questions recognize that, while energy transition is about technology, resource, policy and the economics of supply, it is also a human and social issue at the core of our values about collecting, preserving, and sustaining access to the materials of culture.

Speaker:

Sherry Lee is Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Toronto, and a fellow of Trinity College and Victoria College. Her research and teaching interests include music and modernist culture, music and philosophy, sound media and technology studies, and discourses of music, sound, landscape and environment. She is presently leading an international research cluster in the environmental humanities in partnership with Oxford University and the University of Pennsylvania, and she is co-editing the volume Music, Sound, and Global Modernism for Cambridge University Press.

Meeting ID: 831 8679 1471
Meeting Password: CAMLOPEN24

Contact: katie.lai@mcgill.ca

(1) Braille music, visual impairment and music studies

-- Julie Lefebvre, Conservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec

-- Geneviève Mangerel, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

(2) Perspectives on the current state of music collection management: Collaboration, cooperation, and community-driven engagement

-- CAML Collections Committee

-- Trevor Deck, University of Toronto

-- Carolyn Doi, University of Saskatchewan

-- Houman Behzadi, McGill University

-- Katherine Penner, University of Manitoba

-- Brian McMillan, University of Western Ontario

-- Becky Smith, Memorial University of Newfoundland

-- Lucinda Johnston, University of Alberta

Meeting ID: 831 8679 1471

Meeting Password: CAMLOPEN24

Contact: katie.lai@mcgill.ca

As artificial intelligence grows in scale and prominence, how can we ensure a more responsible and equitable usage of this technology? Our esteemed panel will tackle this subject and more as they discuss AI law and regulation, the ethics of AI and AI algorithms, and the impact of AI on human rights, equity, and social justice from a global perspective.

Speakers: Dr. Janine Elizabeth Metallic, Ryan DeCaire, Mskwaankwad Rice

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Social media and digital publications like The Conversation Canada afford scholars and other research communicators unprecedented opportunities to reach new audiences and make their research public. Unfortunately, this form of knowledge mobilization has resulted in scholars exposing themselves to the risk of online abuse. Sometimes used as an intimidation tactic to silence those who speak out against misinformation, and other times leveraged simply to silence marginalized voices, online abuse can have serious consequences. Scholars who experience online abuse often experience reductions in their motivation and desire to communicate about their work on public. Because universities increasingly encourage scholars to do much of their teaching and research work online, scholars are left vulnerable. Dr. Jaigris Hodson, the Canada Research Chair (tier 2) in Digital Communication for the Public Interest at Royal Roads University, and Scott White, Editor-in-Chief of The Conversation Canada, will present an interactive workshop that offers evidence-based strategies for scholars.

How might the climate crisis impact universities and colleges?  How might academia respond?  In this presentation we begin by exploring the many dimensions of those questions. We explore the intersection of global warming and the physical plant of a campus, before examining how academic research can address the unfolding crisis.  We next discuss how higher education can best teach the rising generation to prepare them for the new world. For both teaching and research we assess questions of resource preservation, supporting faculty and staff, and honoring student experience.

Next, we navigate the complex terrain of how academics can engage the world of the Anthropocene, starting with local communities before branching out to larger possibilities for public scholarship, activism, and collaboration.  We conclude by taking these questions farther into the future, when Generation Z becomes professors and administrators, then senior leaders of the post-secondary sector.  How can we best act now in order to prepare universities for those upcoming decades?

Speaker(s)

Bryan Alexander

French Simultaneous Interpretation - Audio

What can be done to sustainably preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages and cultures today and for generations to come? Uncover the innovative approaches used in Indigenous language learning and the pivotal role of linguistic archive-based research in this insightful panel discussion. Explore the significance of adult immersion and language learning in advancing Kanien’kéha revitalization, and delve into the language reclamation efforts to support the revitalization of Anishinaabemowin.

