An online dialogue connecting students, alumni, faculty and friends of Champlain College at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. This blog will act as a resource for students, fellows, and alumni, and also connect college members living off-campus with on-campus events, social functions and special talks.
The 2011 Jack Matthews Fellow, Nicolas Dickner was welcomed to Champlain with a luncheon in the Living Learning Commons today. Trent students, students of Lakefield College School as well as VIPs from the Canadian Canoe Museum and our community. Kate Ramsay and Dr. Mike co-hosted, and Champlainer Constance Dupuis offered welcoming remarks on behalf of Trent students.
Photos included here feature, Trent President Steven Franklin welcoming the collaborating institutions; Nicolas Dickner, Canadian Author, Dr. Mike en francais, the tourtiere main, and the sugar pie dessert.
Champlain is honoured to host Tim Miller, whose work as a performer and writer explores the artistic, spiritual and political topography of his identity as a gay man. Hailed for his humor and passion, Miller's performances have been presented all over North America, Australia, and Europe in such prestigious venues as Yale Repertory Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art (London), the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For more information, visit: www.timmillerperformer.com
Tim has been my friend for many years. I taught his book, "Shirts and Skins" as well as excerpts of his work in the book "O Solo Homo" when I taught a class in Queer Performance Art for the University of Utah (at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Salt Lake City). His performance works embody so much of the history of gay culture over the past 2 decades. And his commitment to continuing to fight, through artistic expression, for the rights and well-being of queer-identified people everywhere is an inspiration.
I'm thrilled that our Champlain community will be able to welcome him and learn with him in residence at the college for the next few days.
-“It is not about how much you get in your meal. It’s about everyone gets something”
October 16 is the World Food Day when many parts of the world have the time to reflect on the importance of food and critical issues related to food that we human beings are facing today. This year, Trent World Affairs Colloquium (WAC) once again organized a guest-speaker/discussion event to celebrate the World Food Day. Michael Sacco- an outstanding horizontal trader of chocolate and now a PhD student at Trent- has shared with WAC many inspiring stories about how chocolate matters, and more importantly how communities matter. He recounted his past experience in Mexico with great enthusiasm, while explaining the concept of learning community social entrepreneur and the structure of ChocoSol- his collaborative business with a dedicated team. Participants not only enjoyed listening to his stories but also had the opportunity to try real chocolate- both to eat and to drink.
WAC would like to sincerely thanks Michael Sacco for his time, effort and exquisite chocolate; TISA and TIP for co-sponsoring the event; Kawartha World Issues Center, Champlain College and Professor Ray Dart for letting people know about our event.
*** Note: We have been approached by many keen students with questions such as where they can find more information about upcoming WAC. WAC committee is in the process of creating a database which will soon be publicized on Champlain College Blog and TISA Website. Stay tuned!
Nomadic Massive kicked off the WAC year with an incredibly profound and meaningful story sharing. It’s about the band’s life. It’s about music. It’s about social justice. Each band member has something to tell, and to show how beautiful life can be when they find a direction and hope. Many of them were landed immigrants from countries such as Jamaica and Nigeria. One of them thinks that he might be the most unemployable person in Canada for his attitude problem. But they come together for the sake of music and use music to express themselves. And eventually you realize how much solidarity matters! (Meduza’s words).
Below are some photos from the event:
Here are comments from Jack- a committee member from Russia:
"Hello everyone! As you all know a great event took place on previous friday! Nomadic Massive has visited our university. You may ask a question what is it? Well, let's explain for those who did not have a chance to come. So it is a concert with participation of different Hip-Hop singers who gather together and perform songs in an improvisation format. There was also an opportunity for everybody to talk to them personally and ask any questions. How? There was a workshop organized by The World Affairs Coloqium group(and the concert was also organized by this organization)anyway, we had a great conversation with these interesting, unusual and creative singers(performers, artists). One of the most important aspects of the nomadic Massive is that singers who are involved in this project propagandize justice and explain that their Hip-Hop helps people. They travel around Canada and abroad and inspire youths and even kids for peaceful and friendly life.!!!"
Why Nomadic Massive as a kick off event to bring Trent together for a Champlain event?
When Tim Shah (Champlain/Trent alumn, leader of the Trent Global Living Community, and now at UBC doing a Master's in Urban Planning) first contacted Nomadic Massive to see if they would do a performance in the Great Hall on their way to a gig in Toronto, they responded immediately and said that they love to do performances at universities--but . . ."
We might have been worried about the "but" until it was followed by, "we'd also like to do a workshop for social justice". Tim and I were both thrilled because, well, how Trent is that? A cutting edge eleven piece band making the great hall rumble with a multicultural sound--and a message with meaning to make a world of difference? That's a college life I want to be a part of!
When I came to Champlain 7 years ago, I heard many stories about "the old days" of concerts and sweaty dance parties in the Great Hall that brought together the community in ways no other college could. That's one tradition I'd like to sustain--if it gives us opportunities to learn together as this concert will!
Nomadic Massive, live in the Great Hall, with opening band The Resolutionaries, Friday, September 24, 2010, 7 p.m. Get tickets at the Champlain College Office, LEC Office, TIP, The Central or student affairs. Tickets are free with a donation for Pakistan Flood Relief (UNICEF).
Workshop: "Social Justice Through Hip Hop" World Affairs Colloquium in the Champlain Council Chambers (CC M2) at 3 p.m.
The Trent Clubs and Groups day on September 8th, 2010 was the most wonderful event so far in my academic year. As I had the opportunity to meet with my fellow students who are organizers, co-chairs or founders of clubs and groups at Trent, I could not help but being inspired by their commitment and enthusiasm in running their activities and contributing to Trent's rich student life. The event was a warm welcome back, even more intimate than a tight hug, especially for an international student who returned to Canada after a year-abroad. It's now my turn to pass on the torch of inspiration to other students, international and domestic, new and returning. I want to warmly welcome all of you to the Trent World Affairs Colloquium!
A lecture series sponsored by Trent International Program and Trent International Student Association, WAC seeks to create an engaging environment where participants can learn and share knowledge about global issues. Guest-speakers come from different fields: from Peterborough social worker to Trent professor, from a Canadian famous politician to a Botswana woman leader. In the last few years, WAC topics cover theme such as the global food crisis, HIV-AIDS, the world as mirror of ourselves, etc. The next theme can be developed from your idea!
This year WAC will be taking place on Friday, bi-weekly or monthly, in Champlain Council Chamber (CCM2). Stay tuned for our exciting events by following the Champlain College blog or watch out for our email notice! WAC is yours to participate, yours to create.
*If you would like to subscribe to WAC emails or have a suggestion for a potential topic, please email us: worldaffairscollq@gmail.com