Speakers: Dr. Janine Elizabeth Metallic, Ryan DeCaire, Mskwaankwad Rice

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English Interpretation Audio 

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ASL and LSQ in video

How can we jointly confront the immense challenges posed by climate change and combat environmental injustice? Join expert panelists as they discuss the intersection of environmental racism, disability rights, and climate change inequities in Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities, as well as those living with disabilities and mental illness across Canada. Through this panel, you’ll discover disability-inclusive approaches to tackling the climate crisis and envision alternative sustainable futures rooted in environmental justice and Indigenous climate leadership.

Speakers: Dr. Ingrid Waldron, Dr. Sébastien Jodoin, Angele Alook

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English Interpretation Audio

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ASL and LSQ in video

Over the past 50 years, the Canadian Population Society has nurtured generations of applied demographers who utilize their demographic analytical skills in decision making in public, private, and non-profit sectors. The CPS also has created an inclusive space where applied demographers and academic researchers in interdisciplinary fields (e.g. sociology, geography, economics) inspire each other’s work. In this special 50th anniversary session, we invite three renowned applied demographers who have significant impacts on Canadian demographer communities over decades. Each speaker will reflect on their relationship with the CPS and their contributions to policy making pertaining to the Canadian population. They will also comment on how applied demography helps address timely population issues in social diversity, immigration, family, health, etc. This special session aims to inform junior scholars, especially students and postdoctoral fellows, of career opportunities outside academia to apply their demographic training to addressing policy-related questions. Speakers: Gustave Goldmann, University of Ottawa

Eric Guimond, Indigenous Services Canada, Doug Norris, Environics Analytics

Meeting ID: 856 4725 4686

Meeting Password: 35119

Contact: kaidar@mcmaster.ca; aimy.croner@mcgill.ca; amelie.quesnelvallee@mcgill.ca

In this special anniversary session, we invite four long-term members of the Canadian Population Society who have made significant contributions to the development of demographic research/ population studies in Canada over the past 50 years. Some of the speakers were involved in the initial conversations of the creation of the CPS in 1974. Each speaker will reflect upon their contributions to the CPS and Canadian demography/population studies and share their anecdotes related to the CPS. They will also discuss their engagement in other Canadian and international research initiatives and partnerships that are linked to the CPS. In closing, the speakers will convey their words of wisdom for emerging scholars, including students and postdoctoral fellows, who will carry the torch of the CPS in the next 50 years. This special session aims to help junior and mid-career demographers learn about the history of the CPS and think how their research and services can contribute to the continuing success of the CPS and Canadian demography research in the next 50 years. Speakers: Roderic Beaujot, Western University; Monica Boyd, University of Toronto; Céline Le Bourdais, McGill University; Alan Simmons, York University

Meeting ID: 829 7119 3477

Meeting Password: 051495

Contact: kaidar@mcmaster.ca; aimy.croner@mcgill.ca; amelie.quesnelvallee@mcgill.ca

Currently in Canada, most PhDs work in diverse careers other than the traditional career path of the tenure-track professor. In this panel discussion, McGill PhD graduates working in non-academic careers will share their experiences and insights with the goal of increasing the visibility of potential graduate student career paths. The end of the session will be dedicated to audience questions to provide an opportunity for contact and informal mentorship between graduate students and panelists.

This event builds on the work of the TRaCE McGill project, which collected statistical information on the career pathways of over 4500 McGill PhDs who graduated between 2008 and 2018. The project also published the narratives of over 100 of these PhD graduates, providing further insight into the challenges and successes of PhDs in their career progressions. In 2023-2024, 22 McGill PhDs were invited to share their experiences with current students in eight TRaCE Talk events.

Marie-Pierre Gadoua (PhD, Anthropologie) - Coordonnatrice, programmation culturelle et médiation sociale, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
Hélène Laurin (PhD, Communications) - Stratège des communications et de la mobilisation des connaissances, Centre de recherches interdisciplinaires en études montréalaises

This event builds on the work of the TRaCE McGill project, which collected statistical information on the career pathways of over 4500 McGill PhDs who graduated between 2008 and 2018. The project also published the narratives of over 100 of these PhD graduates, providing further insight into the challenges and successes of PhDs in their career progressions. In 2023-2024, 22 McGill PhDs were invited to share their experiences with current students in eight TRaCE Talk events.

Marie-Pierre Gadoua (PhD, Anthropologie) - Coordonnatrice, programmation culturelle et médiation sociale, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

Hélène Laurin (PhD, Communications) - Stratège des communications et de la mobilisation des connaissances, Centre de recherches interdisciplinaires en études montréalaises

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English Simultaneous Interpretation Audio

In the face of rising threats to democracy, what can be done to promote sustainable political community? Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on political polarization, social injustice, and the spread of disinformation in Canada led by prominent scholars, journalists and civic engagement advocates to uncover what must be done to counter these challenges and foster a more just, inclusive society.

Speakers:Omayra Issa, Dr. Colette Brin

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Open session: Advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in scholarly communications. Featuring speakers Brit Stamey and Thane Chambers

Meeting ID: 847 5694 6567
Meeting Password: 463582

Contact: 613-808-9634

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the only federal agency in the United States dedicated to funding the humanities. Since its founding in 1965, NEH has awarded nearly $6 billion in grants to museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K–12 teaching, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, independent scholars, and to its humanities council affiliate in each of the nation’s 56 states and jurisdictions. NEH grants support the building blocks of American civil society, helping to examine the human condition, promote civics education, understand our cultural heritage, foster mutual respect for diverse beliefs and cultures, and develop media and information literacy.

Now, as the United States grapples with existential threats to its democracy, with persistent systemic racism, and with its changing climate, the humanities are more vital than ever. Under the leadership of Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), the first Native American to lead the agency, NEH is working with partners to leverage the humanities to strengthen the nation’s democracy, advance equity and access for all, and address its changing climate.

President of Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Ted Hewitt will introduce Chair Lowe and highlight SSHRC and NEH's new partnership to align on humanities scholarship and Indigenous research. Chair Lowe’s keynote will follow and include a Q&A.

We are excited to invite you to a thought-provoking keynote presentation by Dr. Annie Pullen Sansfaçon titled ""Intervenir sans laisser personne derrière: le travail social auprès des jeunes de la diversité des genres dans un contexte de désinformation"" (Intervening without leaving anyone behind: social work with gender diverse youth in a context of misinformation).

In recent years, several countries have begun to restrict or ban access to gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents. In Canada, there is widespread discourse supporting these restrictions, sometimes leading to political stances both federally and provincially. In Manitoba and New Brunswick, governments have even passed laws limiting the ability for social transition in schools without parental consent. However, organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH), and the Canadian Paediatric Society continue to support gender affirmation for youth, citing cumulative evidence from research demonstrating the benefits of social or medical transitions on well-being.

Social work can play a crucial role in supporting these youth by promoting their self-determination, advocating for their rights, and supporting their struggles for greater social justice. But how do we navigate a context where research evidence is being questioned, and laws in some places prevent the self-determination of these youth? This presentation will provide an overview of the current situation in Canada, the latest research evidence on transitions and detransitions, often central to discourses against access to gender-affirming care for minors. It will also discuss the role of social work with gender diverse youth and families, as well as the inherent challenges in a context where gender affirmation is increasingly questioned, or even illegal in some environments.

We invite you to join us for what promises to be a stimulating and insightful discussion on this critical topic. Your presence and participation are invaluable as we strive to better understand and address the needs of gender diverse youth in our communities.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Meeting ID: 812 8218 1421

Meeting Password: 253737

Dr. Lisa Parks, Distinguished Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara, will speak on the topic of The Satellite Coast: Vandenberg

Space Force Base, SpaceX, and Relations of Infrastructural Adjacency.

Meeting ID: 386 980 2620

Meeting Password: 205778

Contact: hirjif@mcmaster.ca